24 October 2017

St. George’s Melkite Church, Zababdeh, next door to the Mosque

Our Tuesday began with a very special night that had been spent with families of Zababdeh. We were split up in groups on late Monday evening. We had driven from Bethlehem to Zababdeh to meet Abuna Firas Khoury Diab, pastor at St. George’s Melkite Catholic Church. He works to encourage all religions to live side-by-side peacefully. There is a Muslim minaret tower behind the Cross on St. George’s Church.

We heard the calls to prayer. We walked the streets of Zababdeh and talked with all ages of people. Then though there are language differences most were eager to welcome us from America to Zababdeh.

Pilgrims of Ibillin do sponsor some of the scholarships and families through contributions and very special olive oil soap sales, so the children can continue in the Catholic School.

Tile floor and some columns still remain from the Byzantine first church in Zababdeh — 300’s CE

We were able to tour the church and school grounds and see some of the remains of the Byzantine tiles still present in that area.

Then on to Sebastiya to see Roman ruins and had a chance to ride a camel and donkey! They looked very cautious at all of us, se settled for lunch instead.

We left there to visit the Church of the Ten Lepers in Burqin and were served Arabic coffee (a treat at most stops).

Fresh olive oil, Canaan Olive Collective, Burqin

Another stop was the home of the Olive factory run by the Canaan Fair Trade Cooperative. They toured us through their plant, ending with tables full of taboun bread and fresh creamy virgin olive oil and Arabic coffee. We finally pulled into Mar Elias guesthouse at Ibillin just at sunset and quickly ran up 4 flights of steps to get sunset pictures. We could nearly see to the Mediterranean Sea.

Sunset over Haifa

End of a long day and off to bed. Thanks be to God.

~ Marty Callies