The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem — including Archbishop Hosam Naoum — have issued their joint Easter message 2026 calling on all people of goodwill to “work and pray ceaselessly for the relief of the countless multitudes throughout the Middle East and beyond who are suffering severely from the ravages of this war.” The message invokes St Paul’s language of being “afflicted but not crushed” and points to the resurrection as a sign of “newness of life.” It comes as Holy Sepulchre services remain restricted to clergy-only broadcasts, St George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem is capped at 50 indoors and 100 outdoors, the Chrism Mass has been postponed indefinitely, and negotiations continue over whether the Orthodox Holy Fire flame can be carried to Greece on Easter Saturday