It’s time for this year’s War on Christmas episode! Keeping with the new format, it starts with a memo from the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and opens a can of historical worms. The feedback form is at htotw.com/contact Leave us voice message at htotw.com/speakpipe Support the show at htotw.com/donate Subscribe at htotw.com/subscribe Join our Discord server at htotw.com/discord Christmas in Jerusalem Story of the current crisis Christianity in the Levant Early church Jewish Roman Wars Chalcedonian Schism: Patriarch of Jerusalem created in 451 Malkite Orthodox Syriac Orthodox Conquests Persians conquer Palestine in 614 Orthodox Christians retain Greek language and culture Battle of Yarmuk 636 - Syria and Palestine removed from Byzantine control Syrian Malkite’s adopt Arab language and culture Great Schism and Crusades 1054 Great Schism 1099 Crusaders conquer Jerusalem - Exile Greek Patriarch, appoint Latin Patriarch 1187 Arabs retake Jerusalem - Latin Patriarch flees to Rome, Greek Patriarch returns 1847 Ottomans allow Latin Patriarch to Return Malkite Orthodox Schism Modern Christianity in Israel Greek Orthodox Patriarch controversy Sources Religion News Service - Patriarch of Jerusalem’s Christmas Edict Wikipedia - Christianity in Israel Wikipedia - Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem Wikipedia - Melkite Greek Catholic Church Other News Trump takes credit for people saying Merry Christmas This episode is brought to you by: Henry K Danielle Pat Acks from the Humanists of Idaho SoJo Big Easy Blasphemy Darryl G Arthur K Samuel C Beatriz A Levi C Richard G Balázs Steve F Brad R And by our $1 patrons and those who want no reward. Contact information, show notes, and links to Social Media and the like can be found at https://htotw.com Theme music is provided by Sturdy Fred. Full shownotes can always be found at https://htotw.com/438 Download episode