For centuries, Greek Orthodox Christians have lived in the land where Christ walked. Today, their numbers are shrinking, and those who remain often face daily hardships.
Mother Agapia Stephanopoulos, a Greek Orthodox nun who moved to the Holy Land in 1996, recently offered a candid look at the situation in a lengthy interview. Born in the United States, she has spent nearly three decades living among the Christian communities of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and the surrounding towns.
She described how local Christians, many of whom are direct descendants of the earliest believers, struggle under heavy restrictions. “A Christian who lives in Bethlehem cannot go to Jerusalem, to the Holy Sepulcher, without a permit,” she explained. These permits are rarely granted, cutting off the faithful from some of their holiest sites. For many families, the checkpoints and closures are not just inconveniences but barriers that shape daily life, education, and worship.
Mother Agapia also reminded viewers that the Christian presence in the Holy Land is not something imported in modern times. These are communities rooted in the earliest centuries of the faith, a living link to the apostles and the first churches.
Her words come at a moment of renewed tension for the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Earlier this month, the Jerusalem Municipal Authority froze the bank accounts of the Patriarchate, preventing it from paying salaries to clergy, teachers, and staff. The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate quickly condemned the move, calling it a violation of religious freedom and urging Israeli leaders to reverse the decision.
The dispute traces back to 2018, when the city sought to impose property taxes on church holdings that fell outside strictly religious use, such as pilgrim guesthouses and cultural centers. At the time, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was closed for three days in protest, and international pressure forced the government to step back. The Archons are now calling for the same intervention to protect the mission and institutions of the Patriarchate.
For Greek Orthodox Christians in America, the issue is more than a news story. Many local families travel to Jerusalem on pilgrimage. Others support the Patriarchate through donations and prayer. The fate of the Christian communities there resonates deeply in Philadelphia, where the Orthodox faith has been handed down across generations.
“Let us join together in prayer for their well-being and protection,” wrote Dr. Anthony Limberakis, National Commander of the Archons.
Mother Agapia’s testimony is a reminder that behind the headlines are families, parishes, and schools that continue to live the faith in the land where it was first born.
For those who want to hear her in her own words, Mother Agapia’s full interview is available online, along with a complete transcript:
Watch the interview here →
Read the transcript here →
Editorial note: The interview was hosted by commentator Tucker Carlson. Cosmos Philly shares this link to amplify Mother Agapia’s perspective on the situation of Christians in the Holy Land. The host’s opinions do not necessarily represent our editorial stance.