ON THE VISIT OF THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH TO THE PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM
The website of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem would like to inform its followers on the scheduled meeting of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem for a Meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the meeting in Jerusalem between the late Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras and Pope Paul VI.
According to the schedule drafted by the Ecumenical Patriarch in collaboration with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and His esteemed Retinue are expected to arrive in Jerusalem on Friday the 10th/23rd of May 2014.
In the afternoon of the same day, at 6:30 pm, His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch shall lead the Doxology service upon His arrival at the All-Holy Church of the Resurrection, in the presence of His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, before the official welcoming reception at the Patriarchate. The faithful can freely attend the event. The service shall be broadcast live online, through the Patriarchate’s Radio Station: www.radio.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/en
On the following day, Saturday the 11th/24th of May 2014, at approximately 11:00 am, His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch shall visit the Basilica of the Nativity and the Holy Cavern in Bethlehem, where He is expected to be warmly received by the Patriarchal Commissioner in Bethlehem, His Eminence Theophylaktos, Archbishop of Jordan, before leading the Doxology service. Clerics and laymen alike may freely participate in the event.
On Sunday, the 12th/25th of May 2014, starting at 7:00 am, Ecumenical Patriarchal Bartholomew shall lead a Joint Patriarchal and Multi-Primatial Service at the katholikon of the All-holy Church of the Resurrection. Co-officiating shall be His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, Primates of the Ecumenical Throne, Primates of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, priests and deacons, in the presence of the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis, and friends of the Ecumenical Patriarchate from America and Greece. The faithful may freely proceed to the service from the New Gate through the Holy Archangels street (St Francis Hanke), St Charalambos Monastery, Bab Han Il-Zet, the Muristan and the Gate at the entrance to the Gethsemane Dependency. The procession shall be broadcast live on the Patriarchate’s Radio Station: www.radio.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/en
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the crowd is requested to leave the Church of the Resurrection, due to safety measures taken by the Israeli Police specifically for the Meeting between His Holiness Pope Francis and His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
For this meeting, the Ecumenical Patriarch shall arrive at the court of the Church of the Resurrection through St Helen’s Gate in the company of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, for a prayer of gratitude in front of the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulcher, in accordance with the schedule drafted by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Franciscan Fraternity. This event can only be attended upon invitation.
On Monday the 13th/26th of May 2014, Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew shall call upon Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem in his summer house on the Mount of Olives, near the Church of Galili Viri. Again, only those invited may attend the event.
Further information on the visit shall be announced in due time.
From the Secretariat-General