PASTORAL VISIT OF HIS BEATITUDE TO BEIT JALA

 At noon on Sunday, October 31/ November 13, 2022, His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos made a pastoral visit to our Arabic-speaking Greek Orthodox Community in the city of Beit Jala.

First of all, His Beatitude visited the building belonging to the Hegoumen of the Monastery, which in the past was used as an Elementary School and now has been renovated with the sponsorship of the Palestinian Authority, to function as a kindergarten and as a space for the catechetical school.

Subsequently, His Beatitude visited the very important housing project of the Patriarchate, which was started and continues on land owned by the Patriarchate in Beit Jala, which will house 450 families in cooperation with the Jamaiye / Community Council of Beit Jala and which offers the possibility of housing relief to the flock of Beit Jala and laid the foundation stone in the presence of the President of the Supreme Palestinian Ecclesiastical Committee Mr Ramzi Khouri and other representatives of the Palestinian Authority, the Hegoumen of Beit Jala Archimandrite Ignatios and the Priests Yusef, Pavlos and Elias.

His Beatitude underlined the offering of the Patriarchate to the flock through this work in His following address: (to be posted soon).

The importance of this project was also underlined by Mr Ramzi Khouri, greeting on behalf of the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mr Abu Mazen, for the creation of the housing project in the Shepherds’ Village / Beit-Sahour, for the present project and for a similar housing project to be developed in Bethlehem.

Honourable distinctions – plaques were awarded to His Beatitude, Mr Ramzi Khouri and all those who contributed to the success of this project.

From Secretariat-General