In a ceremony on Tuesday, September 3rd, King Abdullah II of Jordan presented Bishop Munib Younan with the Al-Hussein Decoration for Distinguished Service, First Class by King Abdullah II. Bishop Younan was awarded the medal for his work towards peace, co-existence, and interfaith dialogue between Christians and Muslims. The Al-Hussein Decoration for Distinguished Service, First Class rewards distinction and achievement in particular fields, including philanthropy, literature, the arts, science, scholarship and education, industry and commerce, or public service.
The award was handed out during a conference hosted by King Abdullah II and Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, the King’s chief advisor for religious and cultural affairs, on Arab Christians entitled, “The Challenges Facing Arab Christians.” The conference was attended by Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, and both Muslim and Christian religious leaders from around the world, including Patriarch of the Holy City and the rest of Palestine and Jordan Orthodox His Beatitude (H.B.) Theophilos III, Armenian Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem H.B. Nourhanne Manouguean, and Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and Jordan H.B. Fuad Twal. During the ceremony H.B. John X of Antioch, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and the Whole Levant, were also honored by King Abdullah II.
