The Birkat HaMinim (Hebrew: ברכת המינים, translated as "The Blessing Concerning Heretics") is the 12th benediction of the Amidah, the central standing prayer recited three times a day by observant Jews. Despite being called a "blessing," it is actually a petition asking God to destroy heretics, slanderers, and enemies of the Jewish community. The prayers target Notzrim (Nazarenes): The early Jewish-Christians who accepted Jesus as the Messiah but still lived within the Jewish community. As the early Church grew and aligned less with Jewish national survival (such as refusing to fight in the Bar Kokhba Revolt), the rabbis viewed them as a theological and physical threat.

Yesterday, October 25, 2026, the Holy Orthodox Order of Saint George the Great Martyr solemnly gathered for its Third Annual Memorial Service in remembrance of the victims of the October 19, 2023, bombing of the historic Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrios in Gaza. This year's commemoration carried additional sorrow as the Order also offered prayers for the Nine Martyrs of Karak, Jordan, whose lives were tragically taken in the recent attack at the Church of Saint George. Present during these solemn observances were the Order's sacred relics of Saint George the Great Martyr, our heavenly patron and protector, serving as a powerful reminder of the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering faith of Christians who have suffered for their beliefs throughout the centuries. As an Order dedicated to the peaceful defense, preservation, and continued existence of Christianity in the Holy Land and Middle East, we recognize that remembrance must extend beyond words and prayers. It must be accompanied by compassion, solidarity, and a steadfast commitment to those who continue to suffer. Though separated by geography, the Christian communities of Gaza and Karak are united in faith, suffering, and hope. Their grief is our grief, their loss is our loss, and their continued existence remains a sacred responsibility entrusted to us and all who profess the Christian faith. May the Lord grant eternal rest to the souls of the departed, comfort their grieving families, heal the wounded, and preserve the ancient Christian communities of the Holy Land and Middle East for generations to come. Memory Eternal! Αἰωνία ἡ μνήμη!

As of the 119th United States Congress, there are six Orthodox Christian members serving in the legislature. Because official reports detailing the specific party registration of each individual Orthodox member in the 119th Congress have not been fully itemized by name in aggregate reports, a precise partisan breakdown of these six members is not explicitly available. For historical context, the distribution of Orthodox Christians in recent legislative sessions has shifted as follows: • 119th Congress: The total dropped to six members across both major political parties. This decrease followed the departures of two Democratic representatives: Mary Peltola of Alaska (Russian Orthodox) and John Sarbanes of Maryland (Greek Orthodox). • 118th Congress: There were eight Orthodox Christian members, who were evenly split with four members belonging to each major political party.