A STATEMENT REGARDING THE TRESPASSING OF ‘LITTLE PETRA HOTEL’ BY A RADICAL GROUP
The seizure of the Little Petra Hotel by the radical extremist group Ateret Cohanim is a threat to the continued existence of a Christian Quarter in Jerusalem, and ultimately to peaceful coexistence of the communities of this city. The Heads of Churches have repeatedly warned of the illegitimate actions of extremists, who have followed a pattern of intimidation, violence, and lawless action to drive Christians and Muslims from the city that we share.
The Patriarchate of Jerusalem engaged in good faith negotiations with the Israeli government to settle the status of these Christian heritage properties that sit on the Christian pilgrim route, and through the committee headed by Minister Elazer Stern. We were assured that there would be no changes to the facts on the ground in the Christian Quarter while these negotiations are ongoing. The actions of Ateret Cohanim this week violate that assurance.
In occupying the Greek Orthodox Church’s property, the Little Petra Hotel, Ateret Cohanim has committed criminal acts of break-in and trespass. They act as if they are above the law, with no fear of consequences.
This issue is not about the individual properties, but about the whole character of Jerusalem, including the Christian Quarter. The Little Petra Hotel stands on the pilgrim route for the millions of Christians who visit Jerusalem each year. It is our heritage, and speaks of our very existence in this place.
Israeli radical extremist groups like Ateret Cohanim are already targeting and hijacking our beloved old city of Jerusalem and imposing their illegitimate and dangerous agenda on all sides. We refuse this and we say: this will lead to instability and tension at the time when all are trying to de-escalate and build trust, to build towards justice and peace. Acts of coercion and violence cannot lead to peace.
We demand that this criminal group immediately cease their trespass and get out of our heritage property. We demand that they halt their criminal activities on the Christian pilgrim route and in our beloved Old City.
CONDOLENCES
On the forty days after the memorable Professor Constantine Manafis slept in the Lord, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem expresses its sincere condolences to his wife, daughter and close academic associates and denotes that the departed was a distinguished Byzantine Scholar in the department of Byzantine studies at the National Kapodistrian University of Athens. He also worked as a teacher of Hagiotaphite student Fathers and a close associate of the Library of the Patriarchate, and also exchanged the “Yearbook of Byzantine Studies” with the Journal “New Sion”.
The Patriarchate prays at the Horrendous Golgotha for the repose of his soul in the land of the living.
From Secretariat-General
STATEMENT OF THE PATRIARCHS AND HEADS OF CHURCHES OF JERUSALEM CONCERNING THE RECENT VIOLENCE IN JERUSALEM
TIMETABLE OF SERVICES FOR THE HOLY WEEK AT THE MONASTIC CHURCH OF SAINTS CONSTANTINE & HELEN
From April12/25 to April 20/May 3, 2021
Palm Sunday;
Matins and Divine Liturgy of St Chrysostom at 5.00
Vespers at 15:30
Service of the Bridegroom at 18:15
Holy and Great Monday;
The Hours and the Pre-sanctified Liturgy at 06.30
Great Compline at 15:30
Service of the Bridegroom at 18:15
Holy and Great Tuesday;
The Hours and the Pre-sanctified Liturgy at 06.30
Great Compline at 15:30
Service of the Bridegroom at 18:15
Holy and Great Wednesday;
The Hours and the Pre-sanctified Liturgy at 06.30
Small Compline – Holy Unction at 17:00
Holy and Great Thursday;
Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great at 04:30
Service of the Passion at 18:15
Holy and Great Friday;
Royal Hours at 08.00
Service of the Epitaph at 18:30
Holy and Great Saturday;
The Hours and the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great at 08:00
Holy Pascha;
Matins & D. Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom at 0:40 am – after midnight
Monday, after the Day of Pascha;
Divine Liturgy at 08:00
The Typikon Keeper of the Monastic Church
Archimandrite Alexios
TIMETABLE OF SERVICES AT THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE ON THE HOLY WEEK
From April 12/25 to April 20/May 3, 2021
Lazarus Saturday
Patriarchal Vespers: 15:00
Palm Sunday
Patriarchal Divine Liturgy: 08:00
Service of the Bridegroom: 18:15
Holy and Great Monday
Pre-sanctified Liturgy at the Horrendous Golgotha: 08:45
Service of the Bridegroom: 18:15
Holy and Great Tuesday
Pre-sanctified Liturgy at the Horrendous Golgotha: 09:00
Service of the Bridegroom: 18:15
Holy and Great Wednesday
Pre-sanctified Liturgy at the Horrendous Golgotha: 09:00
Holy and Great Thursday
Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great at St. James Cathedral: 06:30
The Service of the Sacred Washing of the Disciples’ feet at the Holy Courtyard: 09:00
The Service of the Passion 18.15
Holy and Great Friday
The Royal Hours at the Horrendous Golgotha: 10:00 am
Patriarchal Vespers: 15:00
The Epitaph Service: 21:00
Holy and Great Saturday
The Service of the Holy Light: 13:00
The Service of the Resurrection: 12:00 midnight
Easter Sunday
The Service of the second Resurrection: 13:00
The Master of Ceremonies of the Patriarchate
Archimandrite Bartholomew
ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE FEAST OF SAINT THEODOSIOS THE CENOBIARCH
The Website of Jerusalem Patriarchate announces that due to covid-19 restrictions the Holy Monastery of Saint Theodosios the Cenobiarch will not receive any visitors on the day of the commemoration of the Saint, Sunday 11/24 January 2021.
From Secretariat-General
SCHOLARSHIPS SCHEME BY THE GOVERNMENT OF HUNGARY
Within the framework of the scholarship scheme for the Christians of the Middle East, by the Government of Hungary, it is being announced that the Scholarships for the Academic year 2021-2022 will be managed through the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
The prospective candidates should submit their application forms solely to the Patriarchate, following the instructions listed at the website shown in the announcement, by the set deadline, which is 31st January 2021.
The announcement can be read below:
To HE Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina
Your Eminence,
I have already approached you with a scholarship opportunity for Palestinian students in general in the framework of the Stipendium Hungaricum Programme.
Hungary has continuously provided scholarships to talented Palestinian students since the 1970’s among them many Christians, who are playing important roles in the Palestinian society. For the last few years, Hungary has been providing a special scholarship scheme for talented Christian students as well. Why is it different from the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship:
- The scholarship is available for the Christian communities and churches in the Middle East.
- The students apply with the approval of their church leaders.
- The scholarship does not engage the local governments and authorities, the application process is happening between the students and the Government of Hungary directly.
I am pleased to inform you that the online application process for the Scholarship Programme for Christian Young People for the 2021/2022 academic year started with the deadline of 31 January 2021. The online application system for the Scholarship Programme can be accessed at https://apply.scyp.hu. The Annexes of the Call for Applications along with other documents and detailed information necessary for applying can be found on the Programme’s website: http://hungaryhelps.gov.hu/scyp/
We are at your disposal to answer any questions you may have. May you have talented students insight, I request your kind assistance in helping them in the application process.
Thank you in advance for all your efforts in this regard.
Sincerely,
Dr Csaba Rada
Head of Mission
Representative Office of Hungary
Al Watania Towers Building, Al-Bireh, Ramallah
Tel: 00 972 2 240 7676
Fax: 00 972 2 240 7678
https://ramallah.mfa.gov.hu/eng
From Secretariat-General
PATRIARCHS AND HEADS OF CHURCHES OF JERUSALEM EXPRESS COMPASSION AND SOLIDARITY WITH LEBANESE PEOPLE
Statement of the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem on Beirut August 6th, 2020
We, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem, stand aghast at the sight of the devastating and shockingly perplexing explosion that took place at the Beirut port on August 4th. The loss of life, injuries, and destruction cause our hearts to deeply ache as we mourn for this tragedy.
We stand with the people of Beirut and Lebanon as they mourn, lament and respond to this catastrophe. We join them in prayer and solidarity and call upon the nations of the world and their governments to stand with Lebanon at this difficult time of crisis on top of crisis, responding with love and care for our neighbour.
We hear the cry of the church and people of Lebanon, and call upon all people of good will to pray and support the people who are affected by this tragedy.
From Jerusalem, the Mother City of our faith and the City of the Empty Tomb, we express our deep compassion and solidarity with the people of Lebanon. May the Lord restore the fortunes of Beirut and the people of Lebanon.
The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem
+Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate
+Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Patriarchate
+Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator, Latin Patriarchate
+Fr. Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land
+Archbishop Anba Antonious, Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, Jerusalem
+Vicar General Father Gabriel Daho, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate
+Archbishop Aba Embakob, Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate
+Archbishop Yaser AL-Ayash, Greek-Melkite-Catholic Patriarchate
+Archbishop Mosa El-Hage, Maronite Patriarchal Exarchate
+Archbishop Suheil Dawani, Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East
+Bishop Ibrahim Sani Azar, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land
+Father Ephram Samaan, Syrian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate
+Rt Rev. Joseph Nersès Zabarian, Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate
STATEMENT OF HIS BEATITUDE PATRIARCH THEOPHILOS III ON THE STATUS OF HAGIA SOPHIA SHRINE
On Wednesday, June 25/ July 24, 2020, H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos stated the following regarding the keeping of the Status of the Church of Hagia Spophia:
It is with utmost seriousness that We express Our concern over recent calls from members of the Turkish government to alter the current status of the Hagia Sophia from a museum to a mosque.
This magnificent Byzantine Church structure, which captivates the world until today, has a history stretching even farther back into Christendom than the 6th century. Over the course of generations, the region and its people have passed through challenging times that have left painful memories. However, it has been to Turkey’s credit that for nearly 100 years it has administered the Hagia Sophia as a museum in order to maintain an extent of neutrality over the site. Subsequently, people from all over the world and from every background are able to enjoy its spiritual, architectural, and historical splendor.
Furthermore, museum status, i.e. indiscriminate accessibility, to Hagia Sophia has born fruit where there otherwise could have been further contention. Hagia Sophia today remains a symbol of tolerance. Some may find spiritual refreshment within its boundaries, others may be inspired by its testament to human accomplishment, and others may view it through individual prisms of meaning. However, this array of outcomes does the best possible justice to the site, which without question was always intended to inspire awe and to glorify Almighty God.
As stewards of sacred heritage in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, for nearly 2,000 uninterrupted years, in a land over which three Abrahamic faiths lay equal claim, We strongly attest to the fact that accessibility promotes peace and mutual respect, whereas attitudes of exclusivity promote conflict and bitterness. We hope and pray, for the benefit of all people of good will, and for Turkey as a nation with the potential to influence our entire region down a path of growth and mutual co-existence, that the present status of the Hagia Sophia is respected and preserved.
THEOPHILOS III
PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM
From Secretariat-General