.code-block {
display:none !important;
}
Grassroots movement launched from Bethlehem spreads globally; thousands to participate Wednesday
WASHINGTON — Thousands of Christians across more than 20 countries will light red candles on Christmas Eve – a new symbol of solidarity with Palestinian Christians, culminating a grassroots movement that launched three weeks ago from Bethlehem.
Red Candle: Light for Palestine began November 29 with a ceremony in the Grotto of the Nativity, where two Palestinian children lit the first candle alongside clergy from Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions. The movement has since spread across denominational and political divides, to churches and individuals across Palestine, the United States. South Africa, South Korea, Brazil, Spain, Paraguay, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Singapore, Uruguay, and New Zealand and more.
Participants and Leadership
Participating Christian leaders include Rev. Munther Isaac (known for his “Christ in the Rubble” sermon), the World Council of Churches, Archbishop Theodosios Atallah Hanna of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Metropolitan Benedictos of Diocesarea, Father Issa Thaljieh of the Church of the Nativity, Mother Agapia Stephanopoulos, Shane Claiborne of Red Letter Christians, Greg Khalil, Dr. Fares Abraham, Bethlehem University Foundation, Churches for Middle East Peace, United Methodist Church – Chuch and Society and Pax Christi USA.
Priests Against Genocide, established in Italy in September 2025, has grown to more than 2,200 priests from 56 countries in three months and joined as a partner organization.
Palestinian Christian Witness
In Taybeh—Palestine’s last all-Christian village, which has endured six settler attacks since July—all three churches representing the town’s whole population, gathered to light red candles and plant olive trees at a site damaged by settler arson.
Father Bashar Fawadleh of the Latin Catholic Church in Taybeh said: “From the same place where settlers burned fire behind the church, we light a candle of peace and justice, and we’re planting also olive trees… We just spread the light of peace from this land, and we believe that this light will be spreading from this land to all around the world.” The video was shared more than 3,000 times in days.
“We light this red candle and we send it to the world from the land of Christmas,” said Rev. Munther Isaac of Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ramallah. “Despite the circumstances, we insist that the message of Christmas remains alive here, rooted in our land. Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, goodwill to all.”
Context: Christian Polarization
The movement comes as American Christians navigate competing visions. Recent research shows 41% of American Christians embrace the Seven Mountains Mandate, a dominion theology framework. This weekend’s AmericaFest conference in Phoenix drew 31,000 attendees, with Turning Point USA Faith announcing its network doubled to 9,500 churches.
Simultaneously, a new December 16 IMEU poll shows 74% of Republicans under 45 want to reduce U.S. weapons funding to Israel, with 24% saying they would switch parties over this single issue.
Coalition and Participation
Red Candle is volunteer-founded and operates through a coalition of 15 partner organizations.
Participants are invited to light red candles on Christmas Eve, share photos tagged @redcandlepalestine, and visit redcandle.org for liturgical resources and information.
###
About Red Candle: Light for Palestine
Red Candle is a Christian movement for peace, justice and solidarity with Palestinians. It invites Christians to reclaim Christmas and Easter as sacred seasons of peacemaking.
Partner organizations include The Telos Group, Bethlehem University Foundation, Red Letter Christians, Pax Christi USA, Churches for Middle East Peace, United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society, Levant Ministries, Orthodox Christians for Palestine, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Priests Against Genocide, The Happy Givers, Agora Initiative, Chasing Justice, Peace Catalyst, and Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice—representing Evangelical, Catholic, Mainline Protestant, Orthodox and Quaker traditions.
Previous coverage: Middle East Eye, Church Times UK, Global Baptist News, Yaffa News Netowrk, Word and Way, Church Leaders.
Press kit with photos, video, quotes, story angles, here.
Sources available.
Media Contact
Renee Tay
Red Candle: Light for Palestine
[email protected]
###
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RNS or Religion News Foundation.