Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Elias Chacour to Visit Duke
Archbishop Elias Chacour is known for his work promoting peace between Palestinians and Israelis
During the first week of March, Archbishop Elias Chacour of the Melkite Catholic Church will be preaching and holding talks at Duke University. Chacour is a three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee known for his work promoting peace between Palestinians and Israelis. All of the events are open to the public.
Chacour is president and founder of Mar Elias Educational Institutions in the Galilee area of northern Israel. The school system serves 3,000 young people, kindergarten through college, from the major faith traditions in that area of the world -- Muslims (52 percent of the enrollment), Christians, Druze and Jews.
Chacour was a boy when Jewish immigrants began to flood into Palestine in the 1940s. His book, "Blood Brothers," captures his memories of the beginnings of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and shares his life journey as a peacemaker.
"Peace needs no contemplators," Chacour said in a recent talk. "It needs actors, persons who are willing to get their hands dirty, to be salt and light, connecting people with each other and to God."
On Sunday, March 4, Chacour will preach at the 11 a.m. worship service at Duke Chapel and at the 7 p.m. worship service in Goodson Chapel, in the Divinity School.
On Monday, March 5, the public is invited to "The Paths that Lead to Peace," an interfaith dialogue with Chacour, Rabbi Jeremy Milgrom, co-founder and co-director of Clergy for Peace, and Mohamad Bashar Arafat, founder and president of Civilizations Exchange and Cooperation Foundation. The discussion will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Freeman Center, at the intersection of Campus Drive and Swift Avenue.
On Wednesday, March 7, Chacour will preach at a 10 a.m. worship service in Goodson Chapel. After the service, at 12:25 p.m., the Divinity School will host a time of story-telling and conversation at which time Bishop Chacour will speak about his experiences living in Palestine as a Christian during the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and his ministry in this war-torn territory.
Chacour's visit is sponsored by Duke Chapel, The Freeman Center and Duke Divinity School.
In anticipation of Chacour's arrival, Duke Chapel Dean Sam Wells is hosting a book discussion on Feb. 22 about Chacour's life, the book "Blood Brothers" and the Israeli/Palestinian conflict with students in the chapel basement at 6:30 p.m.