On Saturday, the 1^st/14^th of February 2015, H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, conferred the tonsure upon two novices, namely Socrates Felekis, a graduate of the Patriarchal School on the Holy Sion, and Stavros Voukas, who was recently admitted to the aforementioned Patriarchal School.

With the rite of the tonsure, His Beatitude gave the two tonsured monks the names Sophronios, for Socrates, and Synesios, for Stavros.

After the tonsure, the Patriarch spoke to the new Hagiotaphites with words of advice, underlining the honour of the monastic schema bestowed upon them, and the significance of the struggle that awaits them in favour of the Holy Shrines and the Orthodox flock in the Holy Land.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/3dUnCKTdsII

On Thursday, the 30^th of January/12^th of February 2015, the Patriarchate celebrated the memory of the Three Holy Hierarchs, John Chrysostom, Basil the Great and Gregory the Theologian. This feast, honouring the ministry of teaching, was celebrated at the Patriarchal School on the hill of the Holy Sion.

The feast was established by the Church in the 12^th century in order to unite its members – then separated into fractions with partisans of St John, St Basil and St Gregory – into a single body honouring the three ecumenical teachers both as saints and as men of letters promoting the link between ancient Greek education and Christian teachings.

Vespers and the Divine Liturgy were held in the Church of the Holy Trinity on the Holy Sion, led by the Chairman of the School Board, Elder Sacristan, His Eminence Isidoros, Archbishop of Hierapolis. Co-officiating with him, were Presbyter Efthymios and Hierodeacon Dionysius.  Teachers and students sang in the presence of a pious congregation made of members of the Greek Parish of Jerusalem and pilgrims.

Mr Mexis delivered the panegyric of the day (see video).

After mass, Vice-Principal, Mr Spyridon Mwxis, hosted the Prelatic retinue and the congregation to a reception at the School’s hall of events.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/ROP-gVebzAk

On Monday, the 20^th of January/2^nd of February 2015, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of hosios Efthymios the Great at the Monastery dedicated to his name, within the Christian quarter, north of the Patriarchate.

St Efthymios came to the Holy Land from Cappadocia in 420 AD, and led an ascetic life with St Theoktistos in the desert of Koutila, between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. There, he founded a lavra which went on to become an important monastic center, while he himself became the teacher of St Savvas the Consecrated who came to the Holy Land in 456 AD. St Efthymios preached Christianity to the Persians and was distinguished as an opponent of Monophysitism and a proponent of the dogma of the Fourth Ecumenical Council in Chalcedon, which proclaimed Christ’s single hypostasis in two natures. To this day, the Monastery stands as an archaeological site.

His Eminence Damascene, Archbishop of Joppa, led the Vespers and divine Liturgy at Hosios Efthymios Monastery in Jerusalem, with co-officiating Hieromonks and Hierodeacons. Archimandrite Eusebius sang with Patriarchal School students, in the presence of local Christians and pilgrims from Greece, Ukraine, Russia and Romania.

His Eminence Damascene talked to the congregation of the ascetic figure of St Efthymios, his dedication to monastic life, and his contribution to the salvation of several monks.

Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem came to the Monastery during mass to venerate.

On the conclusion of the divine Liturgy, Abbess Christonymphe hosted guests to a reception at the hegoumeneion.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/mloc1xbkedc

On Sunday, the 19^th of January/1^st of February 2015, the Patriarch of Jerusalem officiated at the Holy Monastery of Mount Sarantarion.

Mount Sarantarion, overlooking the west of the ancient town of Jericho, is the Mount where the Lord came, guided by the Holy Spirit, after His baptismal in the Jordan, to pray and fast for forty days. There, He was tempted by the devil and overcame the temptation to turn stones into bread, to throw Himself from the temple, and to worship the devil in exchange for every power in the world. To these temptations, the Lord answered, respectively: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”; “Do not put the Lord your God to the test”; and “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only”.

On this site where Christ conquered temptation, the Patriarchate maintains a Monastery that is carved into the rock.

Patriarch Theophilos led the divine Liturgy on the aforementioned day, with co-officiating Primates, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, Archdeacon Evlogios, deacon Anastasios and other Fathers of the Patriarchate. The hegoumen of the Monastery of Hozeva, f. Constantinos, sang with Patriarchal School students in the presence of locals and pilgrims alike.

On the conclusion of mass, the hegoumen, Archimandrite Gerasimos, hosted guests to a reception in his quarters.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/2JMvF4Q7OH0

On Thursday, the 16th/29th January 2015, the Patriarchate celebrated the veneration of the chains of the glorious Saint and Apostle Peter.

The incarceration of the Apostle Peter by Herod Agrippa, aimed at his execution in order to please the Jews, and his miraculous liberation by an angel is reported in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts, 12) and believed to have taken place in the prison within the Holy Monastery of St Nicodemus, Christ’s secret disciple. The prison is also known as the Convent of Lentils because of St Helen having distributed lentils amongst the hungry crowd during a period of starvation in Jerusalem.

At the Chapel dedicated to the chains of the Apostle Peter, Archimandrite Meletios led the Vespers, with Archbishop Theophanes of Gerassa officiating the divine Liturgy on the day of the feast. Co-officiating with him were priests and hierodeacons, as Archimandrite Eusebius and nuns sang in the presence of members of the Christian Community of Jerusalem and pilgrims.

During the divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, proceeded to venerate with Hagiotaphite Fathers.

His Beatitude, His Eminence, priests and the congregation were courteously hosted to a reception by the Monastery’s Abbot, Hieromonk f. Makarios.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/Yu5c6L9MR_Q

On Saturday, the 11^th/24^th of January 2015, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of St Theodosius the Cenobiarch in the Monastery dedicated to his name and which lies in the desert of Judea.

The Monastery was founded by St Theodosius himself, having arrived in the Holy Land from his homeland of Cappadocia after the middle of the 5th century. Here he set up a Cenobium, leading all cenobites in Palestine, hence the epithet “Cenobiarch”. In parallel to his monastic work, he also set up a Home for the Old and an Orphanage.

The Cenobium numbered approximately 400 monks and four Churches. For a monk to enter the Monastery, he was required to work with his hands. A school for monks also operated within the Cenobium. Their Beatitudes Sophronius and Modestus, Patriarchs of Jerusalem, hailed from this Cenobium.

Hosios Theodosius was a fellow countryman of Hosios Savvas the Consecrated. The two of them played a significant role against the heresy of Monophysitism and in favour of the Christological dogma of the Fourth Ecumenical Council in Chalcedon, namely Christ’s single hypostasis and two natures.

The Monastery, damaged by time and raids, was first renovated in the early 20^th century by Monk Leontios of Crete, then by Archbishop Bartholomew of Madaba. Today, its Abbot, Archimandrite Ierotheos, carries on the work of its restoration and protection.

His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, led the Divine Liturgy on the day of the feast, with co-officiating Primates, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, visiting priests, Arab-speaking presbyters, Archdeacon Evlogios and deacon Markos. Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang in Greek, Arabic, Russian and Romanian, in the presence of a crowd of faithful, mainly from the Village of the Shepherds, and pilgrims from Greece, Cyprus, Russia and Ukraine.

The Divine Liturgy was followed by a procession in the forecourt of the Monastery, in the Cave of the Magi, wherein lies the tomb of St Theodosius, and at the tomb of the late Archbishop Bartholomew of Madaba, where prayers were read for the repose of his soul.

During lunch at the Monastery, Abbot Ierotheos thanked His Beatitude for His interest in the affairs of the Monastery and for His presence in the feast. Patriarch Theophilos praised the Abbot for his diligence and wished that he be guided by St Theodosius in carrying on his work.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/PJ1U9pzFfz4

On Wednesday, the 8^th/21^st of January 2015, two days after the Epiphany, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of the Monastery of Hozeva to commemorate its proprietors, Sts John and George the Hozevites.

The two hosioi had played a significant role in the history of the Monastery: in the 5^th c. AD, St John arrived here from his bishopric in Caesarea, Palestine, whereas St George came from Cyprus in the 7^th c. AD to restore the Monastery after the damage it sustained because of the Persian invasion in 614 AD.

His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, arrived at the Monastery from Jerusalem, and was welcomed by the Hegoumen, Archimandrite Constantinos.

The Patriarch went on to lead the Matins and the divine Liturgy. Co-officiating with Him was Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Archimandrite Constantinos, Hagiosabbite Hieromonk f. Euprosynos, Arab-speaking presbyters and priests visiting from the Patriarchate of Romania, Archdeacon Evlogios and other deacons. The Hieromonk of the Monastery of Giromerio and Monk Joseph of Mount Athos sang in Greek, with Archimandrite Philotheoss of Accra singing in Arabic, in the presence of local Christians and pilgrims from Greece, Russia and Romania.

During mass, the Patriarch preached the Word of God in Greek.

In Arabic, the speech may be reached here: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2015/01/21/9627

On the conclusion of the divine Liturgy, the Hegoumen, f. Constantinos, hosted guests to lunch.

From the Secretariat-General

On Tuesday, the 7^th/21^st of January 2015, the day after the feast of Theophany, the Patriarchate celebrated the Synaxis of St John the Holy Glorious Baptist and Forerunner, at the Monastery dedicated to his name on the Southwest of the Church of the Resurrection.

Through this particular feast, the Church calls the faithful to a gathering, a synaxis, in honour of the Holy Forerunner, the Baptist of the Lord in the Jordan river.

The Most Reverend Joachim, Metropolitan of Zambia, led the Vespers and divine Liturgy on the morning of the feast. Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang in the presence of a congregation of monks, nuns, and pious pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Ukraine and Romania.

In the course of the divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, arrived at the church to venerate the Saint’s holy relic. He was accompanied by Hagiotaphite Fathers.

The Patriarchal retinue was then courteously hosted to a reception at the Hegoumen’s quarters by the Abbot, Archimandrite Bartholomew.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/NFvsEdGdo0I

On Monday, the 6^th/19^th of January 2015, the feast of Theophany was celebrated by the Patriarchate in the All-holy Church of the Resurrection.

On this dwelling of the Lord’s glory, the site of His sacrifice on the cross and of His glorious Resurrection , arrived His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by Hagiotaphite Fathers. After venerating at the Holy Apokathelosis (Deposition from the Cross) and the Holy Sepulcher, the Patriarch performed the Service of the Grand Blessing  at the katholikon, and the divine Liturgy of Basil the Great in the Holy Sepulcher. Co-officiating with Him were the Most Reverend Metropolitans Isychios of Kapitolias and Joachim of Zambia, and Archbishops Theodosios of Tomis, Aristarchos of Constantina, Theodosios of Sebaste and Demetrios of Lydda. The head cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos, sang in the presence of the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis and a pious crowd of locals and pilgrims alike.

After the blessing of the faithful through the Holy Cross, the Patriarchal Retinue proceeded to the Patriarchates amidst church bells ringing.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/jDi3nDp5tjs

On Sunday, the 5^th/18^th of January 2015, the Patriarchate celebrated the Eve of Theophany.

Α. The feast in Jerusalem

Early in the morning of the aforementioned day, Matins and the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom were performed at the monastic church of Sts Constantine and Helen, followed by the service of the Small Blessing, led by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem.

On the conclusion of the Blessing rite, the Patriarch proceeded to the Patriarchate, where a supplication was made and the Patriarchal Polychronism sang. There, His Beatitude welcomed the vicar of the church of Sts Constantine and Helen, Archbishop Theodosios of Sebaste, who had led the rite of the Eve of Theophany at St James Cathedral for the Arab-speaking Community.

B. In the river Jordan

From the Patriarchate, the Patriarch left for the river Jordan, accompanied by Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina.

Driving through Jericho, His Beatitude visited the Monastery of the Prophet Elisha where stands Zacchaeus’ sycamore fig tree. The Abbot, Archimandrite Philoumenos, welcomed the Patriarch at his quarters. Then, the Patriarch left to meet with the Palestinian Prefect of Jericho, whom he addressed in Arabic, see link:  https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2015/01/18/9544

At the end of the meeting, His Beatitude left the territory of the Palestinian state, passing through the iron border gate. From there, He was accompanied by Israeli soldiers to the Monastery of John the Baptist near the river Jordan.

There, in the forecourt of the Monastery, he was warmly welcomed by Israeli army men of the district of Jericho, Boy Scouts and a great crowd, in the presence of Archimandrite Chrysostomos, Abbot at the Monastery of Abba Gerasimus, Primates and Priests of the Patriarchate as well as priests visiting from other Orthodox Churches.

In the church of this monastery, the Patriarch led the Service of the Ninth Hour of Theophany. From there, He led the procession to the river Jordan.

There, on a platform established by the banks of the Jordan, He performed the rite of the Blessing, in the presence of the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, before throwing the holy cross in the river where the Lord was baptized.

On the conclusion of the rite, Archimandrite Chrysostomos hosted guests to lunch at the Monastery of Abba Gerasimus.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/KakMPI-Lglw

httpv://youtu.be/7Y3sRSAQJVM