On the morning of Saturday the 11^th/24^th of May 2014, at approximately 11:00 am, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, accompanied by His retinue, namely: His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, and the Most Reverend Metropolitans: Gennadios of Italy and Meliti; Ioannis of Pergamos; Iacovos of Prince Islands; Emmanuel of France; and Gennadios of Sasima. Also, His Eminence Archbishop Job of Telmissos; the Chief Secretary, Archinandrite f. Bartholomew Samaras; the Very Reverend Archdeacon Maximos Vgenopoulos; the Very Reverend Patriarchal Deacon, Mr Andreas Sophianopoulos; the very Honourable Theodoros Angelopoulos, Archon Megas Logothetis (The Grand Deputy); the very Honourable Panteleimon Vingas, Archon Megas Hartophylax (The Grand Archivist) and the most erudite Nikolaos Tzoitos, Nikolaos Magginas, Nikolaos Papachristos, Symeon Fratzelas and Panteleimon Kioses and other clerics; and also by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem’s accompanying committee, namely: the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda and the Patriarchal Commissioner in Constantinople, His Eminence Archbishop Nektarios of Anthedon, visited the city of Bethlehem.

Arriving at the courtyard of the Basilica of the Nativity, His All-Holiness was warmly received by the Patriarchal Commissioner in Bethlehem, His Eminence Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan.

He was equally received by representatives of the President of the Palestinian Autonomy, Mr Mahmud Abbas, Minister Ziyad Bandak, the Chairman of the Palestinian Committee on Christian Affairs, Mr Hanna Amire, the Prefect of Bethlehem, Mayor Vera Baboun, the Community Council of the Greek Orthodox Community of Bethlehem, clerics and a great crowd of faithful, exclaiming “Blessed is he who comes”.

From the courtyard, they entered the Basilica with priests dressed in sacerdotal vestments and cantors singing “Your birth, Christ our God” under the direction of the head cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos.

His All-Holiness entered through the Basilica – a right reserved exclusively to the Orthodox –and through the chapel of St Nikolas and the South Gate to the Cavern, proceeded to the Holy Cave and venerated the Star and the Manger, whereupon the pericope of the Nativity was recited.

From the Cave, His All-Holiness rose to the Throne in the area in front of the iconostasis and led the Doxology service, before addressing the congregation.

From the Basilica, His All-Holiness proceeded to the renovated Hegoumen’s Quarters, where the Patriarchal Commissioner, His Eminence Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan, hosted Him and His retinue to a reception.

After leaving the Basilica of the Nativity, His All-Holiness crossed the checkpoint at Rachel’s Tomb, and proceeded to the David Citadel Hotel.

From the Secretariat-General 

The website of the Patriarchate would like to inform its followers that His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived at 4:00 pm at Ben Gurion airport, Tel Aviv, accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, and the Most Reverend Metropolitans: Gennadios of Italy and Meliti; Ioannis of Pergamos; Iacovos of Prince Islands; Emmanuel of France; and Gennadios of Sasima. Also, His Eminence Archbishop Job of Telmessos; the Chief Secretary, Archinandrite f. Bartholomew Samaras; the Very Reverend Archdeacon Maximos Vgenopoulos; the Very Reverend Patriarchal Deacon, Mr Andreas Sophianopoulos; the very Honourable Theodoros Angelopoulos, Archon Megas Logothetis (The Grand Deputy); the very Honourable Panteleimon Vingas, Archon Megas Hartophylax (The Grand Archivist) and the most erudite Nikolaos Tzoitos, Nikolaos Magginas, Nikolaos Papachristos, Symeon Fratzelas and Panteleimon Kioses.

His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, received the Ecumenical Patriarch at the airport, in the company of the Most Reverend Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias; the Elder Secretary General, His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina; the Patriarchal Commissioner in Constantinople, His Eminence Archbishop Nektarios of Anthedon; and the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda. Also in attendance, on behalf of the Government of Israel, were: Tourism Minister Mr Uzi Landay; the former ambassador of Israel to Turkey, Mrs Amire; and the President of the Christian Affairs Department at the Interior Ministry, Mr Cezar Margie.  Representing the Greek Government, were the representative of the Greek Embassy to Israel, Mrs Lourbakou, and the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis.

At 6:15 pm, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived at David’s Gate, where He was warmly received by Hagiotaphite Fathers and a crowd of faithful. From there, He proceeded to the Patriarchate, with the Greek Orthodox Boy Scouts leading the procession.

From the Patriarchate, accompanied by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch walked to the Church of the Resurrection amid bells ringing.

After venerating at the Holy Apokathelosis and the Holy Sepulcher, His All-Holiness presided over Doxology at the katholikon.

At the conclusion of the Doxology service, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, addressed the Ecumenical Patriarch in Greek, after which His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew delivered a reply-speech.

Subsequently, the Ecumenical Patriarch venerated at the Golgotha and proceeded to the Patriarchates, where He was addressed by the Patriarch of Jerusalem.

After the Ecumenical Patriarch’s words of thanks, Patriarch Theophilos offered Him a fine set of Patriarchal engolpiya(icons worn on the chest).

This marked the end of the welcoming ceremony on the arrival of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/O-13At-F8gg

On Sunday, the 12^th/25^th of May 2014, starting at 7:00 am, His All-Holiness 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, friends of the Ecumenical Patriarchate from America and Greece, and a crowd of faithful.

The procession shall be broadcast live on the Patriarchate’s Radio Station: www.radio.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/en

From the Website Administration of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

In the afternoon of Tuesday the 7^th/20^th of May 2014, His Excellency the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Mr Plamen Oresharski, while in an official visit to the state of Israel, visited the Patriarchate in the company of Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Mr Kristian Vigenin, Health Minister Mrs Tanya Andreeva, Agriculture Minister, Mr Dimitar Grekov, his wife, members of the Bulgarian Parliament, the Bulgarian Ambassador to Israel, Mr Dimitar Mihaylov and other associates of his.

In the context of this visit, His Beatitude, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, awarded the Prime Minister with the Great Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher for his contribution to the Church and to prosperity in his country, with the wish that the medal shall remain a link between the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the country and Church of Bulgaria. His Beatitude addressed the Prime Minister in English, see link:  https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2014/05/20/6984

Touched, the Prime Minister thanked His Beatitude, adding that the honour conferred upon him through the medal is reflected onto the entire people of Bulgaria, and offering Him the icon of St Boris, the country’s patron saint.

His Beatitude offered the Prime Minister an icon of Theotokos and the “History of the Church of Jerusalem”, authored by the late Chrysostomos Papadopoulos.

From there, the Prime Minister proceeded to the Holy Sepulcher, where he was received by His Eminence Isidoros, Archbishop of Hierapolis.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/t39LacwI53o

Jerusalem, 20 of May 2014

Your Excellency, Mr. Prime Minister Plamen Οresharski,

It is with great joy that we welcome you and the distinguished members of your delegation today, during the Paschal period, here in Jerusalem and to our Patriarchate. The Patriarchate of Jerusalem is considered to be the Mother of all Churches, for Jerusalem has been the wellspring of our Christian faith and our common Orthodox traditions, i.e. the values that we share together with the Orthodox Church and the people of Bulgaria.

You are here on a state visit to Israel; however, for us your visit is considered a pilgrimage to the holy places, more specifically to the Church of the Anastasis, which encompasses the crucifixion and burial site, i.e. the tomb, of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Patriarchate of Jerusalem, together with the order of the Brotherhood of the Holy Tomb, has been entrusted by Our Lord the guardianship and service of those holy places, which attract thousands of pilgrims every day of the year. Needless to say, the majority of these pilgrims come from Orthodox countries, including of course, your own beloved country of Bulgaria.

In saying this, we would like to emphasize the fact that our common Orthodox Christian faith and heritage serves as a point of unity between our Orthodox people and nations, and as a bridge of reconciliation. We are saying this because first of all, we here do not represent ourselves – we represent the Orthodox Church as a whole and Christendom. Secondly, the mission of the Patriarchate is and has remained throughout the ages, a purely religious and spiritual one_, which promotes peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and understanding between the various religious communities.

Furthermore, the mission of the Patriarchate has been to protect the existing political and diplomatic Status Quo of Jerusalem, in which Jerusalem is equally sacred and holy to the three monotheistic religions, i.e. Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Mr. Prime Minister, your pilgrimage here is not only a blessing for you and your countrymen, it is a blessing for the Holy Land; for every pilgrim is regarded as a messenger of good will and a messenger of peace and reconciliation, which is so greatly needed in this region and for the broader area of the blood-soaked Middle East.

Allow us to take this opportunity to confer upon you the honor of the Cross of the Order of the Holy Tomb of Christ in appreciation of your commitment to the wellbeing of your country and for the peace of the world. Let this be a sign of communion between the Bulgarian people and the Church of Jerusalem. You are welcome and God bless you.

His Beatitude

THEOPHILOS III

Patriarch 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 50^th 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 10^th/23^rd 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 11^th/24^th 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 12^th/25^th 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 13^th/26^th 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

In the evening of Saturday, the 4^th/17^th of May 2014, His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by the Patriarchal Commissioner, the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias; the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Aristarchos of Constantina; the Hegoumen at Ramallah, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Galaktion, priest Yacoub Houri and Commissioners at the Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ramallah, and Mr Hanna Issa, visited the area of Ramallah and Birzeit, specifically the towns of Mazra’a Sharkiya and Abu-Shkheidem. There, they called upon the families of the two teens, Nadim Nuwara and Muhammad Abu Daher, who three days ago were murdered by Israeli troops at a protest.

During this visit, His Beatitude in person as well as through the Very Reverend Archimandrite f. Galaktion and Mr Hanna Issa, offered condolences to the parents and other members of the families of the murdered youth, wishing that consolation, strength, reassurance and protection be granted to them from above.

From the Secretariat-General

On Monday the 29^th of April/12^th of May 2014, Greece’s former Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr Constantinos Tsiaras, visited the Patriarchate accompanied by the Greek ambassador to Israel, Mr Lamprides, and the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis and a number of his associates.

The former undersecretary was received by His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of the Patriarchal Commissioner, His Eminence Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias, the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina, and other Hagiotaphite Fathers.

An interesting discussion took place in the context of this visit, on the recent inauguration of the Holy Sepulcher Exarchy in Cyprus, and the scheduled visits of Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew; also, on the work anticipated by the Patriarchate in the framework of these events.

On the occasion of this visit, His Beatitude presented Mr Tsiaras with the medal of the Supreme Taxiarch of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher, for his support in the resolution of issues concerning the Patriarchate.

On his part, Mr Tsiaras expressed his thanks for the honour bestowed upon him and pledged to carry on supporting the Patriarchate that is so prudently shepherded by His Beatitude.

From the Secretariat-General

Upon a request by the Orthodox faithful to His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Holy Cross which carries a piece of the Lord’s Cross will remain at the Exarchy of the Holy Sepulcher in Cyprus (4, Archimandrite Kyprianos, Nicosia 1015) in order for all those interested to have the opportunity to venerate.

Veneration hours: 7.00-13.00 and 16.30-19.30 daily.

From the Exarchy of the Holy Sepulcher in Cyprus

On the morning of Saturday the 27^th of April/10^th, the church of the Holy Sepulcher Exarchy was inaugurated in Cyprus, followed by the Divine Liturgy.

The Exarchy building lies at a short distance from the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus. It was built on land belonging to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and within the older building, preserving all items designated by the Archaeological Department of Cyprus.

The newly erected building includes a church dedicated to the Ascension of the Lord and to St Philoumen the Hagiotaphite who suffered a martyr’s death near Jacob’s Well.

The entire work was completed with the approval of the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus, in response to a relevant request by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Works of reconstruction, reparation and erection of the Church and its surrounding halls intended for the operation of the Exarchy and the dwelling of the Exarch, as well as of visiting Hagiotaphite Fathers, were completed within approximately two years, owing to the diligent efforts of the Exarch, the Most Reverend Timotheos, Metropolitan of Bostroi and the financial support of the Patriarchate’s benefactor, Mr Igor Altushkin. Also, thanks to the knowledge and honesty of architects, Mr Ioannis Agisilaou and Mr Georgios Kalavas, and the knowledge and transparency of foreman Mr Andronikou.

The new Exarchy fills the void of the old Exarchy of the Holy Sepulcher at the Holy Monastery of St Chrysostom in Koutsoventis, which has been inoperative since the 1974 Turkish invasion in Cyprus. It is intended to serve as a link between the life and collaboration of these two ancient Churches, namely the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Church of Cyprus, throughout their pastoral, ecclesiastical, and venerating work, as well as in their peacemaking, educational and cultural endeavours in the Middle East.

The Inauguration ceremony was performed after Saturday Matins Service.

In accordance with the typical order of Inauguration, the holy relics were carried from the Altar across the church and around it, after the recitation of relevant excerpts from the Old Testament and the Gospels.

Subsequently, as the Patriarch invoked “Lift up your heads, O ye gates! and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors! and the King of glory shall enter in” thrice, the gates of the Church opened to let the Patriarch in.

The holy relics carried from Jerusalem were then placed on the Holy Altar, followed by a consecration ceremony which involved smearing the icons on the iconostasis with the holy myrrh.

Once the Holy Altar was consecrated, the Divine Liturgy began.

The festive Orthodox service was led by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem. Co-officiating on his right was His Beatitude Chrysostomos, Archbishop of Cyprus, surrounded by the Most Reverend Chrysostomos, Metropolitan of Kition; the Exarch, Metropolitan Timotheos of Bostroi; the Patriarchal Commissioner in Gaza, Archbishop Alexios of Tiberias; the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constanina; Archimandrites Evdokimos and Ignatios; other Hieromonks and Presbyters of the Church of Cyprus; Archdeacon Evlogios; Archdeacon Kyprianos of the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus, and a crowd of faithful and friends of the Holy Sepulcher. Co-praying among them was Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Kyrenia, as the choir sang under the direction of Mr Christos Pantelis (at Vespers) alongside the Engomi parish choir.

At the conclusion of the divine liturgy, His Beatitude Theophilos delivered an address in Greek.

The Grand Crusader’s Medal of the Holy Sepulcher was then presented to Metropolitan Timotheos of Bostroi, on behalf of benefactor Mr Igor Altushkin, absent due to illness.

Metropolitan Timotheos went on to thank God for guiding his steps to the diaconate of the Mother of Churches; His Beatitude, for appointing him Exarch of the Holy Sepulcher, Mr Igor Altushkin, for his generous financial support until the completion of the work, as well as the choirs, before presenting the Archbishop of Cyprus with a prelatic engolpio carrying an icon of the Ascension.

The proprietor’s inscription was then revealed, followed by a short reception at the forecourt.

Lunch was hosted by the Exarch at the Royal Hotel. During lunch, the Patriarch of Jerusalem addressed guests in Greek.

This completed the liturgical, ecclesiastical and social events marking the opening of the Holy Sepulcher Exarchy in Cyprus.

From the Secretariat-General