|TOP|Hereford Cathedral is supporting the commitment of the Archbishop of York in his week of fasting and hourly prayer for peace in Lebanon by holding parallel prayers every hour this week.

The Bishop of Hereford came out earlier in the week to give his full support to Dr John Sentamu’s call to people everywhere to pray for a resolution to the situation in the Middle East.

“I think what the Archbishop is suggesting should be supported by all of us,” said Bishop Anthony Priddis.

“It’s a simple thing to pause and pray, and if in church, to light a candle for peace.”

Thousands of refugees returning to battered towns and villages southern Lebanon are anxious that the truce brought about by last Friday’s U.N. resolution will bring a lasting peace.

|AD|The Archbishop of York will continue with his weeklong fasting and prayer action for permanent peace in Lebanon as Israel began its withdrawal of troops from the south of the country.

“Archbishop John will be praying on the hour every day for seven days, which is an amazing act of commitment,” said Bishop Anthony.

“I am suggesting that everyone tries to do that at least once in the coming week. The Dean of Hereford Cathedral has already decided that there will be prayers each hour from Sunday to coincide with the action in York Minster, but I am hoping that all our churches will be open this week to make it as easy as possible for anyone who wants to join us.”

The Archbishop of York has been fasting and praying on the hour in York Minster for peace in Lebanon since last Sunday and will conclude his offering this coming Sunday.

Dr Sentamu abandoned his holiday in Salzburg to spend a week camping in the Minster to show “common humanity with those suffering in the current conflict.”

Aid groups expressed their hope Tuesday that the UN ceasefire would be permanent and allow local partners to gain improved access to the worst affected communities in southern Lebanon.

The struggle between Israel and Hezbollah has left more than 970 people dead.