On Monday, the 19^th of May/1^st of June 2015, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of the Holy Spirit that enlightened the Apostles, on the site where the enlightenment took place, namely on Mount Zion.

A’ On the eve

On the eve of the feast, Vespers was performed and Pentecost wishes recited in Greek and Arabic, at the Holy Spirit Chapel within the Cemetery, led by Archbishop Dorotheos of Avila. Hagiotaphite Hieromonks co-officiated, as Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang in Greek and St James Choir sang in Arabic. Monks, nuns and pilgrims attended the service in piety.

On the conclusion of Vespers, School Principal, Nikolaos Zervis, hosted the Primates to lunch at the Patriarchal School.

Β’ On feast-day

On the following day, Monday of the Holy Spirit, the Divine Liturgy was held at the Holy Trinity Church, led by Archbishop Dorotheos of Avila, with co-officiating Hieromonks and Hierodeacons.

At the end of mass, a Procession began towards David’s Tomb and the Cenacle. The first Pentecost wish was read within the church, the second in the Catacomb and the third in the Cenacle. The supplication at David’s Tomb was made with the support of the Israeli Police, in the face of strong protests by religious Jews.

The Procession then returned to the Church after first making a supplication for the departed at the south gate to the Cemetery.

On the completion of the Procession, a reception followed at the School’s hall of events, for Primates and the congregation.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/mUDk0WVkxu8

httpv://youtu.be/6hIiNy6bHXI

On the feast-day of the Holy Spirit, the 19^th of May/1^st of June 2015, a divine Liturgy was performed at the Holy Trinity Church of the Russian Mission (MISSIA) of the Patriarchate of Russia in West Jerusalem. The Liturgy was led by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem. Co-officiating were Hagiotaphite Primates, the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Theodosios of Sebaste, the acting Head of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem, Archimandrite Theophanes, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and other priests of the Church of Russia. Archimandrite Eusebius sang in Greek on the right, whilst the Russian Choir sang in Russian on the left, in the presence of the Russian Ambassador to Israel and a crowd of Russian faithful.

During Communion, His Beatitude preached the Word of God in Greek.

The heads of the two Patriarchates went on to exchange gifts, before festive lunch was offered at the adjacent Monastery of the Holy Trinity, where addresses pertaining to the feast were duly made.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/8U_Fhvtc2uY

httpv://youtu.be/1bBKmkuVYQA

On Sunday, the 18^th/31^st of May 2015, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of Pentecost, commemorating the enlightenment of the disciples through the Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire, after which they went on to proclaims the wonders of God in foreign language and to found the Church by baptizing 3.000 faithful (Acts, 1,2).

This wondrous and remarkable event which has determined the course of the entire world, was celebrated with Vespers at the Church of the Resurrection, led by Archbishop Theodosios of Sebaste.

On Sunday, the Hagiotaphites walked in procession to the Church of the Resurrection, where they venerated at the Holy Apokathelosis and the Holy Sepulcher.

Afterwards, amidst bells tolling, the priests put on their official attire, whilst the Patriarch exchanged a fraternal embrace with the Primates.

The Divine Liturgy was performed at the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulcher, led by Patriarch Theophilos. Co-officiating were Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, the Archbishops of Gerassa, Avila, Sebaste and Lydda, Hieromonks, Archdeacon Evlogios, Deacons Dionysius and Anastasius, and Russian Deacons. In attendance was the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem and his associates, as well as pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Romania and other countries.

After the apolysis, Vespers began for the Monday of the Holy Spirit, with Pentecost kneeling prayers proclaimed in front of the Holy Aedicula.

On the conclusion of Vespers, the Hagiotaphites returned to the Patriarchates, where the congregation proceeded to receive the Patriarch’s blessings.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/PrsT-EL60bk

httpv://youtu.be/1HjVhd1Xuh8

On Thursday, the 8^th/21^st of May 2015, the Patriarchate observed the despotic feast of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives, the site of the Lord’s Ascension into heaven.

The feast commemorates the fact that, forty days after His Resurrection, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, ascended into heaven in glory and, having within Him our human nature, sat to the right of the Father, deifying mankind. From there he sent forth the Holy Spirit to illuminate and strengthen the disciples, and establish the Church that carries on His salvaging work on earth.

The feast was observed on the site of Christ’s Ascension. Vespers was led by Archbishop Dorotheos of Avila, followed by a procession to the church of the Men of Galilee, Galili Viri, where Patriarch Theophilos waited. There, a supplication was made and the gospel passage on the Ascension was read in Greek, Russian and Arabic, before the procession returned to the site of Vespers.

On the following morning, the divine Liturgy was again led by Archbishop Dorotheos. Co-officiating were Metropolitan Jeremiah of the Polish Church, Hieromonks, Arab-speaking presbyters of St James Cathedral, and priests visiting from Greece. Archimandrite Eusebius sang with cantors from Greece and Patriarchal School students on the right; on the left sang St James Choir in Arabic. In attendance was a great crowd of local Christians from Jerusalem and Palestinian Autonomy towns, venerating the footprint of the Lord as He ascended into heaven.

During the divine Liturgy, Patriarch Theophilos arrived at the church to venerate. He went on to pay a visit to the imam who resides in the nearby mosque, then proceeded to the Monastery of the Ascension, where He was hosted to a reception by Monk Achillios. Patriarch Theophilos then visited the Monastery of the Ascension of the Russian Diaspora on the Mount of Olives, and finally the Monastery of Galili Viri.

Monk Achillios and Archimandrite Anthimos hosted the Prelatic retinue, led by Archbishop Dorotheos of Avila, to breakfast.

Strengthened by the blessing of the Ascension of the Lord, the Church now awaits the feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/zar0mAoMyBU

httpv://youtu.be/oOWziAZIvNo

httpv://youtu.be/y5mOThulJ-w

On Wednesday, the 7^th/20^th of May 2015, the Patriarchate observed the Apodosis [Leave-taking] of Easter, on the completion of forty days from the feast of the Resurrection, and the Appearance of a Cross in the sky during the days of Archbishop Cyril the Catechizer of Jerusalem, circa 351 AD.

The Divine Liturgy was performed at the katholikon of the Church of the Resurrection, led by Archbishop Methodios of Tabor. Co-officiating were Hieromonks and Hierodeacons. The head-cantor of the church of Sts Constantine and Helen, Archimandrite f. Eusebius, sang in the company of cantors from Greece. Local Jerusalemites and pilgrims attended the service.

During the liturgy, Patriarch Theophilos proceeded to venerate at the Holy Sepulcher and the Horrendous Golgotha.

On the conclusion of mass, a procession began from the Golgotha to the Holy Sepulcher that had as participants Primates dressed in pallia.

At the end of the procession, the epistle of St Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem, to Emperor Constantine, the son of Constantine the Great, was read in front of the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulcher. The epistle talks of how the sign of the cross appeared in the sky, extending from the Golgotha to the Mount of Olives. The epistle was read by the leading Archbishop in Greek and by the Archbishop of Sebaste in Arabic.

After the apolysis, the Primates returned to the Patriarchates, where Archbishop Methodios of Tabor addressed His Beatitude with a panegyric on this double feast.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/4bM8y1H-umM

On Sunday, the 26^th of April/9^th of May 2015, Sunday of the Samaritan Woman according to the Pentecostarion, the Patriarchate celebrated the memory of the Samaritan Woman, St Photini, who had met the Lord by Jacob’s Well and believed in him as the Messiah and went on to preach His name in Samaria and beyond.

On the aforementioned day, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, arrived at Jacob’s Well, which lies in Neapolis/Nablus, and at the magnificent church of St Photini. The church, as well as the chapel of St Philoumen the Neo-martyr and St Ioustinos the Philosopher, were successfully completed by the Hegoumen of the Shrine, Archimandrite Ioustinos.

The Patriarch was welcomed by Archimandrite Ioustinos and the Boy Scouts, and went on to lead Matins and the Divine Liturgy. Co-officiating were Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, Archimandrite Ignatius, Hegoumen at the Monastery of the Shepherds, Archimandrite Chrysostomos, Hegoumen at Abba Gerasimus Monastery, Hierodeacon Martyrios, Archimandrite Leontios, Hegoumen at the Community of Raffidia, Arab-speaking presbyters, and visiting Priests from the Church of Greece. Archimandrite Leontios sang on the right, with Arab-speaking hieropsaltes singing on the left, in the presence of a pious congregation, including Mr Vasileios Koinis, representing the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem.

Communion was followed by procession thrice around the Church.

During a reception at the Hegoumen’s quarters, the Patriarch had had the opportunity to talk with members of the Community.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/brd8vIHo4CQ

httpv://youtu.be/X2Fytv6sHkg

httpv://youtu.be/H8ftgnopS3Y

On Saturday, the 25^th of April/8^th of May 2015, the Patriarchate observed the feast of St George the Trophy-Bearer at the Monastery dedicated to his name in the city of Accra- Ancient Ptolemais of Northern Israel.

The Accra-Ptolemais Bishopric includes twelve Greek Orthodox Arab-speaking Communities.

Patriarch Theophilos was welcomed to the city by the Hegoumen, Archimandrite Philotheos, the priests of Accra and adjacent Communities, and the Boy Scouts.

The Patriarch officiated at the feast with co-officiating Hierarchs, Archimandrite Chrysostomos of the Monastery of Kana, Galilee, priests of the Accra Communities, Archdeacon Evlogios, and Deacon Markos. The choir sang in Arabic in the presence of Greece’s Military Attaché to Jerusalem, the Greek Consul-General with his wife, and a great crowd.

During Communion, the Patriarch preached the Word of God in Greek and Arabic.

The Divine Liturgy was followed by procession thrice around the Church, which included a memorial service for the repose of the souls of Fathers buried there, and at the Tomb of St George the New Martyr of Cyprus, who died in the 19^th c. in the years of the Ottoman Empire.

At the reception that followed mass, addresses were made by the President of the Community Council of Accra, the Sheikh of Accra, the Vice-Mayor of Accra, the Sheikh of Baane, the representatives of Bahai, of the Maronites, and of the Police.

At noon, Archimandrite Philotheos hosted guests to lunch.

Before leaving the city, His Beatitude offered His condolences to the Ms Maria Triantafyllidou, on the death of her mother.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/KH2enIBgGwQ

httpv://youtu.be/ksQzEvnGHTc

httpv://youtu.be/jUwLysQe7pA

A. At the Romanian Church

On Wednesday, the 23^rd of April/6^th of May 2015, the feast of St George the Great Martyr was celebrated at the church dedicated to him, of the Romanian Church in Jerusalem, which lies in the Mandel Baum region of West Jerusalem. Until 1967, the region was a buffer zone and a crossing point between Jordan and Israel.

On the invitation of the Romanian Patriarch, Daniel, Patriarch Theophilos officiated at the feast. Co-officiating were Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, Bishop Andreas of the Patriarchate of Romania, and Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina; Archimandrite Theophilos, head of the Romanian Representation in Jerusalem; Archimandrite Domitian of the Russian Mission in Jerusalem; Archdeacon Evlogios, deacon Markos and other Hierodeacons. Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang with the Romanian Choir in the presence of Ms Andrea Pastarnac, Romania’s Ambassador to Israel, and several faithful from Romania and Israel.

During Communion, Patriarch Theophilos preached the Word of God in English, see link: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2015/05/06/14259

On the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, f. Theophilos thanked His Beatitude for the honour bestowed upon him and offered Him a beautiful icon of Theotokos, whilst Archimandrite Theophilos offered the Patriarch a liturgical silver-gilt Gospel book.

His Beatitude extended thanks for the divine Liturgy and Eucharist, which demonstrated once more the unity amongst Orthodox brothers of our Churches, and offered Archimandrite Theophilos an icon intended for Patriarch Daniel of Romania.

The divine Liturgy was followed by a reception and lunch attended by Romania’s Consul-General to Israel, Mr Adrian Adam

B. In the Old City of Jerusalem

The feast of St George was also observed in the Old City of Jerusalem through Vespers and a celebratory Prelatic Liturgy:

1. In St George Monastery, also known as “St George of the Hospital”, as during the prelacy of Patriarch Chrysanthos (1707-1731) the Patriarchate maintained a hospital within the Monastery’s enclosure.

Vespers and the Divine Liturgy were led by Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda, in the presence of a pious congregation of nuns and Greek-speaking, Russian-speaking, and Romanian-speaking faithful, hosted to a reception by Abbess Pansemni.

2. In the Monastery of St George “of the Jewish” which lies at the centre of the Jewish quarter of Jerusalem, near the Gate of Sion.

Vespers and the divine Liturgy were led by Archbishop Theophanes of Gerassa. Mr Balagiorgos and Ms Kritikou, teachers of Byzantine Music and researchers at the Patriarchate’s library, sang during mass.

The pious congregation was hosted to a reception by Abbess Anna, devoted to renovating the Monastery at the subvention of Greek and mostly Cypriot benefactors.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/KRWjzDQ0Fco

httpv://youtu.be/6l51Z-gyogE

httpv://youtu.be/S_NIxGbHaqM

The feast-day of Doha’s Cathedral was observed with glorious celebrations, though postponed on Friday for pastoral reasons.

On Thursday, the 30^th of April 2015, panegyric Vespers was performed, led by Archbishop Makarios of Qatar, which included the Breaking of Bread. An eight-membered group of hieropsalts performed under the direction of Mr Georgios Proikios, Head Cantor at the Church of Our Lady Mirtidiotissa, Piraeus, alongside the Church’s Choir.

On the conclusion of Vespers, a concert of traditional music took place in the forecourt of the Church, aimed at conveying the scent of church music to the Greek Orthodox residing in the Emirate of Qatar, to Arab-speaking Christians, but also to members of the congregation accustomed to other music traditions.

On Friday, the 1^st of May 2015, Matins and a Prelatic Divine Liturgy were held in the presence of a crowd of faithful. At the end of the service, the Holy Icon of St George was carried in a procession.

From the Holy Archbishopric of Qatar

The third Sunday after Easter, on the 13^th/26^th of April 2015, also known as Sunday of the Myrrhbearers, the Patriarchate celebrated the deposition of the Lord from the cross by his secret disciples, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, as well as the anointment of His body with aloes, its wrapping in a winding sheet and burial in a new tomb “where no one had ever been laid” (John 19, 41).

Α. In Remle – Ancient Arimathea

This event was commemorated by the Patriarchate in present-day Remle, the ancient Arimathea where Joseph hailed from.

In this big town, the Greek Orthodox Arab-speaking community numbers approximately 3.000 faithful.

On the morning of the feast, His Beatitude Theophilos was welcomed to the town by Archimandrite Nephon, Hegoumen of St Joseph Monastery, the Community President Ms Frida Manase and members of the Community Council.

Patriarch Theophilos led the Divine Liturgy. Co-officiating were the Archbishops of Joppe, Constantina and Lydda, Archimandrite Nephon, Hieromonks, priests from Joppe, Archdeacon Evlogios and deacon Dionysios. In attendance was the representative of the Greek Embassy in Tel Aviv, Mr Gennimatas, as well as a big crowd of Community members.

To this pious congregation the Patriarch preached the Word of God in Greek.

The Divine Liturgy was followed by a reception at the Hegoumen’s quarters whilst Archimandrite Nephon and the Community Council hosted guests to lunch at noon.

During lunch, His Beatitude praised Archimandrite Nephon and made a donation towards the continuation of restoration works at the school, the Monastery and the Church.

B. At St James Cathedral

The feast of the Myrrhbearers was also observed in St James Cathedral, at the chapel of the Myrrhbearers.

The Divine Liturgy was led by Archbishop Theodosios of Sebaste, as Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang in Greek and St James Choir sang in Arabic in the presence of the Greek Consul-General, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis. In attendance was the Arab-speaking congregation of the Church but also members of the Greek Parish, nuns and pilgrims.

During Communion, Archbishop Theodosios underlined the dedication and bravery of the Myrrhbearing women, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, the Lord’s disciple by night.

After His Eminence’s speech, Mr Ibrahim Salphiti presented the charitable activities of the Cathedral and of the “Myrrhbearers Association” on behalf of the Church Board.

On the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence and the congregation were hosted to a reception in a hall recently renovated at the expenses of Mr Noura Korte, where addresses were made on the occasion of the feast.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/1EUWBSZSbdc

httpv://youtu.be/3DMp7Ed8tNE

httpv://youtu.be/YNgpx33LOZQ