On Friday, the 26^th of December 2015/8^th of January 2016, the day after Christmas, the Synaxis of Theotokos was celebrated in the Village of the Shepherds, Beit-Sahour.

There is, in the town, a church dedicated to Theotokos, together with a chapel of the Holy Archangels and St Panteleimon the Great Martyr, founded by the late spiritual father of Hosios Savva Monastery, Archimandrite Seraphim the sanctified.

The church stands near the excavated ruins of a 5^th c. AD Basilica, whilst a chapel dedicated to the Shepherds lies underneath it.

In honour of the Synaxis of Theotokos, Vespers and the divine Liturgy were led by the Most Reverend Joachim, Metropolitan of Zambia. Co-officiating were the hegoumen of the Monastery, Archumandrite Ignatios; Archimandrite Ananias, hegoumen at St George, Beit-Jala; the vicar of the Church of the Forefathers in Beit Sahour, Protopresbyter f. Issa Mousleh; presbyters f. Savva Her and f. Ioannis Rasmawi. F. Georgios Banura sang with the Community Choir in Arabic for a pious congregation from the Village of the Shepherds, named after the shepherds who had heard the angelic hymn “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests” and rushed off to Bethlehem to behold the Incarnate Lord as a baby lying in the manger (Luke 2, 16).

Both after Vespers and after the divine Liturgy, Archimandrite Ignatios hosted the Primatial Entourage and the faithful to a reception. At noon, the Primates were hosted to festive lunch.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/7T-MHTaPSAQ

httpv://youtu.be/YjM4PrxTw9c

The feast of Christmas was celebrated by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem on Thursday, 25^th of December 2015/7^th of January 2016, in the town where our Lord Jesus Christ was born in the flesh, namely Jerusalem and the Grotto of the Nativity.

Β’  On feast-day

The feast of Christmas was celebrated as a night-long service of Matins and divine Liturgy at the Basilica and the Grotto of the Nativity.

At 22:30 pm of Wednesday, Christmas Eve, the 24^th of December 2015/6^th of January 2016, the Service commenced with the entrance of the Orthodox from the internal south gate of the Basilica, known as the Gate of the Baptistery, as Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias officiated during Matins at the Katholikon of the Basilica before the iconostasis.

His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, went on to officiate at Matins.

Before the Beautiful Gate of the Holy Bema, the Patriarch and Primates descended to the Holy Cave, led by His Beatitude, flanked by His Excellency the Palestinian President, Mr Mahmoud Abbas, and government officials, and by the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis and representatives of the King of Jordan.

Upon entrance to the Grotto, the excerpt on the Nativity from Luke’s Gospel was read in Greek and Arabic, after which, the message of the Patriarch was read in Greek by His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina:

Today Bethlehem welcomes

the one who sits for ever by the Father,

today angels godly praise

the born infant,

glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace,

good will to people.

(Idiomelon of Christmas Matins)

The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Orthodox Church of Christ across the world celebrates today as it pastorally declares to its members and peacefully attests to the world a marvellous and splendid event that transcends every human concept, perception and power.

This event is the fulfilment of the prophecies of the Old Testament. It is the realization of the nations’ expectations. God, in His infinite love, oversaw the years of man’s ignorance, forgave his committed sins and transgressions and invited him to a new divine life for which he had been made from the very beginning, “And the Lord hath sent redemption to His people” (Psalm 110, 9).

Redemption is the Only-Begotten Son and Word of God. “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as Sons”(Galatians 4, 4) according to the Apostle Paul. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us and out of His fullness we all received grace in place of grace already given” (John 1, 14&16), according to the Evangelist of love.

The incarnation of the Logos, His investment in human flesh, was not performed in compliance with the laws of nature as – “where God wishes so, the order of nature is overcome” – but according to the will of the Father, a Holy Spirit descended upon Mariam, the Virgin daughter of Nazareth, and she conceived the Son of God as man. The Son of God became the Son of man too, he was incarnate and personified. Mariam bore the Messiah, Christ, in the flesh. The event took place in this town of Bethlehem, at this plain Cavern under the reign of Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus Octavianus.

This “strange and paradoxical mystery” is indeed God’s loving and healing descent towards man. Through Jesus Christ, God “descended into the lower parts of the earth” (Ephes. 4, 9) so that man may be restored to the godlike beauty before the fall, and rise to the heavens. According to St Cyril of Alexandria, “God, who exists outside the ecumene, has come to it and made the human soul alike so that it be cleansed from sin, and He took on the human form so that man be made a citizen of heaven”.

To this mystery God had called for accomplices, helpers and witnesses. His accomplice was the ever-virgin Mary so that she might lend her flesh to His Son. Joseph was her helper and protector, the one who had accompanied Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem, then Mary and the divine infant from Bethlehem to Egypt. His witnesses had been the magi, wise kings of the Persians, led by a star, and the simple shepherds dwelling in the adjacent town of the Shepherds. God had also called as witnesses angels from heaven, proclaiming the mystery with the hymn “Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace, good will to people” (Luke 2, 14).

This angelic hymn proclaimed God’s good will to men, “and through Him to reconcile to himself all things” (Colossians 1, 20) and “to unite all things in Christ” (Ephesians 1, 10), the Incarnate and Personified, “because in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the deity in bodily form” (Colossians 2, 9), “so that in Christ they shall be brought to fullness” (Colossians 2, 10) and “they are no longer foreigners and strangers but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of His household” (Ephesians 2, 19), in His body of the Church, “of which He is the head” (Colossians 1, 18).

Opposite this mystery of man’s divinization by grace where he is “co-heir” (Romans 8, 17) with the Incarnate Jesus Christ, men have took various stances. Some, as the magi and the shepherds, rejoice upon the angelic proclamation and venerate the born infant. Others, as Herod the maniac, an imitator of the devil and killer of men, doubt and question and uncritically and indiscriminately chase away men from their paternal homes, violently and en masse, persecuting and murdering innocent children, youth, old, in contempt of human life made by God. To escape Herod’s mania, on divine encouragement, Christ fled to Egypt, demonstrating through his flee the vulnerability of His human body which, after all, would endure the holy passion on the cross before “annulling the vulnerability with His resurrection from the dead” according to St Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Hideous incidents of violence at the expense of Christians and other innocent fellow humans in the region of the Middle East and across the world are denounced by the Church of Christ. The Church denounces war and violence, advocating peace for those near and those far. Though persecuted, it does not persecute but prays for its persecutors. Through Baptism it accepts man in its body, the body of Christ, and blesses and cultivates and formulates man as a peaceful person believing that “blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5, 9).

The word of peace, justice, conciliation and exchange and the beginning of God’s reign on earth, already experienced within the Church, is declared on this universal feast of Christianity by the Mother of Churches from the Sacred Cavern and the Holy Manger in the Basilica of the Nativity, preserved through the centuries as the apple of the eye, with wishes to the congregation within its jurisdiction, residing in the Palestinian state, for the blessing, strengthening and grace of the Lord of peace and justice, the Angel of God’s great will, the Incarnate, Personified and Born by the Virgin in the flesh, our Lord Jesus Christ, and with a supplication for the recommencement and fruition of peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians for the final and just resolution of the Palestinian problem, under the experienced guidance of His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas-Abu Mazen, honouring our feast today, whom we thank and for whom we wish several happy returns in health, safety and progress, prosperity and complete independence of the Palestinian people.

In the Holy Town of Bethlehem, CHRISTMAS 2015

Ardently blesser in the Lord,

THEOPHILOS III

Patriarch of Jerusalem

The address was read in Arabic by Protopresbyter f. Issa Mousleh.

At this point, the Palestinian President left, and the service continued with a supplication, veneration at the Star and the Manger by His Beatitude and Primates in the presence of the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis.

On the conclusion of the Service at the Cave, the Patriarchal Entourage exited through the northern Gate of the Grotto and walked in straight line from the chapel used by the Armenians, where a procession thrice began around the Basilica, as Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang in Greek and the Church of the Nativity Choir by Mr Lawrence Samour sang in Arabic.

Once Matins was completed, the divine Liturgy began at the Holy Bema, led by His Beatitude. Co-officiating were Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, Archbishops Dorotheos of Avila, Aristarchos of Constantina, Philoumenos of Pella, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and clerics visiting from other Orthodox Churches, Archdeacon Evlogios and Hierodeacons Markos and Anastasios. Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang in Greek and the Choir of the Church of the Nativity in Arabic, in the presence of a great crowd of locals and pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Romania and other Orthodox countries.

The feast was concluded with Communion and the distribution of antidoron at 3:30 am.

At the Cave, the divine Liturgy was led by Metropolitan Joachim of former Zambia.

The Patriarchal Entourage was then hosted to festive lunch by Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan.

After receiving spiritual and material food, and extending thanks to God for the celebration of Christmas, the Church of Jerusalem left Bethlehem for Jerusalem.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/NalQbhd1cAc

httpv://youtu.be/ypZ9MRV_T80

httpv://youtu.be/8bU40EZKhZA

The feast of Christmas was celebrated by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem on Thursday, 25^th of December 2015/7^th of January 2016, in the town where our Lord Jesus Christ was born in the flesh, namely Jerusalem and the Grotto of the Nativity.

A’ Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, Wednesday the 24^th of December 2015/6^th of January 2016, at 9:00 am, the Israeli Police paid a ceremonial visit to Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem. On the conclusion of the visit, His Beatitude, accompanied by police members, Hagiotaphite Primates and Hieromonks of the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood, walked to David’s Gate.

From there, the Patriarchal Entourage was driven to the Holy Monastery of the Prophet Elias, between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. At the entrance, His Beatitude was welcomed by representatives of Bethlehem, Beit Sahour and Beit Jala, as well as of the Israeli Military and Civil Administration and members of the Jerusalemite Community. After venerating at the church, they were treated to a reception hosted by the hegoumen, Archimandrite Paisios.

On the conclusion of the reception, His Beatitude, preceded by five Israelis on horseback, left for Bethlehem, specifically Rachel’s tomb, a border gate between Israel and Palestine.

From the iron gate, His Beatitude, preceded by Palestinian Police, proceeded to Bethlehem as Christians regardless of denomination flanked the street holding their children, asking for the Patriarch’s blessing. In this ambiance of joy and bliss, His Beatitude arrived at the square of Bethlehem, where He was welcomed by the Patriarchal Commissioner in Bethlehem, His Eminence Theophylaktos, Archbishop of Jordan, the Prefect, the Mayor, the Palestinian Police Chief, Hieromonks, members of the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood, Arabic-speaking clerics and a crowd of faithful.

From the square, the Patriarchal Entourage walked in procession, as the Apolytikion “Your birth, Oh Christ, has cast upon the world the light of knowledge” was chanted in Greek by the head cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos, and in Arabic by the Church of the Nativity Choir, under Mr Laurence Samour. Through the humble gate, they entered the Basilica of the Nativity.

From there they walked across the Basilica, a privilege reserved to the Greek Orthodox, and arrived before the iconostasis, from where they descended to the Cave, venerated at the Star and the Manger and exited through the northern gate. There, in front of the iconostasis, His Beatitude gave blessings, which was followed by the service of the Great Hours and censing, Vespers and the Breaking of Bread, before the divine Liturgy of St Basil the Great, concluded at 3:30 pm.

The service was followed by monastic meal, hosted by Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan. On the evening of Christmas Eve, at 7:00 pm, His Beatitude hosted a reception for the President of the Palestinian Autonomy, Mr Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen, officials of the Palestinian Government and members of our flock.

During the reception, His Beatitude addressed the President in Arabic, offering him a Christmas present, which concluded the celebration of Christmas Eve.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/3j4wfRUhxwQ

httpv://youtu.be/917VPnXRIRQ

httpv://youtu.be/rsZjEs3lYaE

On the evening of Tuesday the 3^rd of December/5^th of January 2016, the Sacrament of the Holy Unction was administered as a constituent element of our preparation for participation in the celebration of Christmas.

The Holy Unction was led by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, with six co-officiating Primates.

On the conclusion of the Sacrament, participating monks, pilgrims and the faithful stood in line to be anointed by His Beatitude and concelebrant Primates.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/eaRLsMK6idI

On Sunday the 21^st of December/3^rd of January 2016, the Sunday before the Nativity, a memorial service was held for the departed Hagiotaphite Brothers, ever-memorable Patriarchs, Primates, Hieromonks, Hierodeacons, monks and nuns, at the katholikon of the All-holy Church of the Resurrection. The service was performed after the divine Liturgy that was led by His Eminence Theodosios, Archbishop of Sebaste.

Leading the memorial service was His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, with co-officiating Hagiotaphite Primates, Hieromonks and Hierodeacons and a congregation of members of the Church of Jerusalem and pilgrims.

After the Memorial Service, congregants proceeded to the Patriarchate, where His Beatitude wished for the repose of long departed Hagiotaphite Fathers, now in the land of the living, with the righteous and the holy.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/NnYGKxzKkag

On Thursday, the 18^th/31^st of December 2015, the Patriarchate observed the memory of Archbishop Modestos of Jerusalem at the chapel dedicated to him, in the region of the southern New City of Jerusalem, known as Abu-Tor, separated from the hill of St Zion by the Gehenom valley.

It is a well-known fact that St Modestos, hailing from the Monastery of Abba Theodosius the Cenobiarch, was called to the rank of Patriarch in the period after the Persian invasion of 614 AD, and was indeed distinguished as a conservator of monuments, churches and monasteries, and a consoler of devastated souls and protector of animals.

At the aforementioned chapel, the Most Reverend Joachim, Metropolitan of Zambia, led the Vespers, whilst His Eminence Demetrios, Archbishop of Lydda and Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, officiated on the morning of the feast. Co-officiating were Archimandrite Makarios, Archimandrite Ieronymos, hegoumen in Fhes, and Hierodeacon Markos. Archimandrite Eusebius and nuns sang for concelebrating monks, nuns and pilgrims from Jerusalem.

During the divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, arrived at the chapel to venerate.

His Beatitude and the congregants were hosted to a reception by the Monastery’s supervisor, monk Antiochos.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/GmmuSZipcnM

httpv://youtu.be/vnd4CbHNx7o

On Sunday the 14^th/27^th of December 2015, the Feast of the Holy Forefathers was observed at the Church dedicated to them in Beit Sahour, namely the Village of the Shepherds, where the shepherds “living out in the fields”, urged by angels, were the first among human beings to witness the Nativity of Christ (Luke 2, 8-20).

At this Church, which is the centre of worship for the Patriarchate’s Greek Orthodox Community, the memory of the Forefathers, according to the flesh, of our Lord Jesus Christ, was observed, those who lived before the Law and under the Law, Abraham the Patriarch being the first amongst them. The Community numbers approximately 10.000 members.

The feast was led by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem. The Patriarch was welcomed at the Church’s gate by clerics, the Mayor of the town and the faithful. Co-officiating at Matins, the Breaking of Bread and the divine Liturgy were Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina, Methodios of Tabor and Makarios of Qatar, Patriarchal Commissioner in Qatar; the Hegoumen n Fhes, Archimandrite Ieronymos, the spiritual father of St Savva Monastery, Archimandrite Evdokimos, the Hegoumen at the Shepherds Shrine, Archimandrite Ignatios, parish priests, fathers Ibrahim, Savvas, Issa and Ioannis; Archdeacon Evlogios, and deacon Markos. The town’s choir sang in the Byzantine style in this church that includes a stone templon, a stone Throne, a stone ciborium above the Altar, a masterfully sculpted stone panarium and wooden-carved bema gates.

To the pious congregation His Beatitude preached the Word of God in Greek.

His words were followed by the Holy Communion for atonement and eternal life.

On the conclusion of the divine Liturgy, the Patriarch distributed icons to all the members of the congregation.

The Apolysis was followed by a reception at a hall adjacent to the Church.

There, His Beatitude addressed those present in Arabic. Addressing the Patriarch were priests and distinguished members of the Community, i.e. the Patriarchate’s liaison with Arabic-speaking Mass Media, vicar Issa Mousleh, and the town’s Mayor.

At noon, the Community hosted the Patriarchal Entourage to lunch at a town restaurant.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/xzv1cPAYQ1w

httpv://youtu.be/eJgr2x1p4Vo

httpv://youtu.be/jTH5h5DCpBI

On Friday the 12^th/25^th of December 2015, the feast of St Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythous, was observed at the Monastery dedicated to his name in the Old City of Jerusalem, near the Gate of Damascus.

As is well-known, St Spyridon was a married shepherd of mindless sheep and, owing to his great virtue, after becoming a widower he was appointed to the rank of Bishop of the Holy Bishopric of Trimythous, Cyprus. As a Bishop he participate in the First Ecumenical Council in 325 AD, where he defended the homoousion, the same substance of the Son and the Father and became a worthy shepherd of mindful sheep. God graced him with the gift of prescience and wonderworking, hence why he transformed the snake into a golden rod and then back into a snake, talked to his dead daughter, resolved the drought and stopped the flooding. As a Primate, he had angels concelebrating with him.

Vespers and the divine Liturgy were led by Archbishop Dorotheos of Avila. Co-officiating where the hegoumen of the Monastery of the Shepherds-Beit Sahour, Archimandrite Ignatius, f. Farah-Charalambos Bantour, vicar at St James, and Hierodeacon Markos. Archimandrite Eusebius, head cantor at Sts Constantine and Helen Church, sang for a pious congregation of nuns, local Greek-speaking and Arabic-speaking faithful, and pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Ukraine and Romania.

During the d. Liturgy, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, proceeded to venerate accompanied by Hagiotaphite Primates and Hieromonks.

The Patriarchal and Primatial entourage were hosted to a reception by the hegoumen, Archimandrite Sergios.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/yT90B_lYWiQ

httpv://youtu.be/xgGtslU7nsU

A. AT THE MONASTERY DEDICATED TO HIS NAME IN JERUSALEM

On Saturday, the 6^th/19^th of December 2015, the feast of St Nicholas was observed at the Monastery dedicated to his name, opposite the Patriarchate to the northwest. His Eminence Theophanes, Archbishop of Gerassa, led Vespers and the divine Liturgy. Archbishop Theophanes preached the Word of God about St Nicholas, “the icon of serenity, teacher of abstinence, who had conquered elevation in humbleness and wealth in poverty, and mediator between us and Christ for the benefit of our souls” for a pious congregation of chanting nuns, Greek-speaking and Arabic-speaking faithful, nuns and pilgrims from Greece, Russia and Romania.

On the conclusion of the service, the hegoumen and renovator of the Church, Archimandrite Aristovoulos, hosted Primates and the congregation to a reception at the hegoumeneion.

Β. AT THE MONASTERY OF HOSIOS SAVVA THE SANCTIFIED

The feast of St Nicholas the Miracle-Maker, Bishop of Myra, Lycia, was observed on Saturday the 6^th/19^th of December 2015, at the monastery dedicated to his name, known as God-built” as its greatest part lies within a natural cave. This has been the first church of St Savva Monastery, dated to the time when hosios Savva arrived at Cedars Stream to commence his monastic life.

Metropolitan Joachim of former Zambia led Vespers and the divine Liturgy, having as concelebrants Archimandrite Ignatios, hegoumen at the Monastery of the Shepherds, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and deacon Markos. Monks from St Savva Monastery sang for a pious congregation of Arabic-speaking faithful from Bethlehem, the Village of the Shepherds and Beit Jala.

After the service, a Memorial Service was held for the departed Hagiosabbite Fathers in the Church’s forecourt, which is also the roof of the cemetery of St Savva Monastery. The Memorial Service was followed by entry into the Katholikon.

There, the priests and the faithful received kollyva on the invitation of Archimandrite Evdokimos, Spiritual Father of the Lavra. Later, Primates and the congregation were hosted to monastic lunch as a token of God’s gift for the pains of their Vigil.

After lunch, Primates went on to venerate at the Monastery of St Theodosius the Cenobiarch, where they were welcomed by the hegoumen, Archimandrite Ierotheos.

C. IN BEIT JALA

On Saturday, the 6^th/19^th of December 2015, the memory of St Nicholas, Bishop of Myra in Lycia, was observed at the church dedicated to his name in the town of Beit Jala, adjacent to Bethlehem.

Beit Jala is one of the biggest towns of the Palestinian State, numbering approximately ten thousand Christians. St Nicholas is the town’s patron-saint, whilst a second church is dedicated to the Nativity of Theotokos.

The divine Liturgy was led by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, having as concelebrants Archbishops Methodios of Tabor and Demetrios of Lydda; the hegoumen in Beit Jala, Archimandrite Narkissos; priests f. Pavlos Doret, Joseph Hondali; Archdeacon Evlogios and deacon Markos. The Community Choir sang in Arabic in the Byzantine style for a great crowd for Orthodox.

After Communion and the Apolysis, a procession followed in the forecourt of the church and the cave of St Nicholas as well as around the church.

After the procession, His Beatitude distributed icons to the congregation. The reception was followed by lunch at a town restaurant, hosted by Archimandrite Narkissos and the Beit Jala Community Council.

From the Secretariat-General

On Thursday, the 4^th/17^th of December 2015, the memory of St Savva the Sanctified was observed at the chapel dedicated to his name within the Monastery of the Archangels, at a short distance to the north of the Patriarchate.

Archimandrites Claudius, hegoumen at the Monastery of the Holy Cross, and Paisios, hegoumen at the Monastery of the Prophet Elias, and father Nikiforos officiated at Vespers and the divine Liturgy. Nuns sang as a congregation of monks and nuns attended the service on the invitation and hospitality of His Eminence Demetrios, Archbishop of Lydda, Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod.

From the Secretariat-General