Cleric extols Nigerian missionaries on spreading the gospel in Israel
By Bridget Ikyado
Bethlehem (Israel), March 25, 2023
An Israeli Cleric, Fr Issa Thaljieh, has extolled Nigeria missionaries’ contribution over the spread of the gospel of Christ in Israel.
Thaljieh, Parish Priest in Charge of Nativity Church Bethlehem, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Bethlehem, Israel.
The cleric spoke against the backdrop of his admonition to the 9th batch of the 2022 Nigeria pilgrims on tour of the Church of Nativity, where Jesus Christ was born.
According to the Greek Orthodox Church leader, Nigerians are religious, nice and dedicated people to all services in the Church at Bethlehem.
He said: “Jesus was born here 325ADC and it has remained a tourist site to all countries.
“People from Asia, Arab Europe among other countries visit here and the Church is now under UNESCO so, we have many countries here.”
Thaljieh commended missionaries from Nigeria to have been supportive to the less privileged and spread of the good news.
He said particularly at the Nativity Church where tourists from across the globe visited, Nigerians and other African countries stood out in terms of support, both physically and spiritually.
The cleric, however, assured that the Church would continue to support and welcome more missionaries.
The Nigerian pilgrims left Jordan to Israel, visited and prayed at the Nativity Church and the Shepherd’s field, where the three wise men saw the star indicating the birth of Christ.
