The Bethlehem Passport was created by Open Bethlehem to honor people who have made an important contribution to the city’s life and intend to act as ambassadors for Bethlehem in their own countries.
France has its Legion d’Honneur, Britain has its Knighthoods, and the US has its Congressional and Presidential medals. Now Bethlehem has its honorary passport.
The first Bethlehem Passport was granted to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI by President Mahmoud Abbas in a ceremony at the Vatican.
The next four passports were granted jointly to all UK church leaders following their historic pilgrimage to Bethlehem in Christmas 2006 in solidarity with its people.
Church leaders receive Bethlehem Passports. Archbishop Rowan Williams, head of the Anglican and Episcopalian church, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor of England and Wales, Bishop Nathan Hovhanissian of the Armenian Church and David Coffey, President of the Baptist Worldwide Alliance.
Among recent recipients of the passport we would highlight J. Jon Bruno, Bishop of Los Angeles, as well as the Seidel family, the first family to receive Bethlehem passports. Read Christi Hoover Seidel’s account of the ceremony here.
The passport has been deliberately crafted as a beautiful object with deep watermarked pages, and a design that features both the star of Bethlehem and the figure of St George – Al-Khadr – the patron saint of Bethlehem and a figure sacred to Bethlehem's Muslims and Christians alike.
The passport’s citation reads: “In that the bearer of this passport is a citizen of Bethlehem; that they recognize this ancient city provides a light to the world, and to all people who uphold the values of a just and open society; that they will remain a true friend to Bethlehem through its imprisonment, and that they will strive to keep the ideals of Bethlehem alive as long as the wall stands; we ask you to respect the bearer of the passport and to let them pass freely.”
Picture - A passport granting ceremony to a multi-denominational delegation from the Churches of Great Britain, attended by senior figures from Bethlehem’s community.
|
