THE PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM ADDRESSES RE-ELECTED MAYOR OF JERUSALEM
On Monday the 5th/18th of November 2013, an event was held in the site of Jerusalem’s City Hall on the re-election of Mayor Nir Barkat.
Invited to attend the event were the Heads of the Christian Churches in Jerusalem or their representatives.
Welcoming the representatives of Churches, the Mayor said: “This visit is for me an honour. During the first five years of my mayoralty”, he said, “I did not know you. But during this, my second term of office, I do know you, and I am therefore in position to better serve you. Jerusalem remains an open city, with religious freedom for all denominations. It annually attracts 10.000.000 pilgrims and tourists. We, the Mayoral Authorities, are looking forward to upgrading our collaboration with you. I am looking forward to Christmas, when I plan to visit you and offer my congratulations on the feast”.
Replying in the name of all representatives of the Christian Churches, His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, addressed the newly re-elected Mayor with this speech in English: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2013/11/18/3238
During the discussion that followed, the Leaders of the Christian Churches in Jerusalem pointed out a series of acts of violence committed by extreme elements, for instance the recent desecration of the Anglican Church Cemetery in Zion.
These acts were condemned by the Mayor, upon assurances of ongoing collaboration between Municipality and Police towards the prevention of such incidents and prosecution of their instigators.
From the Secretariat-General