Somber

This year, Orthodox Christians in war-ravaged Gaza are facing a deeply somber Christmas. With escalating conflict enveloping the region, it feels as though the holiday spirit has been extinguished, leaving worshippers lamenting the absence of gifts and joy for their children. In the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City, a small gathering of around a dozen Orthodox Christians met for the traditional service, even as the sounds of battle echoed throughout the Palestinian enclave. Amidst the turmoil, Archbishop Alexios of…