Samaritan Passover

This evening the Samaritans celebrated their Passover. I decided to go because firstly I wanted to meet Abuna (Fr.) Yusef, the 82 yr old Melkite priest who is my good friend and esteemed member of the Nablus region; also I wanted to greet the new Samaritan High Priest who took office 2 months ago.

So in a hired minibus with 10 of us (2 from Telepace, 4 from Koinonia community, Jo, Andrea the cameraman, Fr Abdo who joined us literally while on his way home) went to Mt. Gerizim. The crowd was so immense, there was already a traffic jam 5 km down the hill. We had to walk part of the way to the sacrifice area but could not enter as it was already packed.

Abuna Yusef met us at 6pm and surprise! there was Abuna Johnny as well ... a nice priest from the Patriarchate who was transferred to the Nablus parish 8 months ago. We had a good chat. Then we went to greet the Samaritan High Priest who was in audience. He was quite young compared to his predecessors. After wishing him a happy feastday, we sat in the audience hall with other dignitaries ranging from high govt. officials from Israel and Palestine, muslims, jews and christians, even settlers from the nearby settlement, diplomats ... Sr Capilla whispered to me and said it is the Samaritans who succeed in bringing peace. Here in this room enemies gathered smiling, shaking hands, clapping at each others' speeches. Brigadier Generals and Israeli soldiers armed with weapons ate dates with Palestinian Hamas and Fatah leaders. The atmosphere was one of sincere joy to meet again in a place sacred to all three monotheistic religions. Sr Capilla was right. Here the Samaritans have brought peace to the land.

The missionaries of Charity (Mother Theresa's sisters) came along in Abuna Johnny's car - Sr. Capilla was one of them. She was superior of the Jerusalem community but only a month ago she was transferred to the Nablus community. These sisters are fantastic. They packed dinner for us so we would not go hungry on our way home - packet drinks, chocolate bars, pizza, kneiffe (sweet baked cheese) ... the works. They are so kind to think of us 10 people ... that is so the spirit of Mother Theresa.

The moon is full, the wind is terribly cold and wafts of clouds wriggle between the moon. The wheat and wild grass along the slopes of Mt. Gerizim shimmer under the moonlight while thousands of people walked down the mountain to their transportation. It was eerie yet fascinating. We left the sacrificed lambs roasting in the pits, dense smoke rising to the moon. The Samaritans had already gone home, putting the lamb's blood on their doorposts. They will return to the sacrifice area to collect the roasted lambs to eat ... at midnight.

It was a good excursion. I'm exhausted, but happy for Abuna Yusef who looked healthy, for the Samaritan community for their feast, and for those who for the first time saw a bloody sacrifice of sheep amd realised the stark consequence of Christ's death for us. But for us ... He is risen from the dead!