Dr. Maria Khoury Introduction

Dr. Maria Khoury Introduction

Dr. Khoury lives in Palestine , on the West Bank of the Jordan River, in the Biblical land of Judea and Samaria . She has authored many articles dealing with the Christian presence in the Holy Land and the Palestinian struggle for independence and freedom. Her new book, Witness in the Holy Land, is a reflection of life in the Occupied Territories since the outbreak of the Second Palestinian Uprising in September 2000. She is married to Mr. David C. Khoury, founder of the first Palestinian microbrewery in the Middle East producing "Taybeh Beer." The Khourys moved to the family village of Taybeh following the Oslo Peace Agreement to boost the Palestinian economy and raise their children with centuries old Palestinian Christian values and traditions.

Maria (Kouremenou) Khoury holds a Doctor of Education degree, Boston University (1993); Master of Liberal Arts, Harvard University (1985) and a Bachelor of Arts, Hellenic College (1982). She volunteered three years of her time to the Christian schools in the Holy Land where she helped English teachers learn new methods in education and modern teaching strategies for the classroom. Due to the Israeli closures and siege it became impossible to reach the schools. Currently she is volunteering her time in her husband's home village of Taybeh to St. George Greek Orthodox Church to help fundraise for a vital housing project aimed at helping families obtain their first home on land donated by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.

Maria was born in Tripoli , Greece and raised in Denver , Colorado . She is the mother of three teen-age children Elena, Canaan, Constantine and the author of seven children's books. Her new book, Christina Goes to the Holy Land, will help inspire young readers in knowing more about the Christian presence in the land of Christ 's holy birth, crucifixion and resurrection. She spends the summers in Boston promoting her books and making presentations about the dwindling Christian community in Palestine and seeking donor support.

If you want to visit the web site of the church, the link is:

http://www.saintgeorgetaybeh.org/index.html