The beginning of the new school year started on Tuesday 15/28 September 2021 at the Patriarchal Seminary School on the hill of Holy Zion.

For this reason, there was the Service of the Sanctification of the water at the Church of the Holy Trinity in the School by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos. The service was attended by the Chairman of the School Board, His Eminence Archbishop Isidoros of Hierapolis, His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, the Managing Director of the School, Elder Dragoman Archimandrite Mattheos, the Boarding School Manager and teacher, Hierodeacon Simeon, Archdeacon Mark, the teachers and the novice students, who returned recently for their studies, and the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Evangelos Vlioras.

After the service His Beatitude admonished the students and teachers, underlining the importance of the Christian and Greek education they receive in the School for the shaping of honourable characters and the continuation of their studies in any university, as well as their joining of the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood should they freely wish so.

The event concluded with a reception that the Managing Director Archimandrite Mattheos offered to His Beatitude and Entourage and welcomed the teachers and students at the reception hall of the School.

From Secretariat-General

On Monday, 14/27 September 2021, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Sacred and Life-giving Cross.

On this feast, the Church commemorates that after the consecration of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre the gathered crowd asked to see and venerated the Precious Cross and for this reason, the Archbishop of Jerusalem Saint Makarios and Saint Helen exalted the Cross to be seen by everyone. Then all people exclaimed “Kyrie Eleison” many times. Ever since, this event was established to be celebrated one day after the anniversary of the consecration of the Church, namely, on 14^th September.

For this event, Great Vespers with the formal incense procedure and the blessing of bread was officiated on Saturday afternoon at the Catholicon of the Church of the Resurrection by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos with the co-celebration of Hagiotaphite Fathers.

On Sunday morning the Divine Liturgy was officiated at the Catholicon of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre by His Holy Beatitude, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos with the co-celebration of their Eminences; Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, the Archbishops, Aristarchos of Constantina, Methodios of Tabor, Theodosios of Sebastia, Demetrios of Lydda, Philoumenos of Pella, Aristovoulos of Madaba, Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks with first in rank Elder Kamarasis Archimandrite Nectarios, Archdeacon Mark and Hierodeacon Eulogios. The chanting was delivered by Hierodeacon Simeon as the Service was attended by many people and the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Evangelos Vlioras.

The Divine Liturgy was followed by the Procession from the Catholicon through the Holy Deposition to Saint Helen’s chapel. The Deacons offered incense there at the Holy Altar of the Armenians, and through the stairs of the chapel the Procession went down to the shrine of the finding of the Cross. His Beatitude observed the Exaltation of the Holy Cross to the four points of the horizon according to the Typikon, while the Hagiotaphite awarded with officialia and the congregation awaited at Saint Helen’s chapel.

The Procession continued on the right from the Seven Pillars and went round the Holy Sepulchre three times.

From there it continued to the Horrendous Golgotha, the apolytikion of the feast was chanted three times, followed by a prayer and the Holy Cross was exalted again to the four points of the horizon, before the Holy Cross was placed on the rock of the Horrendous Golgotha. Under the chanting for the troparia of the feast, the Holy Cross was venerated by the Patriarch, the Archbishops, the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Evangelos Vlioras and then the congregation, who also received basilic flowers for the sanctification of their houses, souls and bodies and to use for the making of the bread of Eucharist, instead of leaven, as witnessed by those who make this kind of bread.

From the Horrendous Golgotha the Patriarchal Entourage went down to the Altar of the Catholicon through the interior stairs and from there they marched to the Patriarchate Headquarters.

Therein, His Beatitude addressed those present as follows:

“Today the death that came toman through the eating of the tree is abolished through the Cross. For the curse of our first mother Eve fell on all mankind is destroyed by the fruit of the pure Mother of God, whom all the powers of Heaven magnify”, Saint Cosmas exclaims (Second troparion of katavasiae of the cross, ode 9).

Your Excellency Consul General of Greece Mr Evangelos Vlioras,

Reverend Fathers and Brothers,

Noble Christians

The grace and power of the Sacred and Life-giving Cross have deemed us worthy to celebrate this year again Its Exaltation in the very place where It was found, and of course at the Horrendous Golgotha, with the celebration of the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The Holy Church of Christ honours especially the Holy Cross because, according to Saint John Damascene, “the Cross is a trophy of Christ, once it was placed, but forever it drives away the demons”.

In other words, the Holy Cross is a powerful symbol of the abolishment of the corruption of death. “By nothing else is death abolished, the forefather’s curse freed, death put to shame…. but by the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Anything is made possible through the Cross”, Saint John Damascene says.

And according to Saint Paul, the Holy Cross is the incarnation of self-denial and utmost humility of Jesus Christ: “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:6-8).

Just as through the wood of the first-created couple’s disobedience “through envy of the devil came death into the world: and they that do hold of his side do find it” (Wisdom of Solomon 2:24), likewise, through the wood of obedience, namely the Cross, the eternal life in Christ through His boundless philanthropy came to the world. “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25) the Lord says. “Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him” (Romans 6:9), Saint Paul preaches. And according to Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Christ’s death in the flesh made the source of the renewal to immortality and the newness of life for us men.

The greatness of our Saviour Christ and the incomprehensible divine mystery of the Cross is clearly expressed by Saint Paul in his letter to the Colossians with the words: “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” (Col. 1:19-20).

“O Cross save us by thy power; sanctify us with thy brightness, O precious Cross, and make us strong by thine Exaltation; for thou hast been given unto us as the light and salvation of our souls” (Entreaty, troparion 7). Amen! Many happy returns!”

From Secretariat-General

On Sunday, 13/16 September 2021, the Patriarchate celebrated the commemoration of the consecration of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

On this feast the Church glorifies God, commemorating that after the construction of the Church of the Resurrection at the place of Horrendous Golgotha by Saint Helen, the Emperor Constantine the Great called all the Bishops who had participated in the 3^rd Ecumenical Synod to come to Jerusalem and officiate the Consecration of the beautiful Church which had been built within the years 326 to 336.

The Bishops consecrated the Church on 13 September 336, an event that was worthy of the Church whose beauty according to the hymnographer can be compared to that of the heavenly firmament.

One day after the Consecration Service, the Archbishop of Jerusalem Saint Makarios and Saint Helen displayed the Precious Cross for veneration to the gathered crowds of the faithful Christians.

For the commemoration of this event, the Divine Liturgy was officiated on Sunday morning the Catholicon of the Church of the Resurrection by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda with the co-celebration of Archimandrites Porphyrios and Nicodemus, Archdeacon Mark and Hierodeacon Simeon. The chanting was delivered by Mr Gotsopoulos and the Patriarchal School Students, as the Service was attended by faithful Christians and the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Evangelos Vlioras with the Consulate staff.

After the Divine Liturgy, the Episcopal Entourage returned to the Patriarchate Headquarters to pay their respects to His Beatitude.

From Secretariat-General

On the commemoration of the parents of the Mother of God, the righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, the Divine Liturgy was officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, at the Holy Monastery dedicated to them near Stephen’s Gate, or Lions’ Gate. Co-celebrant’s to His Eminence were, Archimandrite Makarios, Priests George and Nectarios and Hierodeacon Simeon, hosted by the renovator and Hegoumen of the Holy Church, Archimandrite Meletios.

From Secretariat-General

On Tuesday 8/21 September 2021 the Nativity of Theotokos was celebrated at the Holy Shrine of Gethsemane. The Divine Liturgy was officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina with the co-celebration of the Archimandrites, Stephen, Dionysios and Meletios, Priests George Baramki and Nectarios and Archdeacon Mark. The Fathers and many faithful Christians who attended the Liturgy were offered a reception at the end of the Liturgy by the Hegoumen, His Eminence Archbishop Dorotheos of Avela at the Hegoumeneion.

From Secretariat-General

On Sunday 6/19 September 2021, for pastoral reasons the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos was celebrated earlier at the Holy Church of the Nativity of Theotokos in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem.

On this feast, the Church glorifies God because He granted Mary to the former baren Joachim and Anna, from whom our Lord Jesus Christ was born in the flesh. The Church joyfully chants “Joachim and Anna were freed from the corruption of death O immaculate one by thy Holy Nativity…the barren woman giveth birth to the Theotokos and nourisher of our life” (Kontakion).

For this joyful feast the Divine Liturgy in the beautiful Church of Beit Jala was officiated by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, with the co-celebration of their Eminences; Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina and Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, Elder Kamarasis Archimandrite Nectarios, the Priests of the Community, Paul, Joseph and Elias and Archdeacon Mark. The chanting was delivered by Mr Nidal and his choir, as the service was attended by the whole parish and the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Evangelos Vlioras.

Before the Holy Communion His Beatitude delivered the following Sermon:

“The ends of earth rejoice today upon thy birth, O blameless Maid, O Mary, God’s hallowed Mother and bride who knewest not wedlock. Hereon is loosed the sorrowful reproach and pain of childlessness by which thy parents once were held; loosed is the curse in childbearing that fell on Eve, our first mother” the hymnographer of the Church proclaims.  (Minaion, Matins, Exapostilarion).

Beloved Brethren in Christ,

Noble Christians,

The Holy Church of Christ rejoices today along with the Holy Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Righteous and Saints on the Holy Nativity of the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. For this reason, we are gathered in this holy Church to honour in Eucharist the Theotokos, the Mother of our God.

Let nature leap with joy because the sheep of God is being born and from her, the shepherd will be clad in a garment like a sheep and will tear apart the garments of the old deadening. Let virginity dance, because as Isaiah says, “the Virgin is born, she who will conceive and give birth to a Son, whose name will be Emanuel”, meaning, “God is with us”.

And the shepherd who will be clad in the sheep’s form and will tear apart the garment of the old deadening is no one else by God the Word, our Lord Jesus Christ, who “for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich” (2 Cor. 8:9), Saint Paul preaches.

Interpreting these words of Paul, Saint Chrysostom says: “Here, Paul names ‘wealth’ the knowledge of the mystery of reverence, the purification of sins, righteousness, sanctification, the myriads of good things He has bestowed on us and those He will bestow in the future”. And Zigavinos says: “The wealth of the deification by grace”.

The nativity of the pure Theotokos Mary from Joachim and Anna reversed the curse that came from Adam and Eve to the human race when later on she bore Christ in the flesh. That is why Saint John Damascene says, “in thee Ever-Virgin Theotokos are both nature and time renewed”.

This means that both human nature and the time are renewed in Theotokos and Virgin Mary, because from her did the Light of Righteousness dawn in the world, namely, Christ, the salvation of the human race. “Behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2) the Lord says. “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you” (1 Peter 1:10), Saint Peter says.

Indeed, the words of the Prophets were fulfilled to the righteous people of God, Joachim and Anna, whose prayer did the Lord hear, and gave them the Virgin Mary as a brilliant and great ransom for Eve, as Saint John Damascene says: “And the Lord heard their prayer, giving them Mary, who has the name of the Lord, such a brilliant and great ransom for Eve. The daughter will become the healing of the mother, the new dough of the divine rebirth, the root of the god-spoken branch, the rejoice of the forefather”.

This holy event of the nativity of the Theotokos is especially honoured by our Holy Church. And this is because the Most Holy Mother of God is the beginning of the people in Christ, the Christians. From her pure flesh, the Word became incarnate, He was made flesh (John 1:14).

In other words, my dear brethren, the incarnation of God the Word in the Holy Spirit from her pure flesh became “the new leaven for the divine rebirth” as Saint Athanasios the Great teaches: “In Christ, the human nature is unspeakably united with the Divine nature of the Saviour and thus rejects all natural malformity that was inherited from Adam and is renewed from above into a new divine and eternal being, by the power of the Divine nature of the Word”.  

Behold, therefore, the contribution of the Most Pure and immaculate Virgin Mary to the great mystery of the salvation of us men. Behold again, why Saint Paul preaches; “For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches” (Romans 11:16). And behold why the hymnographer of the Church cries out loud: “thy Nativity O Theotokos, hath proclaimed joy to the whole world; for from thee hath dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, annulling the curse and bestowing the blessing, abolishing death and granting us life everlasting” (Apolytikion of the Feast).

And the Nativity of Theotokos proclaimed to the whole world the message of the joy of salvation, while the greeting from Archangel Gabriel, “Rejoice thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women” sealed the redeeming message of the absolution from the curse of the forefather and the curse of death and corruption, namely of sin, through Christ’s death.

For this reason, the Gospel of joy, blessing and sanctification, as well as the grace of the Holy Spirit, these divine and marvellous gifts that our Holy Church possesses, we are called to keep as treasures in our hearts, through the prayers of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.

Along with Saint John Damascene, let us exclaim to the Theotokos: “Rejoice lamp, the deep-rooted and golden vessel, whose wick is the grace of the Holy Spirit and olive oil the holy body which Christ took from your pure flesh, the Light that never sets, thou who brought the light of eternal life to those who were sitting in the darkness and the shadow of death”. Amen. Many happy returns, with many blessings and in good health!”

The Divine Liturgy was followed by a meal at lunchtime, which was offered by the Community Council. During the meal His Beatitude addressed those present as follows:

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39), Saint Paul preaches.

Dear Brethren,

Today’s feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos is in essence a feast of the infinite love of God toward His creature, the man, whom He made according to His image and likeness.

This divine love is witnessed and confessed by the Holy Church of Christ during its liturgical sacrament of the Eucharist when both the clergy and the people become communicants of the body and blood of our God and Saviour Christ, united in His Spirit.

This unity has been preserved throughout the centuries by the Holy Church of Jerusalem, namely the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, according to Saint Paul’s advice: “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).

This bond of peace between God and the people was inaugurated by the great event of the Nativity of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, whom we gratefully honour today and in great reverence entreat to protect and comfort all who magnify and praise Her.

The Most Holy Virgin and Theotokos Mary is the hope of the whole world, and especially of the Christians. “Unto Thee do I commit mine every hope. O Mother of God, guard me under thine shelter”, the hymnographer of the Church proclaims (end of Small Compline). And the psalmist says: “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help” (Psalm 146:3).

We, my dear brethren, are called to “Look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2), the Son and God of the Most Blessed Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. Amen. To the good health of all of us!”

From Secretariat-General

On Saturday 5/18 September 2021, a group of Orthodox Russian-speaking Christians from Ashdod of central Israel visited His Beatitude, accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Aristovoulos of Madaba, who is the President of the Committee for the care of the Russian-speaking Flock. The group requested from His Beatitude to found a parish in their town and appoint a Priest for the service of their spiritual needs, especially the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

His Beatitude received the Christians in Fatherly love and gave them His Patriarchal blessing, that they may gather in a commonplace to keep the Church services, in consultation with the local authorities.

His Beatitude appointed Geronda Secretary-General, His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina to communicate with the Department of Christian Affairs of the Ministry of Interior to forward the Christians’ petition and the legal coverage of their spiritual needs, as they are citizens of the State of Israel.

From Secretariat-General

On Saturday 29 August/ 11 September 2021, the Patriarchate commemorated the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist at the Holy Monastery dedicated to him on the south-west side of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the heart of the Christian quarter.

On this feast the Church recalls the Gospel narratives (Mark chapter 6, Matthew chapter 14) in joyful mourning; in them, Herod the Tetrarch could not bear Saint John’s reprimands for living together with Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, so he imprisoned the Saint. On Herod’s birthday celebration, Salome, Herodias’ daughter danced, and so much did Herod like her dancing that promised he would give her anything she asked for, even the half of his kingdom. She consulted her mother and asked for the Baptist’s head. Herod was sad as he respected John, but because of his vows made in public, he sent for John’s head and the servant brought it back on a platter as a gift to the king.

In honour of “the greatest man born of a woman” Saint John the Baptist who was beheaded, Vespers was led on Friday afternoon by His Eminence Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis. The Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning was officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, with the co-celebration of Elder Kamarasis Archimandrite Nectarios, Archimandrites Meletios and Porphyrios, Fr Dometian of the Russian MISSIA, and Hierodeacon Eulogios. The chanting was delivered by Archimandrite Eusevios as the service was attended by the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Evangelos Vlioras, Nuns and laity who venerate Saint John.

During the Divine Liturgy H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos and Hagiotaphite Fathers came for veneration.

The Patriarchal and Episcopal Entourage and the congregation were offered a fasting reception by the renovator of the Monastery, the Master of Ceremonies of the Patriarchate, Archimandrite Bartholomew.

From Secretariat-General

On Friday, 28 August/ 10 September 2021, for the commemoration of Saint Moses the Ethiopian, the Divine Liturgy was officiated at the Church dedicated to him in Rafidia of Samaria, by His Eminence Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, with co-celebrants the Hegoumen of Jacob’s well, Archimandrite Ioustinos and the ministering Priest of the Holy Metropolis of Nazareth, Steward Father Simeon Bejali.

This was the first feast celebrated after the full renovation of the Church in autumn 2019, due to the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic.

After the Divine Liturgy, the Hegoumen, Reverend Archimandrite Leontios and the Rafidia Community commissioners hosted a festal meal to the Fathers.

From Secretariat-General

On Sunday 23 August / 5 September 2021 the Dormition Icon of the Theotokos was returned to the Metochion of Gethsemane in a Procession from the Shrine of Theotokos’ Tomb, with the completion of nine days after the Feast of Dormition.

For this feast, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at Gethsemane by the Master of Ceremonies Archimandrite Bartholomew and the Ministering Priests of the Shrine.

Then the Procession began from Gethsemane towards the Patriarchate, passing through the Holy Monasteries of Saint Stephen, Saint Ann, and the Praetorion, then Saint Charalambos and Sayda Naya, as the troparia of the Dormition were chanted and the faithful on either side of the road venerated the Icon in reverence.

At the crossing between the Christian Road and the Patriarchate Headquarters, H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos and the other Hagiotaphite Fathers were waiting to venerate the Icon.

Finally, carrying the Icon before his chest all the way, His Eminence Archbishop Dorotheos of Avela continued the Procession with the Monks, Nuns and the people to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where after a short prayer, he placed the Icon back to its place in the Metochion of Gethsemane. The Icon will be kept there until the feast of the Dormition next year.

From Secretariat-General