My close contact at Lambeth Palace has just sent me this:
Following on from his visit to the United States the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams will visit Armenia, Syria and Lebanon, from 22nd - 29th September. The Archbishop's visit to Armenia is a result of an outstanding invitation from the Catholicos, His Holiness Karekin II, who heads the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Archbishop, who has a long-standing interest in the spirituality and history of the Eastern Churches, hosted the Catholicos at Lambeth Palace and Canterbury in 2004. This visit is part of the Archbishop's programme of ecumenical encounter and dialogue with sister churches worldwide, learning more about their life and witness. The visit will focus on shared worship and liturgy, and visits to a range of of significant religious and national sites, to a prison for women and children to meet inmates and chaplains, as well as discussions with the Armenian government. During the visit the Archbishop will lay a wreath and plant a tree at the Genocide Memorial. The Archbishop will co-host, with British Ambassador Anthony Cantor, the Queen's Birthday Party at the Armenian Church's Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The Archbishop's visit to Syria and Lebanon will be shorter and forms part of his continuing personal engagement with Christian churches in the Middle East, and with leaders of other faiths in the region. The visit takes place at the invitation of the Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem, Suhail Dawani, whose diocese covers these countries, and is being arranged in collaboration with the Middle East Council of Churches. In Syria, as well as meetings with Christian leaders and the local Anglican community, the Archbishop will meet with the Grand Mufti of Syria and the country's President, Dr Bashar Al Asad. The programme for his visit to Lebanon will be released nearer the time. I do hope the Archbishop will spare a thought for my husband, daughter and myself (all of us, like him, involved in one way or another in peace and reconciliation-type work) who are hoping to spend the first part of Succot (September 26th-30th) http://www.rigal.freeserve.co.uk/jewish/succot/succot.htm in Metullah right on the Lebanese border http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Page=/ForeignBureaus/archive/200608/INT20060803c.html The news here in Israel has been full of the tension that we in the north are supposed to be experiencing at the moment, due to the warlike signs coming out of Syria. Although, President Peres, as usual, the eternal optimist: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/904953.html And in Lebanon Hezbollah has not ceased to increase accumulation of lethal weapons to fire againt us, but despite this, this is the upbeat message of President Peres for New Year: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=902822 It's just that we find the very north of Israel the most beautiful part of the country, and parts of it remind me at least of South West England! Plus, they could do with the tourism! So, whatever bearing the Archbishop's visit might have on the political situation, any easing of the tension that he might be able to produce will be gratefully received by the Lancaster family, at least, and no doubt by the rest of the country as well! And of course, the Archbishop and his entourage would be very welcome to pop over the Lebanese border and visit us in our humble abode - that goes without saying, of course. For Succot is a time for welcoming guests. Even Bashar would be welcome. After all, there are some similarities between Judaism and Islam, and hospitality to guests and strangers is one of them, as this example from the other end of the country makes clear: http://www.succah.co.il/index2.html Happy holidays to all concerned!
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