King of Jordan calls for protecting Christians in the Middle East
King Abdullah II during a meeting with Patriarch John X of Antioch and Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, Amman. Photo: Orthodoxia News Agency
On December 8, 2025, King Abdullah II of Jordan received the Primates of the Orthodox Churches – Patriarch John X of Antioch, Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, and Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia – and spoke of the vital importance of maintaining Christian life, stability, and peace in the Middle East. According to the Orthodoxia News Agency, the King highlighted the moral and historical responsibility Jordan carries in this mission.
Together with the Patriarchs, he addressed the urgent need to halt violations against both Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and to preserve the existing historical and legal status quo, which remains a cornerstone of fragile regional balance.
The three Primates were in Amman to participate in a conference on interreligious dialogue in the Balkans. During their audience with the monarch, they heard a renewed affirmation of Jordan’s steadfast commitment to defending Christian sanctuaries and supporting the stability of the Holy Land and the wider region.
King Abdullah II emphasized that Jordan will continue to fulfill its religious and historical mission under the Hashemite custodianship, safeguarding the sacred heritage entrusted to it. Discussion also turned to broader regional tensions: the King reiterated the essential importance of honoring the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid, and preventing further escalation on the West Bank.
During his visit, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia also venerated the site of the Lord’s Baptism on the Jordan River. King Abdullah II gifted the Serbian Church a parcel of land adjacent to the holy site – a gesture the Patriarch received with profound gratitude, noting its lasting significance for the Serbian Church.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Serbian Patriarch would take part in the interreligious conference in Jordan.
Read also
DESS challenges court ruling overturning “expert review” against UOC
According to DESS, it has filed a cassation appeal against the court ruling that annulled the order approving the UOC “expert review” and declared the service head’s actions unlawful.
Greek priest: Sad to see Orthodox Christians fighting each other in Ukraine
Fr. Georgios Katsaounis recalled the historical ties between the Russian and Ukrainian peoples and criticized the Greek Prime Minister’s statement about a “war with Russia.”
Anglican Archbishop: Ban on women's priesthood in RCC is an injustice
After her visit to the pontiff, Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally touched on the topic of women's priesthood in the RCC in an interview and called the ban on it "an injustice."
Greek priest on Pope's visit to Phanar: faith must not be sold
Archpriest Georgios Katsaounis warned that in the modern ecumenical dialogue there are serious risks of diluting Orthodox dogmas.
Greek priest: The principle of papal supremacy in Catholicism is a disease
Archpriest Georgios Katsaounis stated that Western Christianity suffers from the principle of one person's supremacy, and called this a spiritual illness.
In Egypt, Coptic blogger sentenced to 5 years for videos about Christianity
A Coptic blogger was sentenced to five years in prison with hard labor under a blasphemy law for publishing a video about Christianity.