Red Candle: Light for Palestine is a coalition-led movement that seeks to draw global attention to Palestine and Palestinian Christians, particularly around the Christian holidays, through the simple embodied practice of lighting red candles.

In the spring of 2025, The Telos Group convened a gathering of American Christian leaders and Palestinian Christian theologians. Together, we identified an urgent need. Every Christmas and Easter, the eyes of the world turn toward Bethlehem and Jerusalem—the birthplace of Jesus and the heart of his ministry. Yet many remain unaware of the suffering endured by Palestinians, including Palestinian Christians, whose presence in this land stretches back to the early church. In fact, many Christians have even used their faith to support or justify atrocities against Palestinians.

In response, a group of volunteers mobilized support from 14 partner organizations to develop Red Candle: Light for Palestine, a movement anchored in Christian holy days to center Palestinian voices and reclaim the peacemaking vision of Jesus.

Red Candle launched at the start of Advent 2025 with a meter-tall candle lit by the three heads of churches within the Grotto of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. From there, the movement spread rapidly across Palestine and the global church. Clergy, families, artists, activists, and interfaith allies lit red candles across 27 countries and territories, reaching over 1 million people on social media and garnering coverage in more than 10 publications.

This is just the beginning.

Middle East Eye: Why I’m lighting a red candle for Bethlehem this year

By Fares Abraham

Red Letter Christians: Candles and Concrete–The Birth of Jesus Today

By Marion Sarkisian Ramon Pareja

Church Leaders: As we sing about Bethlehem, let’s not ignore her

By Fares Abraham

Word & Way: Groups urge Christians to light red candle during Advent for Palestine

By Brian Kaylor

Baptist News: Church at the Crossroads highlights story of Palestinian Christians

By Lauren Cibene