DECISIONS OF THE HOLY SYNOD

The Holy Synod convened today, Monday, July 10, 2023, at the Jerusalem Patriarchate’s headquarters chaired by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem.

At the start of the meeting, His Beatitude mentioned the blessed Archimandrite Philotheus, and touched on his dedicated service and sincerity since he was a young man, especially his service and zeal from the moment he was appointed Patriarchal Vicar in the Archdiocese of Ptolemais in Acre.

His Beatitude added that the late Archimandrite Philotheus devoted himself to the service of the Orthodox parish, he was a teacher of Byzantine music, and worked to build relations of love and peace between all religious denominations. For this reason, he was loved and respected by all. The scene of large crowds attending his funeral in the city of Acre and the region spoke volumes. Therefore, His Beatitude asked members of the Holy Synod to observe a minute of silence in memory of their late brother.

His Beatitude discussed with members of the Synod several issues, where His Beatitude briefed the members on the reason for convening this urgent exceptional session, that is being his recent meeting with a number of the Church council and committee members from the city of Acre and its district, where they put before His Beatitude their most important pastoral demands and ecclesiastical needs in that region, where they spoke with responsibility and fear for the interest of the parish and their close connection with their Jerusalem Church with all the challenges facing them in the region. His Beatitude highlighted to the Holy Synod Fathers the results of the discussions that took place and the proposals attributed by them, to take the appropriate decision that is in the interest of our parishioners in the Acre region.

In response to these recommendations, and in order to preserve the spirit of love and unity, His Beatitude appointed Archbishop Theodosios (Atallah Hanna) of Sebastia as the Patriarchal Vicar for the Archdiocese of Acre and its district, with full episcopal powers for this Archdiocese, as well as appointing him as the president of the Ecclesiastical Court in Acre.

In addition, Archimandrite Silwanos Hannouna of Jordan was transferred and appointed to the Metropolitan Church of St. George in Acre, aide to His Eminence Archbishop Theodosios, where he will serve as a deputy president of the Ecclesiastical Court in Acre as well.

His Beatitude and the Fathers wished His Eminence success on his new mission, which he assumes at this monumental period and time  where the faithful are faced with many challenges. The official date of handing over the duties of the Acre Archdiocese to His Eminence Theodosios is yet to be announced, which will include a festive liturgy service presided over by the Patriarch of Jerusalem with participation of Metropolitans, Archbishops and clergymen at the Metropolitan Church of St. George in Acre.

Furthermore, the Holy Synod took the following decisions:

• Transfer Archimandrite Artemios from Haifa to appoint him to the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth and as an assistant to His Eminence Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, and Vice President of the Ecclesiastical Court in Nazareth.
• Giving approval to His Eminence Archbishop Christophoros of Kyriakopolis, Archbishop of Jordan, to ordain the monks Chrysanthos Sanubar and Khalil Fawadila as deacons.
• Transfer and appoint Father Isaiah Haddad from Jordan to be an alternate priest in the Church of the Transfiguration Monastery in the city of Ramallah.
• Transfer and appoint Father Luke Bousha from Jordan to be an alternate priest in the Church of St. George in Zababdeh.

Concluding the Synod, His Beatitude along with the participating fathers raised their prayers for the peace of the world and to our beloved Holy Land, beseeching our compassionate God to send His Holy Spirit and peace to the world, to protect children of the Jerusalem Church from all adversity and harm through the intercessions of the Most Holy Mother of God, by the grace of the Life-giving Holy Tomb.