On the evening of Cheese Fare Sunday, the 17^th of February/2^nd of March 2014, on the occasion of the beginning of the Holy and Great Lent, the wish of forgiveness was read out by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the context of the Small Compline Service.

The reading of the wish of forgiveness was followed by a request for His Beatitude’s wish and the embrace of forgiveness, after which each man withdrew to his cell in silence and prayer.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/EGLiBB4axY0

On the night of Friday to Saturday of Cheese Fare Sunday, the 15^th to the 16^th of February/28^th of February to the 1^st of March 2014, Monk Marcus Henderson of London was ordained as deacon during the Divine Liturgy at the All-Holy and Life-Giving Sepulcher. The ordination was performed by the Patriarchal Commissioner, the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias.

The ordination rite was attended by Hagiotaphite Prelates, Hieromonks and Monks, by f. Demetrios Loupasakis, spiritual father of the ordained and Head of the Church of St Isidores in Lycabettus, in the company of Fathers and numerous pilgrims.

Before the sacrament, the ordaining Prelate addressed the ordained subdeacon with paternal words of advice for an honorable, healthy and pious diaconate.

Responding to the call, the candidate for ordination bent the knees and the neck in front of the Altar and, as the Prelate placed his hands upon him, received the ordination.

At the conclusion of the ordination, all present exclaimed “Worthy he is”.

After the Divine Liturgy, the ordained deacon hosted those who honoured him with their presence to a reception at the Office of the Elder Sacristan, His Eminence Isidoros, Archbishop of Hierapolis.

From the Secretariat-General

On the Sunday of Carnival [Gr. Apokrias], namely the 10^th/23^rd of February 2014, the memory of the Holy Hieromartyr Charalampos, hailing from Magnesia, Thessaly, was celebrated by the Patriarchate. St Charalampos lived during the reign of Severus, when Lucian was Proconsul of Magnesia, in 198 AD.

In the Monastery dedicated to his name, adjacent to Northwest of the Church of the Resurrection, His Eminence Demetrios, Archbishop of Lydda and Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, led the Vespers, the Matins and the Divine Liturgy. Co-officiating were Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and Hierodeacons, as well as a great crowd of faithful including Greeks from the Parish of Jerusalem, Arab-speaking, Greek-speaking and Russian-speaking pilgrims, praying in piety.

During the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem proceeded to venerate in the company of Hagiotaphite Fathers.

Subsequently, the Patriarchal and Prelatic Retinue, as well as the faithful, were courteously hosted to a reception by the Hegoumen, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Kallistos, in his quarters.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/MxVjmmCdxIs

On the evening of Friday to Saturday of Souls, namely the 8^th/21^st to the 9^th/22^nd of February 2014, Vespers was held in commemoration of all departed Hagiotaphite Fathers, glorious Patriarchates, Prelates, Priests, Hieromonks, monks and nuns. The Service was led by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem. Hagiotaphite Fathers co-officiated with him, dressed in stole and  pallium. Hieromonks and monks prayed with them.

At the end of the afternoon service and commemoration, participants were offered blessed wheat (“kollyva”) and prayed for the souls of the departed Hagiotaphite Fathers.

From the Secretariat-General

On Wednesday the 6^th/19^th of February 2014, His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, blessed the rason, namely the frock, of novice Antonis Vekris, hailing from Amorgos, serving at the Central Kitchen of the Patriarchate.

After delivering the frock, His Beatitude addressed fatherly words to the rasophoros, that he may continue to serve with patience and willingness as he has so far, and that in time he may receive the monastic schema and enter the ranks of the Hagiotaphite Fraternity.

From the Secretariat-General

On Monday the 4^th/17^th of February 2014, His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, bestowed the office of Steward on the vicar of the Greek Orthodox (Rum Orthodox) town of Adjloun, f. Gregorios Rihane. F. Gregorios was accompanied by His Eminence, Archbishop Philoumenos of Pella, Patriarchal Commissioner in Northern Jordan.

On the occasion of this promotion, His Beatitude wished f.Gregorios strength from above in order to carry on his dedicated and fruitful diaconate.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/ufmYl20Qtp4

On the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, the 3^rd/16^th of February 2014, the memory was celebrated of St Symeon the God-receiver, who held in his arms the 40-day-old Lord in the Temple of Solomon, exclaiming: “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, as you have promised…” The feast was observed in the Monastery dedicated to the saint, in Katamonas quarter, within the new Western city of Jerusalem.

Vespers was officiated by Archimandrite Stephanos, the Patriarchal Commissioner in Moscow, and Archimandrite Ananias, Hegoumen of the Holy Monastery of St George Beit Jala. The Matins and Divine Liturgy were led by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem. Co-officiating were their Eminences, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina and Methodios of Tabor, Hagiotaphite Archimandrites Stephanos, Ananios and Ignatios, Archdeacon f. Evlogios and other hieromonks. Archimandrite f. Efsevios, the head cantor at the Church of Sts Constantine and Helen, chanted during the service, in the presence of a great crowd of Greeks from the Greek parish of Katamonas, as well as pilgrims from both Russia and Greece.

His Beatitude preached the Word of God in Greek, with Archimandrite Efsevios translating into Russian.

The Divine Liturgy was followed by the distribution of the antidoron [blessed bread] and a reception for the Patriarchal Retinue and the faithful at the Hegoumen’s quarters, renovated by the Hegoumen of the Monastery of Katamonas, Archimandrite f. Theodoretos.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/88I3ub5JQCA

On Saturday the 2^nd/15^th of February 2014, the feast of the Hypapante (Encounter) of the Lord was celebrated at the Convent of Our Lady Seyda Naya which lies opposite the Hanke Mosque in the Christian quarter, in the vicinity of the Patriarchate, home to approximately twenty-five nuns.

The Vespers, Matins and Divine Liturgy were officiated by the Elder Secretary, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina. Co-officiating were Archimandrite Ignatios, the Hegoumen of the Monastery of the Shepherds in the homonymous village; the Hegoumen of the Monastery of the Prophet Elijah, Hieromonk Paisios; Archimandrite Apostolos, visiting from the Metropolis of Petra of the Church of Crete; f. Issah Touma, Head of the Cathedral of St James the Brother of God; and Hierodeacon Thaddaeus. The head cantor of the Church of Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos, directed the choir of students at the Patriarchal School in Greek, Russian and Romanian, whereas the choir of the Cathedral of St James chanted in Arabic under the direction of Mr Rimon Kamar. A great crowd of faithful, including Greeks from the Parish of Jerusalem, Arab speaking (Rum Orthodox), Russian speaking and Romanian speaking worshippers, attended the services.

His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina preached the Word of God to the pious congregation (see video).

His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, arrived at the church during the Divine Liturgy accompanied by Hagiotaphite Fathers and pilgrims.

The Retinue of His Beatitude, the Prelatic Retinue and the worshippers were hosted to a reception at the Abbess’ Quarters and in the forecourt of the Monastery by Abbess Serapheima, who has also undertaken the Monastery’s renovation.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/GlJt1TihCOE

I. At the School of St Sion

On Wednesday, the 30^th of January/12^th of February 2014, the feast of the three great Hierarchs and ecumenical holy teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, was celebrated at the Church of the Holy Trinity, which makes part of the Monastery and Patriarchal School on Holy Sion, to the south of the old city of Jerusalem.

The Elder Sacristan and Chairman of the School Board, His Eminence Isidoros, Archbishop of Dorothea, officiated the Vespers and the Divine Liturgy. Co-officiating were Hagiotaphite Archimandrites and Archimandrite Apostolos of the Holy Metropolis of Petra of the Church of Crete, as well as hieromonks and hierodeacons. Teachers and students at the School chanted in the Byzantine style, in the presence of members of the Greek Parish of Jerusalem and nuns.

The panegyric of the day, on the life and contribution of the three Hierarchs to Christian Education and its eclectic pairing with Ancient Greek was preached by professor Panayiotis Antoniades.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Principal, Physics Professor f. Photios hosted the Prelatic retinue and everyone else to lunch at the School’s hall of events.

II. At the Holy Monastery of St Basil

On the morning of the same day, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina and Elder Secretary-General, held the Matins and Divine Liturgy in memory of the three Hierarchs at the Monastery of St Basil, which lies in the Christian quarter of the old city of Jerusalem, close to the New Gate.

Nuns and members of the Greek Parish of Jerusalem participated in the Divine Liturgy.

At the conclusion of the D. Liturgy, Her Reverence Abbess Thecla hosted everyone to a reception at the Abbess’ Quarters.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/Y4zq4PqAkmY

On the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, the first day of the Triodion Period, namely the 27^th of January/9^th of February 2014, a Divine Liturgy was held in the Greek Orthodox (Rum Orthodox) Community of the Patriarchate in the town of Abud, in the vicinity of Ramallah.

This particular Community numbers approximately 1500 members. Its liturgical center is the Church of the Dormition of Theotokos, which to this day preserves pronounced elements of early Byzantine Architecture. Abud was visited for pastoral reasons by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, who went on to officiate the Divine Liturgy. Co-officiating were His Eminence Dorotheos, Archbishop of Avila; the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina; the master of ceremonies, Archimandrite Porphyrios; the Head of the Community, Steward Emmanouel; Archdeacon f. Evlogios, and Hierodeacon Dionysios. The Orthodox parishioners participated in the Liturgy with piety and devoutness.

To this pious congregation, His Beatitude preached the Word of God, referring among other things to the significance of fasting and praying, “the spiritual means of preparation towards controlling and overcoming the will of the flesh, therefore towards achieving purification of the soul and the body, and cleansing of the mind”.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, during the brief reception which was followed by lunch, His Beatitude had the opportunity to listen to topics of concern to the Community from the Priest and Vestrymen, and provide answers towards their settlement and resolution.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/5-bVrApI6q8