On the night of the 15^th to the 16^th/28^th to the 29^th of July 2015, His Beatitude Theodoros, Patriarch of Alexandria, in the context of a visit to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, led the nocturnal Divine Liturgy at the Lord’s Sepulcher. Concelebrating were Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, Archbishop Isychios of Kapitolias, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, and Archbishop Nektarios of Anthedon. Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang in the presence of several Hagiotaphite Fathers, nuns and members of our Orthodox flock as well as pilgrims visiting from other Orthodox countries.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUk4o2ks4Vo

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5wNEr9Ky0g

On Tuesday, the 8^th/21^st of July 2015, the feast of St Procopius the Martyr was celebrated by the Patriarchate at the chapel dedicated to his name on the hill of Abu Tor, in South New Jerusalem, near the Chapel of St Modestus, Patriarch of Jerusalem.

St Procopius the Martyr hailed from Caesarea, Palestine. Whilst serving in the army, he was called through a vision to follow Christ, after which he confessed and preached in His name, finally suffering a martyr’s death circa 303 AD during the reign of Diocletian.

The Divine Liturgy was held at the aforementioned chapel by Archimandrite Evdokimos, Spiritual Father at the Holy Lavra of St Sava the Consecrated. Hierodeacon Markos co-officiated, whilst Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang in the presence of a pious crowd of monks and nuns.

In the course of the service, Patriarch Theophilos visited the Monastery accompanied by Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina.

On the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Monk Antiochos, conservator of the Shrine, hosted the Patriarch and the congregation to a reception.

From the Secretariat-General

On Monday, the 30^th of June/13^th of July 2014, the feast of the Gathering of the Twelve Holy Apostles was celebrated at the Holy Monastery dedicated to them, built on the ruins of an ancient Byzantine Church, on the Western shore of the Tiberian sea, in the present-day city of Tiberias, North Israel. The site of the Monastery was where the Lord appeared to His disciples after His Resurrection, as told by John. According to the evangelical excerpt from the 10^th Eothinon Gospel, the Lord instructed His disciples to throw their nets on the right side of the boat, which they did and caught many fish, a total of one hundred and fifty three, but “in spite of this the net was not torn” and when they landed the Lord said to them “Come and eat fish and bread” (John 21, 10, 12).

The divine Liturgy was led by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem. Co-officiating with Him was Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda, and the Hegoumen in Fhes, Archimandrite Ieronymos, as the Hegoumen in Accra-Ptolemais, Archimandrite Philotheos, sang in Arabic and Greek for a great crowd from the area of Galilee.

After the Patriarch preached the Word of God, many of the faithful participated in the Sacrament of the Holy Communion.

At noon, the Hegoumen, Archimandrite Timotheos, hosted the Patriarch and guests to lunch with fish from the Tiberian Sea.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/mIBiA9FKSzM

httpv://youtu.be/eb-Rtn1I2Qo

httpv://youtu.be/U_guC-LduwI

httpv://youtu.be/RA0f36-h5ao

httpv://youtu.be/Agl_OHZ62V4

On Sunday, the 29^th of June/12^th of July 2015, the feast of the glorious Heads of the Apostles, Sts Peter and Paul, was celebrated at the Church dedicated to them in Capernaum, on the north-western shores of the Tiberian Sea.

This magnificent church stands on land owned by the Patriarchate and has been dated to the time of the Lord according to excavations. First built in 1933 by Patriarch Damian of Jerusalem, it was then renovated and decorated by the current Abbot, Monk Irinarchos, with a fine Byzantine painting, and now consists one of the area’s landmarks that invites the admiration of visitors and pilgrims.

The Divine Liturgy was led by Patriarch Theophilos. Co-officiating were: Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, Archbishop Damascene of Joppa, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, the Hegoumen in Fhes, Archimandrite Ieronymos, Arabic-speaking presbyters, Archdeacon Evlogios and Deacon Dionysios. Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang in Greek, Russian and Arabic for a pious congregation of Greek Orthodox Arabic-speaking faithful from Patriarchal parishes in the regions of Galilee and Accra, and pilgrims from Greece and Russia.

To the pious congregation, the Patriarch preached the Word of God.

Then, several among the faithful participated in the Sacrament of the Holy Communion, whilst on the conclusion of the service, they all received consecrated bread, the antidoron, asking for His Beatitude’s blessing.

After the Divine Liturgy, a reception took place at the Hegoumen’s Quarters, with nuts, cakes and refreshments. At noon, Monk Irinarchos hosted guests to lunch with fish from the Tiberian Sea.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/k9OU0YeSjm4

httpv://youtu.be/m2BzI4No7SQ

httpv://youtu.be/C6R5_7XTKEI

httpv://youtu.be/r8Y01yo-NEk

On Saturday, the 28^th of June/11^th of July 2015, H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, blessed the religious habit of professor Demetrios Lykoudis, who recently arrived at the Patriarchate with the aim to join the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood in due time.

Blessing the cloth of the novice professor, a graduate of Theology and Philology, instructor of Byzantine Music and Ph.D. candidate, Mr Demetrios Lykoudis, the Patriarch wished a fruitful postulancy and blessed inclusion within the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood.

From the Secretariat-General

On Tuesday the 24^th of June/7^th of July 2015, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist, once the childlessness of his elder parents, Zacharias and Elisabeth, was resolved, according to the Evangelist Luke (chapter 1). According to the Lord’s testament, among those born of women there had not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist (Matthew 11, 11), wrongfully and without cause beheaded by Herod’s orders (Matthew 14, 1-11).

The feast was observed on the site of his birth, the Oreini (Ein Karem) a present-day suburb of West Jerusalem. In this small Israeli town, there stands a Church dedicated to the Nativity of John the Baptist, built on the site of an old Byzantine Church from the days of Patriarch Cyril, circa 1850. The Divine Liturgy on the day of the feast was led by Archbishop Theodosios of Sebaste. Co-officiating were Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, Archimandrite Ignatius, Archimandrite Meletios and Archdeacon Evlogios. Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang in the presence of Arabic-speaking faithful, monks and nuns from Jerusalem and other cities.

On this site, on the hillside, there stands a Church and Convent of the Patriarchate of Moscow dedicated to the Nativity of John the Baptist. There, Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias led the Matins and Divine Liturgy, upon the invitation of the Monastery. Archimandrite Theophanes of the Russian Spiritual Mission of the Patriarchate of Moscow in Jerusalem, co-officiated with other visiting priests, Hagiotaphite priests, and deacon Dionysius. Nuns sang as a large crowd of Russian-speaking congregation attended the service.

A procession followed the Divine Liturgy, as well as a deesis and Holy Water Rite around the Monastery.

Finally, the Abbes, Nun Georgia, hosted guests to a festive lunch.

From the Secretariat-General

On Sunday, the 21^st of June/5^th of July, a Divine Liturgy was performed at the katholikon of the Church of the Resurrection.

The service was led by the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, as the choir sang under the direction of Mr Demetrios Balageorgos. The Choir visited Jerusalem in the context of the deliberations of the Interdisciplinary Conference held between 20-21 June 2015/3-4 July 2015 on the “Musical Manuscripts in the Collection of the Patriarchal Library of Jerusalem”. The choir’s performance deeply moved the congregation of locals and pilgrims visiting from Greece, Palestine, Russia and Romania.

During Communion, His Eminence the Archbishop preached the Word of God to the faithful.

On the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the officiating Primate along with Hagiotaphites and cantors paid their respects to Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, asking for His blessing before continuing their workings at the Central Library.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/N5kSpXe38AE

httpv://youtu.be/U583fke3wnY

httpv://youtu.be/pCsMDc65H3o

On Saturday, the 14^th/27^th of June 2015, the Patriarchate observed the memory of the prophet Elisha in Jericho, at the Monastery dedicated to his name, on the site of the sycamore fig-tree where Zacchaeus had climbed to see Christ (Luke 19, 1-10).

The Monastery is dedicated to Elisha because Jericho was the prophet’s main area of activity.

The prophet Elisha hailed from the town of Abel-Maula of the Jordan river region. There, the prophet Elias had summoned him to become his disciple. After sacrificing the twelve oxen he owned to feed the people, he followed Elias.

The Old Testament books contain several references to Elisha’s miracles by the grace of God, for instance turning the bitter waters on the foothills of Mount Sarantarion to sweet and potable; the retrieval of an ax from the Jordan river, the resurrection of the son of the lady of Shunem and the crossing of the river on Elias’ sheepskin, which Elisha had asked from him before he rose to heaven in a fiery chariot.

The Divine Liturgy was led by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem. Co-officiating were Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, Isychios of Kapitolias, Narcissus of Nubia, visiting from the Patriarchate of Alexandria, and Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina. Hegoumens Chrysostomos, Narcissus, Ignatius and Ieronymos also concelebrated with Archimandrite Paisios of Mount Sinai, Hieromonks, Hierodeacons and Arabic-speaking priests from Nazareth and Beit-Jalla. The pious congregation consisted of nuns, pilgrims and members of Jericho’s Arabic-speaking community.

On the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy and the blessing of the grapes by the Patriarch, a procession followed thrice around the Church. Guests were hosted to lunch at a restaurant, where Ms Nahinda Halten spoke in Arabic.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/I9wJbFDcEAA

httpv://youtu.be/cMy0MgrohmM

On Thursday, the 12^th/25^th of June 2015, the Patriarchate celebrated the memory of Hosios Onouphrios the Egyptian at the Monastery dedicated to him, opposite the Pool of Siloam on the foothills of Abu Tor.

St Onouphrios had lived a rigidly ascetic life for more than sixty years, during the 4^th c. AD, deep into the Egyptian desert. His clothes having been worn out, his body was covered by his long beard, as shown on his icon, until St Paphnoutios had discovered him. When Onouphrios died a few days later, Paphnoutios buried him after tearing his frock in two to cover his nakedness.

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem has dedicated a Monastery to his name, in the Potter’s Field the chief priests and elders had bought “as a burial place for foreigners with the silver coins that Judas had returned with remorse” (Matthew 27, 3-8). Burials on this site continued until the 13th c., as attested by tombs carved into rocks in and around the Monastery, one of which belongs to Patriarch Juvenal of Jerusalem (415 AD).

Patriarch Theophilos led the Matins and Divine Liturgy. Co-officiating were Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina and Methodios of Tabor, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, and visiting members of the Holy Bishopric of Patras having links with the Monastery. Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth concelebrated whilst Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang for a crowd of monks, nuns, Jerusalemites and pilgrims.

The Divine Liturgy was followed by procession to the Cemetery, where a memorial service was held for the repose of the soul of the late nun Serapheima. From there, the faithful proceeded to the rock-cut tombs, where a prayer was read for the blessing of figs thriving in the area.

After the distribution of the antidoron, Nun Paisia courteously hosted guests to the hegoumeneion.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/XHoGG8AGdjE

httpv://youtu.be/kpDT16SlaK0

On Saturday, the 24^th of May/6^th of June 2015, the Patriarchate observed the memory of St Patrick, Bishop of Proussa, at the church dedicated to his name in the town of Jadeide, Northern Israel, of the Accra-Ptolemais region.

Hieromarty Patrick was decapitated for Christ along with three presbyters in an unknown location.

The divine Liturgy was led by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, with Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Steward Elias Houri of the aforementioned church, former vicar, Jiries Kasis, and other priests from adjacent communities co-officiating. The Accra Choir sang in Arabic under Archimandrite Philotheos, in the presence of parishioners from this Orthodox town.

During Communion, His Beatitude preached the word of God in Arabic.

On the conclusion of the divine Liturgy, His Beatitude bestowed the medal of the Little Crusader of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher upon f. Jiries Kasis, former vicar of the parish, for his long and dedicated service to the Patriarchate and the congregation.

A short reception followed in the adjacent hall of events, whereas guests were later hosted to lunch at a town hotel.

On the occasion of His visit, His Beatitude offered financial aid for the conservation of the church and for the town’s Association of Women.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/vtCtIs3PpEQ

httpv://youtu.be/yUJB8WDlzaI

httpv://youtu.be/dTVqwTy86HY