On Monday, the 8^th/21^st of July 2014, the feast of the great martyr Prokopios was celebrated at the Patriarchate. Originally a persecutor of Christians, Prokopios went on to preach Christ after believing in a vision. He suffered a martyr’s death in 303 AD, in Caesaria, Palestine.

The feast was observed at the chapel dedicated to his name, which lies in the South New Jerusalem, across from the hill of St Sion, alongside the chapel of St Modestos in the Abu Tor region.

The Vespers and Divine Liturgy were performed by the spiritual father of the Monastery of Hosios Sabba, the sanctified Archimandrite Evdokimos, as monks and faithful of the Church of Jerusalem participated in piety.

During the Divine Liturgy, H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem visited the chapel with Archimandrite Aristarchos of Constantina, Elder Secretary General.

At the conclusion of the service, Monk Antiochos, the Monastery’s conservator, courteously hosted the congregation to a reception at the forecourt of the Monastery.

From the Secretariat-General

On Saturday, the 6^th/19^th of July 2014, H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem issued the following statement in English on the proclamations against Christians in Iraq, according to which Christians are faced with crucifixion unless they either pay taxes or convert to Islam. See link: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2014/07/19/8173

From the Secretariat-General

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem is alarmed upon hearing the horrifying statement issued by the Islamic State group, telling Christian communities in the Iraqi city of Mosul that they must convert to Islam, pay a jiziya tax, or give up all their possessions and leave the city, otherwise face imminent execution.

The inhumane statement is contrary to the peaceful symbiosis of Christians and Muslims in Iraq and in the entire Middle East region throughout the centuries and completely goes against the principles and values of these monotheistic religions.

The “Mother Church” of Jerusalem strongly and unequivocally condemns the appalling statement of the Islamic State group and appeals with utmost urgency to the international community to immediately intervene in order to avoid such actions and to protect the Christian population of Iraq, which has been living for many centuries in peace with their Muslim compatriots.

His Beatitude

THEOPHILOS III

Patriarch of Jerusalem

On Friday the 5^th/18^th of Julye 2014, a group of nuns and accompanying pilgrims from the Monastery of Chrysopege, of the Kydonia and Apokoronos Bishopric, and from the Monastery of St Irene of the Church of Crete, headed by Abbess Theoxeni and Archimandrite f. Justinus, Protosyncellus of the Bishopric of Florina, visited the Patriarchate.

This distinguished group of nuns and pilgrims was received by H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, and Hagiotaphite Fathers.

His Beatitude welcomed the nuns and pilgrims to the Holy Land, specifically in Jerusalem, where the soil has been drenched with the redeeming blood of Christ, and where the earth received the crucified, pure Body of our Saviour, who was buried and rose from the dead. Owing to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and His incarnate presence, this land bears sanctity and grace, sought and received by pilgrims. These pilgrims are sanctified as beholders of the holy lands “by the grace of the All-holy and Life-giving Tomb” and of the rest of the Shrines. By this grace, pilgrims become preachers of the hallowing property of the Holy Shrines and of the Church, which carries on its pastoral and consecrating work for the benefit of pilgrims. These very pilgrims stand among them as especially worthy of praise, for having defied the war situation in Gaza in order to conduct their pilgrimage.

Abbess Theoxeni of the Monastery of Chrysopege, thanked His Beatitude for these words and offered Him an epigonation [rhomboid ornament] embroidered at her Monastery, along with an icon of St Porphyrios, a late spiritual father at the Monastery.

Having received His Beatitude’s blessing, a cross, icons and other Jerusalemite eulogias, the nuns and pilgrims carried on their tour at the Holy Sepulcher.

From the Secretariat-General

On the evening of Wednesday, the 3^rd/16^th of July 2014, H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem hosted an “Iftar”, namely a dinner on the conclusion of the Ramazan fasting period for Muslims.

The dinner was held at the Mövenpick Hotel in Ramallah, with both Muslims and Christians as guests. Its aim was to enhance the peaceful coexistence and cooperation between Christians and Muslims in the Holy Land.

Among others, guests included Mr Ziyad Baddak, Palestinian Autonomy Minister; Mr Adnan Husseini, Palestinian Ambassador to the Vatican; Mr Hanna Amire, Chairman of the Palestinian State’s Committee on Christian Affairs.

During dinner, the Patriarch of Jerusalem addressed guests in Arabic. See link: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2014/07/18/6646

From the Secretariat-General

On the evening of Tuesday, the 2^nd/15^th of July 2014, H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, accompanied by the Patriarchal Commissioner, the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias; the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina; and the Very Reverend presbyter f. Issa Musleh, participated in the reception held in His honour at the town of Shepherds Village/Beit-Sahour, by Mr Jiries Kumsiyeh and his son, Mr Bashar Jiries Kumsiyeh.

In the context of this reception, His Beatitude conferred the title of Crusader Minor of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher to the hosts of the event for their substantial interest in favour of the Patriarchate and its flock, either from the U.S., where Mr J. Kumsiyeh lives and works as an entrepreneur alongside his son Dr B. Kumsiyeh, or from their birthplace of Beit-Sahour. The Patriarch’s address in Arabic was read by f. Issa Musleh and may be reached here: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2014/07/17/6579

From the Secretariat-General

On Monday the 1^st/14^th of July 2014, a group of fifty pious pilgrims, headed by the Most Reverend Theocletus, Metropolitan of Florina, accompanied by the Protosyncellus, Archimandrite Justinus, visited the Patriarchate.

The Metropolitan, the Protosyncellus and accompanying pilgrims were warmly received by H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, and Hagiotaphite Fathers.

Patriarch Theophilos talked to the guests on the educational and sanctifying power of the Holy Shrines, those silent witnesses of the incarnation, presence on earth and salvation work of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

On the occasion of the meeting, His Beatitude Theophilos conferred on the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Florina, Prespes and Eordaia, the honorary title of the Supreme Taxiarch of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher. The Very Reverend Protosyncellus, Archimandrite Justinus, was awarded the title of the Crusader Minor. Both were honoured for their love and support of the Patriarchate; fr Justinus was also honoured for his services to the Orthodox faithful across the world by means of his radio show at 4ε station.

On their turn, the Metropolitan and Protosyncellus thanked His Beatitude for this distinction and pledged to happily continue their actions in favour of the Holy Shrines, their Bishopric and of the Church as a whole. After receiving the Patriarch’s blessing, they carried on their pilgrimage tour.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/AdM1w1zQx1I?list=UUUJ0Grl082n5ebQS0hXtc7g

httpv://youtu.be/EbczezCX8O0?list=UUUJ0Grl082n5ebQS0hXtc7g

On Sunday, the 30^th of June/13^th of July 2014, the feast of the Gathering of the Twelve Holy Apostles was celebrated at the Holy Monastery dedicated to them, near the Western shore of the Tiberian sea, at the centre of the present-day big Israeli city of Tiberias.

At the church of the Monastery, which preserves many of the building components of the ancient church which is linked to the Lord’s miracle, namely His appearance before His disciples after the Resurrection, when He instructed them to throw their nets on the right side of the boat (John 21, 6) and then eat from the fish and bread that lay on the coal (John 21, 9), which constitutes the evangelical excerpt of the 10^th Eothinon Gospel of Sundays – His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, led the Matins and Divine Liturgy. Co-officiating were the Most Reverend Kyriakos, Metropolitan of Nazareth and Hieromonks from nearby Monasteries of the Patriarchate. Cantors from neighbouring communities sang, while Greek pilgrims and Russian-speaking and Arab-speaking faithful participated in piety.

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

In Arabic, His speech may be reached here: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2014/07/13/6537

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Abbot f. Timotheos hosted the Patriarchal retinue to lunch, which was followed by lunch with fish from the Tiberian sea.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/1mEyYcWuX_c?list=UUUJ0Grl082n5ebQS0hXtc7g

On Saturday the 29^th of June/12^th of July 2013, the feast of the glorious heads of the apostles, Sts Peter and Paul, was celebrated at the Monastery dedicated to them in Capernaum, near the West Bank of the Tiberian Sea.

The Monastery and church in its present-day form was built in 1935, as attested by the inscription on the iconostasis, by the ever-memorable Patriarch Damian of Jerusalem, on the ruins of ancient Capernaum, which had received many miracles of the Lord, and in fact became His second hometown, after He had left his hometown of Nazareth (Matthew 2, 23). In spite of this, Capernaum did not repent, as according what the Lord had foretold, it descended into Hades: “And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day” (Matthew 11, 23).

To this monastery, well preserved for years now by monk Eirinarchos, H.B. Patriarch Theophilos arrived on the morning of the aforementioned day, to lead the Matins and Divine Liturgy. Co-officiating were Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, and Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina; Hieromonk and Hegoumen at the Monastery of Mount Tabor, Archimandrite Hilarion; Arab-speaking and Russian-speaking priests from the region of Upper Galilee and Accra-Ptolemais. Archimandrite Philotheos directed the choir. In attendance were Greek pilgrims as well as Arab-speaking and Russian-speaking faithful from the Patriarchate’s Communities in Northern Israel.

During Communion, His Beatitude preached the word of God in Greek. In Arabic, His speech may be read here: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2014/07/12/6534

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, supervising monk f. Eirinarchos courteously hosted the Patriarchal retinue at the Hegoumen’s quarters. At noon, lunch with fish from the Tiberian Sea was offered to all.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/U4sWDr4gB2U

On Wednesday, the 25^th of June/9^th of July 2014, the Exarch of the Holy Sepulcher in Greece, the Most Reverend Archimandrite f. Damianos, heading a group of fifty pilgrims – including priests and faithful from the Dependencies of the Church of Sion in Greece, visited the Patriarchate.

The Exarch and accompanying pilgrims were courteously received by His Beatitude, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, and Hagiotaphite Fathers.

At the beginning of the visit, the Exarch of the Holy Sepulcher in Greece expressed his profound gratitude to God on their arrival to the Holy Land, where the Holy Shrines have been preserved through the centuries by the Patriarchate and the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood. He also reiterated his devotion to Patriarch Theophilos III for the honour bestowed upon them, namely the representation of the Church of Sion in Greece.

In His reply, His Beatitude thanked the Exarch for this initiative of veneration and explained the significance of pilgrimage as an act of spiritual construction, which enhances faith and contributes to salvation.

His Beatitude went on to offer pectoral crosses to the priests and Jerusalemite eulogias to the pilgrims, who carried on their pilgrimage.

Amongst the pilgrims were Mr Photios Kourlamanis, President of the Society of Eurytania Scientists; Mrs Adamantia Oikonomou, Deputy Public Prosecutor at the court of appeals; Mrs Eleni Papacosta, Magistrate in Agrinion; Mr Eythymios Kordoroumpas, retired Brigadier; Mr Christos Tzoumelekas, retired Major General and others.

As a token of remembrance of this visit, Mr Kourlamanis offered His Beatitude a book entitled “The Contribution of the Church in the 1940s”.

From the Secretariat-General