Archbishop Atallah Hanna in stable condition after being poisoned

Archbishop Atallah Hanna, head of the Sebastia Diocese of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem, who has been outspoken on political issues of the region, was hospitalized on Decem­ber 18 after being poisoned, according to a message from the World Council of Churches. Accord­ing to reports, Hanna was rushed to the hospital after someone threw a gas canister into his church residence.

Abdullah Al-Bisher, director of Jor­dan Hospital, held a press conference on December 29 to share the results of laboratory tests, which found toxic substances had been used to poison the clergyman. He said that Hanna was in stable condition. —Christian Century staff