Tuesday 3rd of May, Nazareth, Pilgrim House Abuna Faraj
Meeting with Sister Martha Bertsch
Introduction about Bishop Elias Chacour
Bishop Elias Chacour is the Archbishop of Akko, Haifa, Nazareth and All Galilee of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church.
Elias Michael Chacour was born November 29, 1939 in the village of Kafr Bir'im in Upper Galilee in the Britisch Mandate of Palestine to a Palestinian Christian family, members of the Melkite Catholic Church. The Melkites, Byzantine Rite Catholics of mixed Eastern Mediterranean and Greek origin, trace their history to the early Christians of Antioch, Syria, of the 1st century AD, where Christianity was introduced by St. Peter. At the age of eight he was evicted along with his whole village of Biram byYishuv forces and became a deportee and a refugee but remained in the region. Because he remained in his homeland, he was granted Israeli citizenship when the state was created in 1948.
Completing his schooling in Nazareth, he studied theology at St. Sulpice Seminary in Paris, returning home in 1965.
Back in Nazareth, it came to his attention that there weren’t any schools to be found. Bishop Chacour finds education very important and believes true education can bring peace so everyone should have the opportunity to study. He decided he wanted to build a school but had problems getting a permission to do so. It took him 8 years to get an approval of the Israeli government.
Bishop Chacour, Abuna Faraj and the Pilgrim House
During his time in college, Bishop Chacour met Abuna Faraj, who was born in Ramah village to a Christian family. He was a very spiritual, open-minded, loving and well-known man whom everybody loved and visited very often. He was always there to listen and his house was accessible for everyone.
His open mind and heart and his spirit, love and kindness are the reasons why many people came to visit him.
Unfortunately, he discovered that he had the multiple sclerosis and started to get weak. Nonetheless, he kept on smiling and never complained nor grudged.
As Bishop Chacour says, ‘The beautiful smile he had never left his face.’
When Abuna Faraj died, one of Bishop Chacour’s main concerns was to renovate the abandoned house of Abuna Faraj and to bring new life into this house.
“With the help of Sr. Martha Bertsch who providentially was introduced to Archbishop Chacour, we started the renovation. The house is now open for everyone to come and stay in that house especially for Christians and pilgrims.”
(Bishop Chacour)
Some useful Arabic words Sister Martha taught us :
(written how to pronounce the words) J
marchaba : greetings throught the day
saba elcher : goodmorning
answer = sabachalnur : i greet u too.
kifhalik : how are u? woman COMES BEFORE EVERYTHING ELSE
kifhalak: how are u? man`
mon tas : excellent
shukran : thank u
tearsaki : its very good (food)
Last but not least, Sister Martha gave us some useful advice.
Tip concerning food in our host families.
Taste the food, it’s okay not to finish your plate.
Tip for the security :
Don’t answer more questions than needed.
Tip for life :
The best thing you can do is live the present moment.
(picture 1 : Sister Martha Bertsch)
(picture 2 : Us in front of the Pilgrim House)
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