PATRIARCHATE RETURNS PASCHAL VISITS
On Bright Wednesday, the 10th/23rd of April 2014, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem returned the visits it received on Bright Tuesday by Christian Churches in Jerusalem. Hagiotaphite Fathers first returned the visit of the Monastic Fraternity of the Franciscans.
There, the head of the Hagiotaphites, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, greeted the Franciscan Custodian, f. Pierrebatista Pizzaballa and the Franciscan Fathers on the occasion of Easter, a feast of remembrance and understanding of the Resurrection of Christ which sealed His work of salvation of humans: “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith”.
In his reply speech, the Custodian thanked His Beatitude for the visit, collaboration and festive wishes, wishing on his part for days of joy and peace amongst the Communities, for the benefit of their flocks, as well as sound cooperation for the visit of Pope Francis and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Subsequently, the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood visited the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem. There, His Beatitude congratulated the Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem, Mr Fouad Twal on the great feast of Easter, the feast of Christ’s Passion and Resurrection. The feast, celebrated jointly this year, has established the strong presence of Christianity in Jerusalem.
In his reply speech, the Latin Patriarch expressed his joy over the visit of Christian Communities to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, on the day before, and over the present day’s return visit of the Orthodox. On the occasion of this day “that the Lord made for us to rejoice”, there is hope that all of us shall celebrate together in order to strengthen the Christian entity in the Holy Land.
His Beatitude then visited the Apostolic Nuncio, namely Pope’s representative to the Holy Land.
Around noon, His Beatitude visited the Patriarchate of the Armenians, where he addressed the Armenian Patriarch, Nourhan Manukian, in English, see: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2014/04/23/6280
From the Secretariat-General