When wars in Gaza displaced Um Mohammed Al-Azazmeh, the Muslim woman sought shelter at St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church, “and they welcomed me.”
When she had to leave her home during the 2023-2025 Israel-Hamas war, she again sought shelter at the church, as did her family.
“My daughter gave birth to a baby girl here,” she says. “Father Silas came especially to congratulate me.”
St. Porphyrios provided shelter for Muslims and Christians, and Ms. Azazmeh explained what it was like to live in the church for two and a half years.
“There is solidarity here, there is compassion, there is love among us,” she says. “Here we are not Christian or Muslim; we are all one.”
Tawfiq Al-Amash, director of the Office of the Patriarchal Vicar, says if someone asks for help, “if it is possible, the church will help them.”
“The church is the house of God,” he says.
“In the end, we will all die and return to the Lord,” he adds. “If we do not spread love among people, it will be difficult to meet the Lord in the end.”
Montaser Tarzi is intentional about spreading love among the people in Gaza. A Christian, he distributes water and dates to Muslim passers-by in the evenings during Ramadan, before they break their daily fast with iftar. Lent and Ramadan coincided this year.
“Even if the act is simply, it carries deep human meaning,” he says.
Mr. Tarzi is sheltering at St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church as well.
“Our message is that peace and love should prevail in the world,” he says.
Watch this video to learn more about how the church helped displaced Gazans. You can read more about celebrating Lent and Ramadan while sheltering in a church in “Sheltering in Faith,” a ONE magazine web exclusive.