On the afternoon of Monday the 13^th/26^th of May 2014, a meeting took place on the Mount of Olives between His Holiness Pope Francis and His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, and Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem. The meeting, held at the latter’s summer residence on the Mount of Olives, commemorated the 1964 encounter between Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras with Patriarch Benedict of Jerusalem.

At the meeting, the Ecumenical Patriarch was accompanied by His Metropolitans, and Pope Francis by His cardinals. Accompanying the Patriarch of Jerusalem were the Patriarchal Commissioner, Archbishop Isychios of Kapitolias; the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, and Archdeacon Evlogios.

The Pope was received at Little Galilee by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and was guided through the forecourt of the Church of Viri Galilaei to His Beatitude’s summer residence, where they were both welcomed by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Patriarchal Commissioner and the Elder Secretary-General.

At the residence, the two Heads of Churches were briefly left alone for a private conversation, before Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem offered each an icon of the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulcher with a personal dedication.

The Ecumenical Patriarch and the Patriarch of Jerusalem went on to introduce their Prelates to the Pope, with the Pope reciprocating by introducing His own retinue. Silver pectoral crosses were subsequently offered by the Pope to the Heads of Constantinople and Jerusalem and their retinues.

The three Primates then went outside in the forecourt and blessed friends of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as well as other guests.

This marked the conclusion of the meeting on the Mount of Olives between the Pope and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

From the Secretariat-General

On the evening of Sunday, the 12^th/25^th of May 2014, at 7:00 pm, His Holiness Pope Francis I met with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Holy Sepulcher, in commemoration of the meeting held fifty years ago between their predecessors, Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras and Pope Paul VI.

The meeting was hosted by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem jointly with the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood and the Brotherhood of the Franciscans Monks, according to the schedule drafted by both.

As per this schedule, Pope Francis, accompanied by the Custodian of the Holy Land, f. Pierrebatista Pizzaballa and the Armenian Patriarch Nourhan, proceeded to the Court of the Church of the Resurrection from the Muristan quarter, through the Gate of the Gethsemane Dependency, whereas His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, accompanied by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, and Primates accompanying the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Patriarch of Jerusalem, walked from the Patriarchate along Christian Street through St Helen’s Gate.

From these two Gates, the Pope and the Ecumenical Patriarch proceeded to the beginning and the center of the Courtyard of the Church of the Resurrection, and exchanged embraces as a testament of love and the will to continue the theological dialogue initiated fifty years ago.

From there, the two Primates proceeded to the Gate of the Church of the Resurrection, where they were received by the three Abbots of the Church, namely Archbishop Isidoros of Hierapolis, the Franciscan and the Armenian Abbots.

Subsequently, the Primates venerated the Stone of the Holy Apokathelosis. The Greek choir of the Church of the Resurrection, under the direction of the head cantor, Archimandrite Aristovoulos, chanted, as the two Patriarchs walked to the Holy Sepulcher.

In front of the Holy Aedicula, the two Primates took their places whereas a crowd of 400 faithful had already been seated.

As the crowd observed in silence, His Beatitude Theophilos delivered an address in English, on behalf of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Franciscans and the Armenians, see link: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2014/05/25/7064

The address was followed by hymns and the Evangelical pericopes of the Resurrection, and speeches delivered by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis.

“Our father” was then recited in Italian by Pope Francis and the Ecumenical Patriarch, whereas guests recited the same prayer in their native tongues.

Of note is the fact that the hymns were sang and the Evangelical pericopes recited in the absence of sacerdotal vestments, because of the lack of full communion between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

At the end of this ceremony, the Primates and a small retinue venerated the Golgotha.

From there, the Primates and their guests were hosted to a reception at the Latin Patriarchate.

From the Secretariat-General 

httpv://youtu.be/TU4aj2BUdeY

On Sunday the 12^th/25^th of May 2014, the Sunday of the Blind Man, a Joint Patriarchal Service was performed at the katholikon of the Church of the Resurrection by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem. Co-officiating on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, were: His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, the Most Reverend Metropolitans – Gennadios of Italy and Meliti; Ioannis of Pergamos; Iacovos of Prince Islands; Emmanuel of France; and Gennadios of Sasima –and His Eminence Archbishop Job of Telmissos. Co-officiating on behalf of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem were the Most Reverend Metropolitans Kyriakos of Nazareth and Isychios of Kapitolias; their Eminences Archbishops Theophanes of Gerassa, Dorotheos of Avila and Damascene of Joppe; the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina; their Eminences Archbishops Methodios of Tabor, Theodosios of Sebaste, Demetrios of Lydda, Philoumenos of Pella and Nektarios of Anthedon. Other concelebrants included Priests from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Hagiotaphite Archimandrites, Archdeacons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and Archdeacon Evlogios. The choir chanted under the direction of the head cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos. In attendance was the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis, as well as a great crowd from Jerusalem and Greece, America, Australia, Russia and other Orthodox countries. Numerous pious pilgrims attended the closing of the Joint Service because of street safety measures (taken in view of the meeting between Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, in the presence of Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem and the Franciscan Custodian, f. Pierrebatista Pizaballa).

At the Katholikon of the Church of the Resurrection, after the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Theophilos addressed the Ecumenical Patriarch in Greek. Following a reply speech, the Ecumenical Patriarch offered His Beatitude a fine set of engolpiya and a Silver Chalice.

After Communion and the Apolysis of the Divine Liturgy, the Patriarchal Retinue from Constantinople left for their hotel amidst bells ringing, whereas the Jerusalemite Retinue proceeded to the Patriarchates.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/sVPLxy1hugw

httpv://youtu.be/JLxn2m8oUsk

httpv://youtu.be/SCTj-sHZrTE

On the morning of Saturday the 11^th/24^th of May 2014, at approximately 11:00 am, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, accompanied by His retinue, namely: His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, and the Most Reverend Metropolitans: Gennadios of Italy and Meliti; Ioannis of Pergamos; Iacovos of Prince Islands; Emmanuel of France; and Gennadios of Sasima. Also, His Eminence Archbishop Job of Telmissos; the Chief Secretary, Archinandrite f. Bartholomew Samaras; the Very Reverend Archdeacon Maximos Vgenopoulos; the Very Reverend Patriarchal Deacon, Mr Andreas Sophianopoulos; the very Honourable Theodoros Angelopoulos, Archon Megas Logothetis (The Grand Deputy); the very Honourable Panteleimon Vingas, Archon Megas Hartophylax (The Grand Archivist) and the most erudite Nikolaos Tzoitos, Nikolaos Magginas, Nikolaos Papachristos, Symeon Fratzelas and Panteleimon Kioses and other clerics; and also by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem’s accompanying committee, namely: the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda and the Patriarchal Commissioner in Constantinople, His Eminence Archbishop Nektarios of Anthedon, visited the city of Bethlehem.

Arriving at the courtyard of the Basilica of the Nativity, His All-Holiness was warmly received by the Patriarchal Commissioner in Bethlehem, His Eminence Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan.

He was equally received by representatives of the President of the Palestinian Autonomy, Mr Mahmud Abbas, Minister Ziyad Bandak, the Chairman of the Palestinian Committee on Christian Affairs, Mr Hanna Amire, the Prefect of Bethlehem, Mayor Vera Baboun, the Community Council of the Greek Orthodox Community of Bethlehem, clerics and a great crowd of faithful, exclaiming “Blessed is he who comes”.

From the courtyard, they entered the Basilica with priests dressed in sacerdotal vestments and cantors singing “Your birth, Christ our God” under the direction of the head cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos.

His All-Holiness entered through the Basilica – a right reserved exclusively to the Orthodox –and through the chapel of St Nikolas and the South Gate to the Cavern, proceeded to the Holy Cave and venerated the Star and the Manger, whereupon the pericope of the Nativity was recited.

From the Cave, His All-Holiness rose to the Throne in the area in front of the iconostasis and led the Doxology service, before addressing the congregation.

From the Basilica, His All-Holiness proceeded to the renovated Hegoumen’s Quarters, where the Patriarchal Commissioner, His Eminence Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan, hosted Him and His retinue to a reception.

After leaving the Basilica of the Nativity, His All-Holiness crossed the checkpoint at Rachel’s Tomb, and proceeded to the David Citadel Hotel.

From the Secretariat-General 

The website of the Patriarchate would like to inform its followers that His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived at 4:00 pm at Ben Gurion airport, Tel Aviv, accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, and the Most Reverend Metropolitans: Gennadios of Italy and Meliti; Ioannis of Pergamos; Iacovos of Prince Islands; Emmanuel of France; and Gennadios of Sasima. Also, His Eminence Archbishop Job of Telmessos; the Chief Secretary, Archinandrite f. Bartholomew Samaras; the Very Reverend Archdeacon Maximos Vgenopoulos; the Very Reverend Patriarchal Deacon, Mr Andreas Sophianopoulos; the very Honourable Theodoros Angelopoulos, Archon Megas Logothetis (The Grand Deputy); the very Honourable Panteleimon Vingas, Archon Megas Hartophylax (The Grand Archivist) and the most erudite Nikolaos Tzoitos, Nikolaos Magginas, Nikolaos Papachristos, Symeon Fratzelas and Panteleimon Kioses.

His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, received the Ecumenical Patriarch at the airport, in the company of the Most Reverend Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias; the Elder Secretary General, His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina; the Patriarchal Commissioner in Constantinople, His Eminence Archbishop Nektarios of Anthedon; and the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda. Also in attendance, on behalf of the Government of Israel, were: Tourism Minister Mr Uzi Landay; the former ambassador of Israel to Turkey, Mrs Amire; and the President of the Christian Affairs Department at the Interior Ministry, Mr Cezar Margie.  Representing the Greek Government, were the representative of the Greek Embassy to Israel, Mrs Lourbakou, and the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis.

At 6:15 pm, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived at David’s Gate, where He was warmly received by Hagiotaphite Fathers and a crowd of faithful. From there, He proceeded to the Patriarchate, with the Greek Orthodox Boy Scouts leading the procession.

From the Patriarchate, accompanied by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch walked to the Church of the Resurrection amid bells ringing.

After venerating at the Holy Apokathelosis and the Holy Sepulcher, His All-Holiness presided over Doxology at the katholikon.

At the conclusion of the Doxology service, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, addressed the Ecumenical Patriarch in Greek, after which His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew delivered a reply-speech.

Subsequently, the Ecumenical Patriarch venerated at the Golgotha and proceeded to the Patriarchates, where He was addressed by the Patriarch of Jerusalem.

After the Ecumenical Patriarch’s words of thanks, Patriarch Theophilos offered Him a fine set of Patriarchal engolpiya(icons worn on the chest).

This marked the end of the welcoming ceremony on the arrival of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/O-13At-F8gg

In the afternoon of Tuesday the 7^th/20^th of May 2014, His Excellency the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Mr Plamen Oresharski, while in an official visit to the state of Israel, visited the Patriarchate in the company of Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Mr Kristian Vigenin, Health Minister Mrs Tanya Andreeva, Agriculture Minister, Mr Dimitar Grekov, his wife, members of the Bulgarian Parliament, the Bulgarian Ambassador to Israel, Mr Dimitar Mihaylov and other associates of his.

In the context of this visit, His Beatitude, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, awarded the Prime Minister with the Great Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher for his contribution to the Church and to prosperity in his country, with the wish that the medal shall remain a link between the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the country and Church of Bulgaria. His Beatitude addressed the Prime Minister in English, see link:  https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2014/05/20/6984

Touched, the Prime Minister thanked His Beatitude, adding that the honour conferred upon him through the medal is reflected onto the entire people of Bulgaria, and offering Him the icon of St Boris, the country’s patron saint.

His Beatitude offered the Prime Minister an icon of Theotokos and the “History of the Church of Jerusalem”, authored by the late Chrysostomos Papadopoulos.

From there, the Prime Minister proceeded to the Holy Sepulcher, where he was received by His Eminence Isidoros, Archbishop of Hierapolis.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/t39LacwI53o

In the evening of Saturday, the 4^th/17^th of May 2014, His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by the Patriarchal Commissioner, the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias; the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Aristarchos of Constantina; the Hegoumen at Ramallah, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Galaktion, priest Yacoub Houri and Commissioners at the Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ramallah, and Mr Hanna Issa, visited the area of Ramallah and Birzeit, specifically the towns of Mazra’a Sharkiya and Abu-Shkheidem. There, they called upon the families of the two teens, Nadim Nuwara and Muhammad Abu Daher, who three days ago were murdered by Israeli troops at a protest.

During this visit, His Beatitude in person as well as through the Very Reverend Archimandrite f. Galaktion and Mr Hanna Issa, offered condolences to the parents and other members of the families of the murdered youth, wishing that consolation, strength, reassurance and protection be granted to them from above.

From the Secretariat-General

On the morning of Saturday the 27^th of April/10^th, the church of the Holy Sepulcher Exarchy was inaugurated in Cyprus, followed by the Divine Liturgy.

The Exarchy building lies at a short distance from the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus. It was built on land belonging to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and within the older building, preserving all items designated by the Archaeological Department of Cyprus.

The newly erected building includes a church dedicated to the Ascension of the Lord and to St Philoumen the Hagiotaphite who suffered a martyr’s death near Jacob’s Well.

The entire work was completed with the approval of the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus, in response to a relevant request by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Works of reconstruction, reparation and erection of the Church and its surrounding halls intended for the operation of the Exarchy and the dwelling of the Exarch, as well as of visiting Hagiotaphite Fathers, were completed within approximately two years, owing to the diligent efforts of the Exarch, the Most Reverend Timotheos, Metropolitan of Bostroi and the financial support of the Patriarchate’s benefactor, Mr Igor Altushkin. Also, thanks to the knowledge and honesty of architects, Mr Ioannis Agisilaou and Mr Georgios Kalavas, and the knowledge and transparency of foreman Mr Andronikou.

The new Exarchy fills the void of the old Exarchy of the Holy Sepulcher at the Holy Monastery of St Chrysostom in Koutsoventis, which has been inoperative since the 1974 Turkish invasion in Cyprus. It is intended to serve as a link between the life and collaboration of these two ancient Churches, namely the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Church of Cyprus, throughout their pastoral, ecclesiastical, and venerating work, as well as in their peacemaking, educational and cultural endeavours in the Middle East.

The Inauguration ceremony was performed after Saturday Matins Service.

In accordance with the typical order of Inauguration, the holy relics were carried from the Altar across the church and around it, after the recitation of relevant excerpts from the Old Testament and the Gospels.

Subsequently, as the Patriarch invoked “Lift up your heads, O ye gates! and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors! and the King of glory shall enter in” thrice, the gates of the Church opened to let the Patriarch in.

The holy relics carried from Jerusalem were then placed on the Holy Altar, followed by a consecration ceremony which involved smearing the icons on the iconostasis with the holy myrrh.

Once the Holy Altar was consecrated, the Divine Liturgy began.

The festive Orthodox service was led by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem. Co-officiating on his right was His Beatitude Chrysostomos, Archbishop of Cyprus, surrounded by the Most Reverend Chrysostomos, Metropolitan of Kition; the Exarch, Metropolitan Timotheos of Bostroi; the Patriarchal Commissioner in Gaza, Archbishop Alexios of Tiberias; the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constanina; Archimandrites Evdokimos and Ignatios; other Hieromonks and Presbyters of the Church of Cyprus; Archdeacon Evlogios; Archdeacon Kyprianos of the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus, and a crowd of faithful and friends of the Holy Sepulcher. Co-praying among them was Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Kyrenia, as the choir sang under the direction of Mr Christos Pantelis (at Vespers) alongside the Engomi parish choir.

At the conclusion of the divine liturgy, His Beatitude Theophilos delivered an address in Greek.

The Grand Crusader’s Medal of the Holy Sepulcher was then presented to Metropolitan Timotheos of Bostroi, on behalf of benefactor Mr Igor Altushkin, absent due to illness.

Metropolitan Timotheos went on to thank God for guiding his steps to the diaconate of the Mother of Churches; His Beatitude, for appointing him Exarch of the Holy Sepulcher, Mr Igor Altushkin, for his generous financial support until the completion of the work, as well as the choirs, before presenting the Archbishop of Cyprus with a prelatic engolpio carrying an icon of the Ascension.

The proprietor’s inscription was then revealed, followed by a short reception at the forecourt.

Lunch was hosted by the Exarch at the Royal Hotel. During lunch, the Patriarch of Jerusalem addressed guests in Greek.

This completed the liturgical, ecclesiastical and social events marking the opening of the Holy Sepulcher Exarchy in Cyprus.

From the Secretariat-General

On the morning of Friday, the 26^th/9^th of May 2014, His Beatitude Theophilos, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, the spiritual father of the Monastery of St Savvas, Archimandrite Evdokimos, the hegoumen of the Shepherds (Beit-Sahour) pilgrimage site, Archimandrite Ignatios, and Archdeacon f. Evlogios, arrived from Ben Gurion Airport to Larnaka aboard a Cyprus Airways flight. The purpose of the journey is the inauguration ceremony of the Exarchy of the Holy Sepulcher in Cyprus.

His Beatitude Chrysostomos, the Archbishop of Cyprus, and the Exarch, the Most Reverend Timotheos, Metropolitan of Bostroi, welcomed the Patriarch of Jerusalem at Larnaka airport.

From there, the Patriarchal and Prelatic revenue were driven to the Exarchy, in the vicinity of the Archbishopric of Cyprus.

At the Exarchy, the two Primates were warmly received by His Eminence Alexios, Archbishop of Tiberias and Patriarchal Commissioner in Gaza, by priests and a crowd of faithful.

At the entrance to the Exarchy, His Beatitude put on a mantle and led the short ceremony of supplication made at the splendid Church of the Exarchy in honour of the Ascension of the Lord and St Philoumenos the Hagiotaphite Holy Martyr, in view of the following day’s inauguration.

The supplication was sealed by a Polychronism wish for the two Primates.

A short reception followed at the renovated Guest Quarters (Archontariki) of the Monastery, where the faithful paid their respects to the Patriarch of Jerusalem, alongside students at the Hieratical School of the Archbishopric of Cyprus, led by Archimandrite Benedictus Ioannou.

At noon, His Beatitude Chrysostomos, Archbishop of Cyprus, in the presence of Metropolitan Christophoros of Karpassia, hosted the Patriarch and His retinue to lunch.

Vespers service was conducted in the evening at the Church of the Exarchy, led by the Patriarch in the presence of Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus.

From the Secretariat-General

On the morning of Saturday, the 20^th of April/3^rd of May 2014, His Eminence Leo, Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland, and His retinue, accompanied and toured by the Patriarchal Commissioner, the Most Reverend Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, visited some of the holy sites of pilgrimages within the old city of Jerusalem, with the exception of the shrines of the Church of the Resurrection which He visited on the first day of His arrival, namely: the Tomb of the Mother of God and the Church of the Dormition in Gethsemane, the garden of the Betrayal, the site of the stoning of St Stephen the Protomartyr and Archdeacon, the Mount of Olives and the shrine of the Ascension of the Lord, the gallery of Pentecost on the hill of St Sion and the church of the Holy Trinity, wherein lies our Patriarchal Hieratical School.

At the end of His visit, His Eminence the Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland expressed emotion for having seen with His own eyes the sites where Jesus Christ our Saviour was incarnate, baptized, transfigured, taught, was crucified, rose and ascended to Heaven, inspiring the Hagiotaphite Fathers, the Holy Land’s keepers and conservators.

From the Secretariat General