On the morning of Friday the 22^nd of March/4^th of April 2014, the choir of Alimos Music School, headed by Principal Mr Constantinos Pouis and under the musical guidance of Music Teacher Mrs Ioanna Angelou, visited the Patriarchate.

The delegation from Alimos School was received by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers. His Beatitude welcomed students to the Holy Land as angels of peace, since through music man is reconciled with God and his fellow men. He went on to explain the religious, peacemaking and cultural work of the Patriarchate in the Holy Land, before praising their initiative for veneration and music performance. His Beatitude also expressed interest in carrying on this initiative, by means of a collaboration between the choir and Patriarchal choirs, and also through students at the Alimos School wishing to study at the Patriarchate’s Hieratical School. Following His Beatitude’s address, the choir chanted the hymns “Christ Has Risen”, “Hail, Holy Sion” and the Patriarchal Polychronism.

His Beatitude offered teachers and students alike Hagiotaphite Jerusalemite eulogias and wished that they enjoy their pilgrimage tour and succeed in their school courses.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/eUxcenjr2OU

In the afternoon of Thursday the 20^th of March/3^rd of April 2014, a delegation of the Alimos Music School Choir, headed by Principal Mr Constantinos Pouis, under the supervision and direction of Music Teacher, Mrs Ioanna Angelou, performed at the Hegoumen’s Quarters in the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The choir sang with the blessing of His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, amidst the courteous hospitality of the Patriarchal Commissioner in Bethlehem, His Eminence Theophylaktos, Archbishop of Jordan, in the presence of the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina, Fathers serving at the Bethlehem Pilgrimage Site and several Christian Orthodox and others from the Bethlehem Flock, the Village of the Shepherds and Beit-Jala.

The concert included traditional songs from various areas of Greece, accompanied by musical instruments i.e. laouto, kanonakion, lyre, tambouras etc. Duly trained and prepared at their School, the students performed with responsibility, attention, discipline and precision, inspiring emotion and elation among the audience. After being praised for their performance, they informed members of our flock on our Orthodox folk and traditional Byzantine and Greek music.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/VuXVwQoOwN0

On Thursday the 21^st of March/3^rd of April 2014, 100 members of the Patriarchate’s Community in Abu-Snan, in the region of Accra, Northern Israel, visited His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, to thank Him for His visit to their Community and parish and for the nocturnal Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts in the Church of St George, at which His Beatitude officiated on Wednesday the 13^th/26^th of March.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/O4AroUGPWl0

On Thursday the 21^st of March/3^rd of April 2014, Mr Ramzi Carborani, Director of the Office of Palestinian Prime Minister Mr Rami Hamdallah, accompanied by Archimandrite Galaktion, Hegoumen at the Church of the Transfiguration in Ramallah, visited the Patriarchate.

Mr Carborani was received by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem. The meeting included a constructive discussion on the position of the Christians in the Holy Land as well as on protection and facilitation measures secured on their behalf by the Patriarchate.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/f3vgf7AlNNk

On Wednesday, the 18^th of March/3^rd of April 2014, His Beatitude Theophilos, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Patriarchal Commissioner, the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias; the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina; the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, His Eminence Demetrios, Archbishop of Lydda; the Master of ceremonies, f. Porphyrios, and other Hagiotaphite members, in accordance with a decision of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, read out the wish of forgiveness for those who repent and apologize to monk f. Bartholomew, annulled his defrocking, and reinstated him to the rank of Archimandrite he used to hold.

Following this, His Beatitude addressed Archimandrite Bartholomew with paternal and encouraging words, underlining that the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood shall again accept him as a regular, active and full member, expecting that he will undistractedly and conscientiously serve any task that may be assigned to him in the future. For the time being, he serves as Assistant Dragoman and Spokesman at the Patriarchates.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/YsBx1hREiYk

On Sunday, the 17^th/30^th of March 2014, the Sunday of St John Climacus, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, officiated at the Divine Liturgy in the Rum Orthodox, Arab-speaking Community of Tulkarm.

The town lies at half an hour’s drive from Jacob’s Well in Samaria.

Tulkarm numbers only two families, living amongst Muslim residents. Its church, dedicated to the name of St George, was built by the Greek Army during its progression through Palestine in 1943, during World War II.

The Divine Liturgy was led by His Beatitude. Co-officiating were the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina; and the master of ceremonies, Archimandrite Porphyrios; Archdeacon Evlogios and Hierodeacon Markos. The members of the two families, approximately twelve, attended the service.

To this pious and small flock, for which the Lord’s words – Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom (Luke 12, 32) –  would indeed apply, His Beatitude preached the Word of God in Arabic, as follows:  https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2014/03/30/4321

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude was hosted to meatless lunch offered by the two families.

On the same day, the fourth Sunday of the Great Lent, namely the 17^th/30^th of March 2014, the Divine Liturgy was also held at the Holy Monastery of the Holy Cross, where Lot had planted the tree from which the Lord’s Cross was to be made, and where the Patriarchate’s Theological School used to run (1845-1909).

The feast of the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of the Great Lent at the Monastery of the Holy Cross, according to the aforementioned tradition.

The Divine Liturgy was officiated by the hegoumen of the Monastery, Archimandrite Claudius in the presence of nuns and Christians from the Old and New City of Jerusalem.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/E9NXF-3JupE

In the morning of Saturday the 16^th/29^th of March 2014, a delegation of thirty representatives of Sweden’s Christian Churches visited the Patriarchate.

The delegation, numbering approximately thirty pilgrims, represents Christian Churches in Sweden, namely Orthodox, Roman-Catholics, Lutherans, Ante-Chalcidonians etc.

The group, which is representative of the Christian entity in Sweden, living in liberty, was received by H.B. Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Hagiotaphite Fathers.

To the members of this group, clerics and laymen alike, His Beatitude spoke about the Patriarchate as the Church of the Holy Land, assigned since the early days of Christianity with the spiritual guidance of Christians in the Holy Land, the safekeeping of the Holy Pilgrimage Sites, and management of the property which allows the preservation of Christians in the Holy Land.

The work of the Patriarchate also extends to philanthropy, as demonstrated in the case of the displaced from Syria, and to education, by maintaining its Schools.

At the end of the discussion, His Beatitude offered all members of the group Jerusalemite Hagiotaphite eulogias, after which they went on to visit the Christian Communities in Jerusalem and the occupied areas.

From the Secretariat-General

On the evening of Friday the 15^th/28^th of March 2014, His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, led the service for the Fourth Stasis of the Salutations to Theotokos in the Holy Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour for the Rum Orthodox, Arab-speaking Community of Ramallah, of the Palestinian State.

In this big city of the Palestinian Autonomy, the Patriarchate maintains a Community numbering approximately seven thousand members. The head of the Community is Hagiotaphite Archimandrite f. Galaktion, aided by Steward f. Yacoub.

His Beatitude was warmly received by the Hegoumen, Archimandrite Galaktion, f. Yacoub, members of the Church Board and the faithful, before proceeding to lead the Salutations of the Fourth Stasis. Co-officiating were the Patriarchal Commissioner, the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias; the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina; Metropolitan Alexander of Pereyaslav-Khmeltnisky and Vishnevsky, visiting from Ukraine; the Very Reverend Archimandrite Ieronymos; Archdeacon Evlogios and deacon Dionysios.

The Canon of Joseph the Hymnographer “Let me open my mouth” was chanted by cantor f. Yusef Il-Far while a crowd of men and women accompanied him with piety.

Before the Apolysis, His Beatitude addressed the congregation in Arabic, see link:  https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2014/04/28/4325

Subsequently, in honour of cantor Yusef Il-Far’s contribution and service to the Church, His Beatitude presented him with the Medal of the Holy Sepulcher.

During this pastoral visit, during which His Beatitude was informed of the problems facing the Ramallah Community, thanks were extended by Hegoumen Galaktion, Members of the Church Board and Mr Yusef Il-Far for the honour bestowed upon him.

On this occasion, His Beatitude offered the amount of ten thousand euro (€10.000) for the Community’s Students Fund.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/Eko_X1nrBRQ

httpv://youtu.be/afheSwChNQ4

On Thursday the 14^th/27^th of March 2014, the General Military Commander of Israel’s Civil Administration in the occupied territories of Bethlehem, Jericho and Samaria, Mr David Menachem, visited the Patriarchate accompanied by the Military Commander of Bethlehem, Mr Yael, his assistant Mr Yazeed and the Director of the Christian Affairs Department, Mr Sesar Margie.

Mr Menachem inquired His Beatitude about the needs of the Patriarchate as regards the impending feast of Easter and facilitations for the faithful in terms of crossing the checkpoints from the occupied territories to Jerusalem.

His Beatitude thanked the Military Commander for his cooperation and asked that the significance of Easter to Christians residing in Jerusalem be taken into account in terms of facilitating the participation in the feast of Christians from the occupied territories as well as of pilgrims.

In the context of the visit, His Beatitude offered Mr Menachem a silver representation of the transfer of the cluster of grapes by Israeli spies having visited the city of Jericho.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/u810bD_npII

In the afternoon of Thursday, 14^th/27^th of March 2014, the Minister of Public Works of Jordan, Mr Sami Halasa, a Christian Rum Orthodox from Karak, South Jordan, visited the Patriarchate in the company of his family.

The Honourable Minister was received by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of the Patriarchal Commissioner and the Elder Secretary-General.

An interesting discussion took place in the context of this meeting, on the close ties between our Patriarchate and the birthplace of Mr Halasa, namely the city of Karak; also, on the harmonious relations between the Patriarchate and the Hashemite family and the country of Jordan.

Having received His Beatitude’s blessings, namely an icon of the Resurrection made of “madre perla” in Bethlehem, and pectoral crosses for the wife and children, the Minister’s family went on to visit the Church of the Resurrection for veneration. The following day, a visit was scheduled to the Cavern and the Basilica of the Nativity.

From the Secretariat-General