On Friday the 21^st of December 2013/3^rd of January 2014, a concert was performed by the Orthodox choir of “King Jesus” under the spiritual guidance of the Patriarchal Commissioner in Bethlehem, Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan, the direction of Greek Orthodox theologian Mr Jandallah Al Masre, and the blessing of His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem. The concert was held under the aegis of His Excellency the President of the Palestinian State, Mr Mahmud Abbas Abu Mazen, in collaboration with the sponsor, Mr Said Taufik Khoury at the Convention Center near Solomon’s cisterns, between Bethlehem and Hebron.

His Beatitude Theophilos attended the concert accompanied by the Patriarchal Commissioner, the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias; the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina; the Hegoumen of Fhes, Archimandrite Ieronymos; Archimandrite Ignatios, Archdeacon Evlogios and other Hagiotaphite Fathers, as well as representatives of other Christian denominations, i.e. the Apostolic Delegation, Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, a representative of President Mahmud Abbas and other officials of the Palestinian State, i.e. Minister Ziad Al-Bandak, the representative of the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem Mme Aspasia Mitsi; the Mayor of Bethlehem, Mme Vera Baboun, priests hailing from various cities of Israel and Palestine and a great crowd of approximately five hundred.

Before the start of this year’s ceremony, excerpts were shown from last year’s concert featuring the sponsor of both last year’s and this year’s concert, Mr Said Khoury.

This year, the ceremony began with a live broadcast of Mr Said Khoury from Athens, followed by the address of Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, who stressed the importance of the Palestinian land to the Palestinian people, and also of the coexistence between Christians and Muslims in the Palestinian state, which also celebrates the feast of Christmas.

His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, went on to address those present in Arabic, see link: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2014/01/04/3017

Mr George Bassous, Director of the Convention Center, was the next speaker, highlighting the significance of Christmas as a celebration of tolerance and philanthropy and favour of God towards man.

Upon the conclusion of the speeches began the performance of songs in the Byzantine style, complemented by musical instruments. The songs were ecclesiastical hymns dedicated to the period of Christmas, or carols translated by Mr Jandallah into Arabic.

Prime Minister Rame Hamdallah, who had to leave before the end of the concert, was awarded the honorary plaque of the choir by His Beatitude Theophilos.

In the same context, the Convention Center, represented by Mr George Bassous, offered to His Beatitude and the Prime Minister plaques featuring a mosaic representation of the Church of the Resurrection and the Temple of Solomon.

The choir awarded honorary plaques to His Beatitude, Mr Said Khoury, Mr George Bassous and Mr Suhair Francis.

Through the impeccable performance of exquisite hymns and Christmas carols, “King Jesus” choir moved the spectators during this praiseworthy preparation for Christmas, inviting thoughts about the power and vitality of our Greek Orthodox Community, inasmuch as it is nurtured by the life-giving sustenance of our ecclesiastical and national tradition.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/EahWn1PNB78

On Tuesday the 18^th/31^st of December 2013, His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, sent His Holiness Cyril, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, the following epistle:

Your Holiness Cyril, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, in Christ the Lord, dearest brother and co-officiator of Our Mediocrity. Brotherly embracing Your Holiness in Christ, we gladly address You.

Dwelling in the holy Jerusalem and the Horrendous Golgotha, and serving the Lord’s Life-giving Sepulcher, already gazing towards the holy Bethlehem in order to celebrate the feast of the Nativity in flesh of the Angel of the great will of God, the Lord of peace, in the plain Cavern and the Village of the Manger, it is with profound sorrow and sacred indignation that we learned of two atrocious terrorist attacks in Volgograd, South Russia, which caused the death of three hundred peaceful citizens, our innocent fellow humans, and severe or deathly injuries of tenths of others.

We categorically and irrevocably condemn these criminal and atrocious acts, and extend our profound condolences to Your Holiness and the relatives of the victims, while praying for the repose of the souls of those murdered, and the speedy recovery of those injured.

Upon this we embrace Your erudite Holiness from the Holly and Divine Cavern where Christ was miraculously born of the Virgin.

 

In the Holy City of Bethlehem, 18 December 2013.

Of your Embraced Holiness

Your Dearest Brother in Christ

THEOPHILOS III

Patriarch of Jerusalem

In the letter, the Patriarch condemns the terrorist attacks which took place in the city of Volgograd, Russia, extending condolences to the innocent victims.

 

On the same day, His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem sent the following epistle to His Excellency the President of the Russian Republic, Mr Vladimir Putin, similarly condemning these atrocious acts and extending condolences to the innocent victims:

Your Excellency,

Dwelling in Jerusalem and already gazing towards Bethlehem for the feast of the Nativity in flesh of the Angel of the great will of God, the Lord of peace, we learned with profound sorrow and sacred indignation of the terrorist attacks against innocent civilians in Volgograd, South Russia, aimed at obstructing the organization of the Winter Olympic Games.

Extending our profound condolences to Your Honoured Excellency and the relatives of the innocent victims, we pray from the All-holy and Life-giving Sepulcher that the souls of our three hundred murdered fellow humans rest in peace, that the tenths of injured at these atrocious and condemnable crimes recover speedily, and that the citizens of the pious country of Russia be protected from acts of people who hate peace and have no respect for the value of human life.

Upon this, we beseech for Your Excellency the grace and protection of the All-holy and Life-giving Sepulcher towards the unhindered performance of Your lofty government services.

In the Holy City of Bethlehem, 18 December 2013.

For Your Honoured Excellency

Fervently praying to the Lord

THEOPHILOS III

Patriarch of Jerusalem

 

On the 20^th of December 2013/2^nd of January 2014, His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem sent an epistle condemning the aforementioned acts and reassuring for the victims, to the Most Reverend Metropolitan of the city of Volgograd, as follows:

The Most Reverend Metropolitan German of Volgograd and Kamyshin, our brother in Christ and co-officiator of Our Mediocrity, we embrace in Christ the Lord.

Dwelling in Jerusalem and gazing towards the holy Bethlehem, which is by no means least among the rulers of Judah, in order to celebrate the Metropolis of all feasts in the sacred and divine Cavern and the village of the Manger, where the Lord of peace, our Lord Jesus Christ, was born, it is with profound sorrow and sacred indignation that we learned of the two recent terrorist attacks against the Metropolis of your most dear and erudite Reverence, claimed the lives of three hundred innocent human beings, its spiritual children, and severely wounded tenths of others among them.

We categorically condemn these atrocious acts, and extend our deep condolences to the innocent victims, praying that those murdered rest in peace in the country of the living with the saints and the righteous, and that those unjustly and severely wounded recover speedily.

We embrace your Reverence from the All-holy and Divine Cavern where Christ was miraculously born of the Virgin.

In the Holy City of Bethlehem, 20 December 2013.

Your Dear Brother in Christ

THEOPHILOS III

Patriarch of Jerusalem

From the Secretariat-General

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