Dean Richard’s Easter Message

27 March 2026

Dean Richard’s Easter Message

At the time of writing we are entering the fifth week of the war between Israel/USA and Iran. What was promised to be brief and precise has ended up drawing in at least eight other countries in the Middle East and threatens to spiral even further out of control. Every country in the world is likely to be impacted to greater or lesser degrees by this ill-conceived, poorly planned and devastating war.

For the Diocese of Jerusalem and for our wider Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, it is having most awful consequences. As Archbishop Hosam has said ‘our whole Province is bleeding’.

Parts of Jerusalem have been hit by large pieces of falling shrapnel and some days or nights we can be in the bomb shelter multiple times. But strangely, life manages to continue, as does the work of staff in the College. Another element of the tragedies affecting us are that owing to wartime restrictions the holy sites in Jerusalem of Jews, Christians and Muslims have been closed. This inhibited celebrations for Eid at the end of Ramadan, it will impact Passover events at the Western Wall and will put paid to most public events and services for Holy Week and Easter in Jerusalem. All of this is a cause of deep sadness for all the communities but they are not the most serious consequences of war.

But in the absence of pilgrims being able to visit the Land of the Holy One, Rodney and I set about making eight films for Lent/Holy Week and Easter to bring the beautiful locations of these events into your homes. Our reflections are about the historical significance of the sites with reflections on their meaning in a time of conflict, war and gathering darkness. We are not the only ones in the world to be enduring times of great testing.

This film series, available on YouTube is described below and I hope it is useful for individuals, churches and institutions to make this deep season of the Church’s year even more meaningful.

Wishing a simple ‘Happy Easter’ doesn’t feel quite appropriate to the times we are suffering. Instead, we proclaim with confidence, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, hallelujah!

The Very Revd Canon Richard Sewell
Dean, Saint George's College, Jerusalem

Introduction to Songs of Suffering & Hope series

Songs of Suffering and Hope

We are pleased to announce the publication of eight short films for Lent and Easter entitled: Songs of Suffering/Songs of Hope

The liturgical seasons, which commemorate the life of Jesus, chart the journey of Christian salvation, while casting light on the pathways of our lives as individuals, communities, and global societies. At times, the seasonal themes speak to the state of our lives. Lent is suffering; Easter is hope. At other times, they feel misaligned. Is there hope in Lent? Is there still suffering in Easter?

St George’s College, Jerusalem presents a six-part video series, Songs of Suffering/Songs of Hope. Acknowledging the present moment as one of conflict, fear, and uncertainty, Dean Richard Sewell and Course Director Rodney Aist explore stories and places of Lent and Easter as ultimate expressions of the good news of God to strengthen us in the challenges of the present context.

Lent 1: The Hope of the Last Supper (The Cenacle)
Lent 2: The Serenity of Gethsemane (The Garden of Gethsemane)
Lent 3: The Fear of the Trial of Jesus (St Peter in Gallicantu)
Lent 4: The Suffering of the Cross (Spaces within the Holy Sepulchre)

Easter 1: The Suffering of Easter Morning (Spaces within the Holy Sepulchre)
Easter 2: The Fear of the Upper Room (St Mark’s Syrian Orthodox)
Easter 3: The Serenity of the Sea of Galilee (Sea of Galilee)
Easter 4: The Hope of Emmaus (Abu Ghosh)

All episodes will be released on the College YouTube channel: @richardsewell4849
‘St George's College Jerusalem'