Dr. Maria C. 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 book, Witness
in the Holy Land, is a reflection of life in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories since the outbreak of the
Second Palestinian Uprising in September 2000. She
is married to David C. Khoury, co-founder of the first
Palestinian microbrewery in the Middle East "Taybeh
Beer,” and former mayor of Taybeh. The Khourys
returned to the family village of Taybeh following
the Oslo Peace Agreement (1993) to boost the economy
and raise their children with centuries’ old
Palestinian Christian values and traditions. The new
family projects include the Taybeh Winery (2013) producing
boutique Palestinian wines and the Taybeh Golden Hotel.
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 gave three years
of her time to the Latin Patriarchate 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 (2000) it became impossible to reach the eleven
schools. She has been a volunteer in Taybeh at 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. Thirty houses have been
built and families finish them at their own pace.
She currently devotes her time to developing the Taybeh
Education Fund and seek annual sponsors.
Maria was born in Tripoli, Greece and raised in Denver,
Colorado. She is the mother of three adult children
Elena, Canaan, Constantine and the author of nine
children's books. Her popular 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 divides her time between her homes
in Boston and Taybeh, travels throughout the world
promoting the Christina Books and making presentations
about the dwindling Christian community in Palestine.
Maria Khoury was selected one of the top four 2009
Human Rights Champions.
Book readings for young children usually last half
hour but can be shorter or longer depending on the
needs of the specific group. A book reading from Christina
Goes to the Holy Land includes songs and walking the
footsteps of Christ throughout all the major holy
places usually with children from preschool to 5th
grade.
Description of Holy Land Presentation:
Maria Khoury uses her personal life experience living
in the West Bank, the Palestinian Occupied Territories
to bring greater awareness how conditions are on the
ground for Christians in specific and Palestinians
in general who suffer day to day under Israeli military
occupation trying to do simple things like going to
work and school. She speaks from the perspective of
being a woman, mother, an Orthodox Christian and community
activist. A sample of her opinions can been viewed
on one of the interviews on the multimedia page
www.saintgeorgetaybeh.org
Possible Titles to fit different audience but usually
the same content:
Love Thy Neighbor: Reflections from the Holy Land
Walking the Worthy Walk: Witness for Christ
Life on the Other Side of the Wall
Christian Presence in the Holy Land
Palestinian Christian Community Under Occupation
