Kuwait churches to host ghabgas

Churches in predominantly Muslim Kuwait are planning a host of ghabgas, the late evening buffets, throughout Ramadan to boost inter-community ties. Hosted under the theme “Love and Rapprochement”, the ghabgas this year again aim to bring together common citizens, public figures, lawmakers and politicians in a spirit of cooperation and unity between religions, church leaders have said.Reverend Emmanuel Benjamin Gareeb, Pastor and Caretaker of the National Evangelical Church of Kuwait, said that the church sent invitations to attend its ghabga on Tuesday, according to Kuwaiti daily Al Watan.The reverend said that the ghabga would be hosted in the presence of Shaikh Nasser Al Mohammad Al Sabah, the prime minister, as well as MPs, ministers, ambassadors, citizens and expatriates.“The ghabga will be a good opportunity to gather all citizens and expatriates living in Kuwait who love each other even if they follow different religions,” he was quoted as saying. Priest Anba Beshoi, caretaker of the Egyptian Coptic Church in Kuwait, said that invitations were sent to guests to attend a ghabga on August 14 under the patronage and in the presence of the prime minister.Priest Beshoi told the daily that the church was keen on holding ghabgas every Ramadan “in order to strengthen love and rapprochement with their Muslims peers, and to boost the spirit of tolerance, love and peace prevailing in Kuwait.”Ramadan, the lunar calendar month during which Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking or engaging in sensual pleasures from sunrise until sunset, started on August 1 and is expected to last until August 29.According to church figures, about 350,000 Christians, overwhelmingly foreigners, live in Kuwait.With around 140,000, Catholics top the list. They are mainly Asians from India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, and Arabs from Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, and Syria.Orthodox Christians with around 67,500 members are the second largest group. From / Gulf News