Hope in the Shadow of the Wall: The Journey of One of Our Master’s Students
“I learned that faith is not an escape from the world, but an active presence within it. Issues of justice, dignity, and peace are theological responsibilities, no less important than prayer and worship. Through my studies, I discovered that Christ did not come to build a closed religious institution, but to launch a project of salvation for humanity in all its dimensions.”
My name is Elyas Anastas, and I was born and raised in the city of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ – a place that holds deep spiritual meaning for Christians around the world. Yet for me, it has also been a place of daily struggle and suffering, I live in a house that has been surrounded by the Israeli separation wall from all directions, cutting us off from our land, neighbors, and much of our community. Since my early childhood, I have witnessed the harsh realities of military occupation – restrictions, checkpoints, raids, and the constant sense of confinement and injustice.
I grew up in a conservative community where religion held a significant place in people’s lives, Yet, I often felt that faith around me was reduced to rituals and outward practices, without truly touching the daily struggles or healing the wounds of humanity in our society. From an early age, I was drawn to issues of justice and human dignity, especially as I witnessed the suffering of the poor, the marginalized, and those in need in my homeland.
I chose to study law and work as an ecclesiastical lawyer, accompanying families through their legal challenges and trying to be a voice for the oppressed and a refuge for the vulnerable. However, with time, I realized that the law alone was not enough to address the deeper wounds bleeding in our communities, and that there was an urgent need for reconciliation between the human person, God, and society.
This is what led me to study theology – not merely as an academic pursuit, but as a spiritual and human journey that transformed me from within. I learned that faith is not an escape from the world, but an active presence within it. Issues of justice, dignity, and peace are theological responsibilities, no less important than prayer and worship. Through my studies, I discovered that Christ did not come to build a closed religious institution, but to launch a project of salvation for humanity in all its dimensions.
I often thought about emigrating, searching for a quieter and more stable future, like any person living on this earth who longs for peace, open opportunities, and a life free from wars and constant closures. I dreamed of a place where I could further develop my skills and talents – ones I had worked hard to build throughout my years of study – without allowing the harsh circumstances around me to suppress or erase them.
Yet, every time I tried to pursue this path, obstacles would rise before me. Sometimes it was the tense security situation we constantly live under (which often prevents us from even leaving the country for a short trip), other times it was the unjust occupation that controls our movement, our borders, and even our aspirations. And with every failed attempt, I felt as though God was calling me to remain – to witness from within this difficult reality, to carry my message among my people, and to seek meaning and purpose in the midst of pain.
These experiences deeply marked my identity, but rather than push me away from my faith, they rooted me more deeply in it, The suffering I saw and lived through became a reason to cling even more to my Christian faith. I learned that faith is not only a source of comfort but a force of resilience and hope amid oppression. Despite all the challenges that I have faced under this unjust occupation, direct and indirect, my faith has grown stronger. It taught me that Christ Himself was born into occupied land and lived among the oppressed, and that our faith calls us to hold fast to hope, justice, and love even in the darkest circumstances.
Today, in my work as a lawyer and counselor, the theology I studied plays a vital role in how I view cases, how I understand the mission of the Church, and how I perceive my personal life. I have come to see that every human issue is also a theological issue, and every place where there is pain and injustice is a space where God’s presence must be witnessed through us. This journey has made me a new person and has given my life a deeper meaning beyond a profession – it has become a calling.
