Israeli Christian Flag

Christian Minorities in Israel

Last modified: 2025-01-18 by martin karner
Keywords: israel | christian | christianity | israeli christian flag | christian flags |
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1:2      ≈2:3 | image by Ihab Shlayan
(source)

• Israeli Christian Flag
  • Explanation and Display of Flag Elements
  • Vertical Variant
  • Military Flag Patch
• Flags in Use / Links

See also:

• Christian Flag
• Christian flags
• Minorities (Israel)
• Israel
  
  
• Crosses and Christian symbols in Jerusalem (by travelingisrael.com)

Israeli Christian Flag

The Israeli Christian Flag represents the Christian minorities in Israel. It was created on 23.4.2022 (St. George's Day) by Lt. Col. (Res.) Ihab Shlayan, the IDF's Christian senior officer. Its symbolism represents both the diversity and essential unity of Israel's Christian community. The flag finds growing acceptance by Israeli Christians and can be seen at events supporting the State of Israel and its Christian community.
Ihab Shlayan is also the founder and chairman of the "Christian VOICE" (a.k.a. Voice of Israeli Christian Eagles), a registered association working to consolidate an Israeli Christian identity and advance the community's interests.

The following characterisations of the flag are taken from the Instagram account of "Voice of Israeli Christian Eagles". They can also be found on the Instagram account of Lily Dayton, Israeli Christian blogger and spokesperson of the organisation.

Explanation and Display of Flag Elements

• Red: blood of Jesus, blood of the martyrs
• Yellow: resurrection, Holy Spirit
• White: purity, spirituality
• Blue: life, baptism
• Triangle: the Holy Trinity
  
  

• A red cross on a blue background represents all Christians. This element is inspired by the Christian Flag, which was designed in the 19th century to unite Christendom. The Christian Flag is popular among many Anglicans and Protestants in general.
• Yellow and white represent the Pope. Israel's largest Christian group is the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, which is in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. There is also a Roman Catholic community that follows the Latin Rite.
• Red and yellow represent the Arameans, an ancient ethnic group named in the Bible whose traditional language is Aramaic. Similar terms include Assyrian, Chaldean, and Syriac.
• Blue and white represent Greek Orthodox Christians. The Melkite Greek Catholic majority follows the ancient Greek Rite, even after reuniting with Rome in 1724.
• Blue and white additionally represent pride for the modern State of Israel. The Israeli Christian flag is celebrated by a community that strongly identifies with Israel, not pan-Arabism or other ideologies.
• St. George (d. 303) was a Roman soldier of Greek origin and a member of the Praetorian Guard for Emperor Diocletian, but was sentenced to death for refusing to recant his Christian faith. His tomb is in the Church of St. George in Lod. The flag depicts the popular legend of St. George and the Dragon.
  
  

image by Voice of Israeli Christian Eagles
(source)

Vertical Variant

Military Flag Patch

Since late 2023 Christians in the IDF can add the official Israeli Christian Flag patch (picture, source).
It's been reported since October 7, Christians, who are not legally required to serve in the Israeli army, have been volunteering in record numbers.
Inscriptions: above: "Iron Swords" (kharevot barezel); below: "Together we (will) win" (iakhad nenatzeakh)

Martin Karner, 7 January 2025

Flags in Use / Links