On Friday, the 16^th/29^th of August 2014, H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem decorated Consul Aspasia Mitsi in the presence of the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis, and Hagiotaphite Fathers. The ceremony took place at the Patriarchate. Mrs Mitsi was decorated on the occasion of the end of her tenure at the Greek Consulate General of Jerusalem, in recognition of her devoted and fruitful services to our nation, but also to the Patriarchate in its religious, cultural and peacemaking role in Jerusalem and the wider Middle East area.

Moved, Mrs Mitsi thanked His Beatitude and pledged to devotedly serve our nation and support the Patriarchate from her new post in Vienna.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/ETxtEfTIQ7I

On Thursday, the 15^th/28^th of August 2014, the feast of the Dormition of Our Lady the Mother of God was observed at her Tomb in Gethsemane.

His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem led the Matins and Divine Liturgy of this magnificent feast. Co-officiating were the Patriarchal Commissioner, the Very Reverend Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias; the Exarch of the Holy Sepulcher in Cyprus, the Very Reverend Metropolitan Timotheos of Vostroi; the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina; the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda; and the Exarch of the Holy Sepulcher in Constantinople, His Eminence Archbishop Nektarios of Anthedon – who led the Vespers on the previous day – Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and Arab-speaking Presbyters, as well as visiting priests. Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang in Greek and Russian, whereas the Cantors of St James Cathedral sang in Arabic. In attendance was the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis, and a crowd of faithful praying to the Ever Virgin Mary for help and protection.

During Communion, His Beatitude preached the Word of God in Greek.

After the Holy Metalepsis (partaking of wine), the distribution of the holy bread and the Apolysis, the Patriarchal Retinue and others were hosted to a reception by the Hegoumen, Archimandrite Nektarios.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/1vt7saMGctQ

httpv://youtu.be/OpvS-NmvR4c

On the morning of Wednesday, the 14^th/27^th of August 2014, the service of the Engomia (Lamentations) of the Mother of God was held in Gethsemane, at her tomb.

The service, unique in the Orthodox Church, began with a long procession of Hagiotaphite Fathers, priests of the Orthodox Churches and pilgrims, from the Patriarchate to the Hegoumen’s Quarters in Gethsemane. The procession went across the Via Dolorosa, passed by the Monasteries of St Charalambos, the Praetorium, Sts Joachim and Anna, came out of the Lions Gate and walked through the Monastery of St Stephen.

At the Hegoumen’s Quarters, His Beatitude and Primates sat until the arrival of priests who, dressed in formal attire, took their places in the court of the Gethsemane Shrine and welcomed the Patriarch.

After blessing the incense, His Beatitude walked into the Church, following the priests and cantors under the direction of the Head Cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos.

After venerating at the Tomb of the Mother of God, His Beatitude rose to the Throne. Once the Epitaphios (Bier) and the icon of the Dormition of Theotokos were placed by the priests at the center of the church, the service of the Lamentations began, having as participants a large crowd of locals and pilgrims. The Greek Consul-General in Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis, was also in attendance.

The speech of the day was delivered by the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina.

On the conclusion of Doxology, the priests carried the Epitaphios to the Church’s entrance steps, where His Beatitude made a supplication for peace and benevolence in the whole world.

After the supplication, the Epitaphios was carried to the Platytera, on the south of the Tomb of the Mother of God, where another supplication was made, and the Patriarchal Polychronism was sang.

Once the service was concluded, Hegoumen Nektarios hosted the Patriarchal and Hieratic retinue, as well as pilgrims, to a nuts, figs and grapes reception, in honour of Our Lady the Mother of God, obediently and devotedly participating in the mystery of our salvation.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/kjY_C-ORH-4

httpv://youtu.be/oWzkV4ivPMg

httpv://youtu.be/s6OnSULl6mg

In the early hours of Monday, the 12^th/25^th of August 2014, the icon of Theotokos was carried in a procession from the chapel of Gethsemane opposite the Church of the Resurrection to the Tomb of the Virgin Mary in Gethsemane.

Archimandrite Nektarios, the Abbot at the Holy Shrine of Gethsemane, led the procession, carrying the icon of the Dormition, in the presence of Primates such as the Elder Secretary-General, the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod and the Archbishop of Joppa. Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and nuns, as well as a large crowd of locals and pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Cyprus and Romania participated in the procession, whilst the Head Cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos, sang troparia to the Theotokos.

The procession walked through the Via Dolorosa, in the opposite direction than that of the Lord’s path to the crucifixion, namely from Calvary to the Praetorium. Supplications were made at three stops, in front of the Praetorium, in front of the Monastery of Sts Joachim and Anne, and in front of the Monastery of St Stephen the First Martyr.

The procession terminated at the church of the Dormition in Gethsemane, where the icon was placed on the epitaphion behind the Tomb of the Virgin Mary and in front of the icon of the Platytera.

The procession was followed by Matins and the Divine Liturgy. Co-officiating was His Eminence Damaskinos, Archbishop of Joppa. Attending the procession in piety were faithful gathered in honour and glory of the Mother of God.

From the Secretariat-General

On Monday, the 12^th/25^th of August 2014, H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem awarded the medal of Supreme Taxiarch of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher to Mr Salam Fayyad, the former prime minister of the Palestinian Autonomy.

The title was conferred on Mr Fayyad in recognition of his cooperation with and support of the Patriarchate.

Extending his thanks, Mr Fayyad pledged to carry on the aforementioned cooperation to the mutual benefit of Patriarchate members and citizens of the Palestinian State.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/J2aB2W1FSpE

On Friday the 11^th/22^nd of August 2014, the representative of the Romanian Patriarchate to Jerusalem, Archimandrite f. Timotheos, arrived at the Patriarchate alongside f. David, the head of the Romanian Patriarchate’s guesthouse in Jericho.

The two men were received by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of the Patriarchal Commissioner, the Very Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias; the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina; and the Patriarchal Commissioner in Constantinople, Archbishop Nektarios of Anthedon.

During this meeting, Archimandrite Timotheos and f. David, pursuant to the signed agreement, gave to the Patriarch of Jerusalem the keys to the church of the Jericho guesthouse, which He then returned to them. His Beatitude went on to offer the antimensium of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, blessed by Himself.

In offering the antimensium, His Beatitude wished and asked that efforts be made to abide by the signed agreement on ecclesiastical communion, for the edification of pilgrims flocking to the Holy Land from across the world under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, respect of which is to the benefit of all Orthodox Churches and of Christendom as a whole.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/590KOa31ubY

On Tuesday, the 6^th/19^th of August 2014, the feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ was observed at the Holy Monastery on Mount Tabor, where indeed it came to pass.

During this feast of the Lord, the Church commemorates the fact that, before His redeeming passion, Jesus Christ went up the mountain with Peter, James and John. Though not clearly referenced in the New Testament, the event has been made known by a very ancient ecclesiastical tradition.

On the mountain, a bright cloud covered the disciples and they saw the Lord, His face and clothes shining like the sun, talking with the prophets Moses and Elijah, foretelling His exodus, namely His crucifixion in Jerusalem; and they heard a voice from the cloud saying “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased”, (Matthew 17, 1-8).

The event was offered by the Lord to His disciples and the Church in order to demonstrate man’s original beauty, which he had lost after his fall and which may be regained through Him by the Transfiguration, namely the exquisite change, in order to prepare them for His glorious Resurrection from the dead.

A vigil was held on the night of the aforementioned day, led by H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem in Matins and the Divine Liturgy. Co-officiating were Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina; Metropolitan Polycarpos of Tanagra, visiting from Greece; the Patriarchal Commissioner in Northern Jordan, Archbishop Philoumenos of Pella; Hagiotaphite Archimandrites; the Hegoumen of the Monastery, Archimandrite Hilarion; priests from the Galilee area; and priests from Greece, Russia and Romania. Father Georgios Chardavelis of Greece chanted in Greek, whereas the choir sang in Arabic under the direction of Archimandrite Philoumenos. A great crowd of pious pilgrims from Russia, Ukraine and Greece enjoyed the blessing of this nocturnal open-air service.

His Beatitude preached the Word of God in Greek and in Arabic, see link: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2014/08/19/6932

On the morning of the same day, the Divine Liturgy was led by Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, with co-officiating priests from Galilee and Accra. Participating were Orthodox faithful from Galilee, Jerusalem, and the occupied areas.

After the Divine Liturgy, Archimandrite Hilarion hosted the Patriarchal and Prelatic Retinue to a reception at his quarters, followed by fish lunch at noon.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/B1XqqLy6ChI

httpv://youtu.be/YFQWBy7peqE

httpv://youtu.be/YFQWBy7peqE

On Monday, the 5^th/18^th of August 2014, H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem conferred the honorary title of Crusader of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher to Mr Demetrios Makris, Managing Director of ISBS Hellas. The company is the technical support sponsor for the Patriarchate’s Web Division.

The decoration ceremony took place at the Hall of the Patriarchate in the presence of Mr Christos Nikolaou, General Manager of the Patriarchate’s Web Division, and Hagiotaphite Fathers, i.e. the Patriarchal Commissioner and the Elder Secretary-General.

Addressing Mr Makris, His Beatitude said that this honorary title is conferred on him in recognition and appreciation of his contribution to the Patriarchate’s online activities.

In his reply, Mr Makris assured His Beatitude that he will carry on with all his might, through means provided by the contemporary online technology, to support the Patriarchate so that it may maintain its religious, peacemaking, cultural and pastoral contribution to the Holy Land and beyond.

From the Secretariat-General

On Tuesday, the 30^th of July/12^th of August 2014, the Serbian Ambassador to Israel, Mr Milutin Stanoyevic, visited the Patriarchate accompanied by Mrs Miliça Vajovic, the Embassy Secretary, whose assignment in Israel is nearing its close.

His Excellency the Ambassador of Serbia and his Secretary were received by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Patriarchal Commissioner, Metropolitan Isycios of Kapitolias, and the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina.

An interesting discussion took place in the context of this meeting on the role of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem as a factor of stability and reconciliation in the Middle East, especially so during this period of political unrest, acutely manifested with the atrocities in Gaza. Also underlined was the role of the Patriarchate as a link between the Orthodox states currently maintaining diplomatic delegations to the state of Israel.

The destruction of Serbia’s cultural and ecclesiastical monuments, caused during the years of the harsh war, as well as by recent floods, was also talked about.

Having asked His Beatitude’s blessing, the Serbian Ambassador and Mrs Miliça Vajovic went on to venerate at the Holy Sepulcher, His Beatitude wishing the Ambassador success in his mission and Mrs Vajovic a fine career back to her country.

From the Secretariat-General

On Saturday, the 27^th of July/9^th of August 2014, the Patriarchate commemorated St Panteleimon, the great martyr and healer, in the Church dedicated to him, which lies in the Christian quarter, between the Patriarchate and David’s Gate.

The chapel is one of the twenty chapels of the Patriarchate in the Old City. It used to be dedicated to St Cyril the Catechizer, Archbishop of Jerusalem.

The Vespers and Divine Liturgy on the day of the feast was led by His Eminence Damaskinos, Archbishop of Joppa. Co-officiating were Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and Arab-speaking Presbyters. The choir sang under the direction of the head-cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos. Pious pilgrims, albeit few because of the turbulent situation in Gaza, participated in piety alongside nuns and residents of Jerusalem.

In the course of the Divine Liturgy, H.B. the Patriarch proceeded to venerate with Hagiotaphite Fathers.

After the Divine Liturgy, Abbess Charitini hosted all to a reception at her quarters.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TREQIwQEsc&list=UUUJ0Grl082n5ebQS0hXtc7g