One of the oldest churches in the world, Jubail Church is located close to Jubail in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia on the Gulf coast. It dates back to the fourth century.
As a historical reminder of the presence of Christianity prior to the establishment of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the church has two crosses carved into the wall on either side of the central inner doorway leading from the nave to the sanctuary.
Easter is now showcasing the Kingdom’s multicultural social DNA as a result of social reforms brought about by Saudi Vision 2030.
Christians from all throughout the Kingdom have been gathering to celebrate. However, more people and businesses have started joining them in celebrating the yearly holiday in recent years.
From Tennessee in the US, Brandie Janow has extensive experience working in Saudi Arabia. According to Janow, quietly enjoying Easter was a matter of respecting cultural differences. “I believe we were merely acting respectfully, and Saudi granted us permission to do so. We’re now being a little more transparent about that,” she said.
Janow said that for Saudis living in America, it was still important for them to celebrate Ramadan and Eid.
“It’s so important for me to come here and to celebrate my holidays, to remember my roots and where I’m from. While it’s different, I don’t have my family, I don’t do the big Easter things anymore. But I always do have dinner with my fellow Easter folk where we go and sit down and have a meal together,” Janow said.
This Easter coincides with Ramadan, which for Ciara Phillips, a culture specialist from the UK, leaves room to creatively include all her friends and family in the Kingdom.
“Well, what’s amazing is that it coincides with Ramadan. So I’m thinking kind of Ramadan iftar meets Easter Sunday. I’ve already started thinking about how I’m going to decorate and (bring) little presents for guests,” Phillips said of her Saudi coffee cup filled with little candy mini-eggs presents that she plans to give her guests.
