On Sunday, October 23/November 5, 2023, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of the Holy Glorious Apostle and Martyr James, the Brother of God and first Hierarch of Jerusalem.

On this feast, the whole Church, especially the Church of Jerusalem, remembers that Saint James was the son of a woman who was previously married to Joseph, the betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos, therefore, he was also called the brother of the Lord. Because of this legal relationship, Saint James was named Brother God. The Apostle Paul also testifies to this, saying: “None of the apostles did I see but James the Lord’s brother” (Gal. 1:19). He was righteous, a type of virtue and holiness, also called “hoblias”, that is, righteous and protector of the people.

Saint James was installed by the Lord as the first Hierarch of the Church of Jerusalem, as his Kontakion says, “The Word of God, the Father’s Only-begotten, came down and dwelt here in our midst in these last days. He then appointed thee as the first shepherd of all-holy Jerusalem, and He made thee her teacher and a faithful steward of lofty spiritual mysteries. For this cause as is meet, O wondrous James, O blest Apostle, we all praise and honour thee”.

Through this authority given to him, he exhorted the Church of Jerusalem most devoutly, he wrote his Catholic letter in the New Testament, and he was calm, peaceful, presentable and beloved by all the people of Jerusalem. He presided over the first Apostolic Synod of Jerusalem in AD 49, which opened the doors of the Church to the nations and confessed the Lord as the Son of God and for this, the Jewish rulers threw him down from the wing of the Temple and killed him around AD 60. X. at an old age.

In his honour, in the Cathedral named after him, adjacent to the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood and the Church of the Resurrection, Vespers was held in the evening, presided over by our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos and the Divine Liturgy in the morning, concelebrated by their Eminences; Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias and the Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina and Philomenos of Pella, Holy Sepulchre Hieromonks, the Elder Kamarasis Archimandrite Nektarios, the ministering Priests of Saint James Cathedral, Fr Farah Badour and Fr Hader Baramki. The chanting was delivered by Hierodeacon Simeon with the students of the Patriarchal School of Zion on the right in Greek and by the choir of the Church under Mr Rimon Kamar on the left in Arabic. The service was attended by the congregation of the Orthodox Community of Jerusalem, monks, nuns and a few remaining pilgrims, in the presence of the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Dimitrios Angelosopoulos and members of the Greek Consulate General in Jerusalem.

Before the Holy Communion His Beatitude delivered the following sermon:  

“And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace”, (James 3:18). [The spiritual fruit of justice and Holiness is sown peacefully and without strife by those who practice and spread peace and who are truly wise and peace-making teachers], Saint James the Brother of God teaches.

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,

Reverend Christians and pilgrims,

The grace of the righteous Apostle James, the Brother of God brought us all together today in his Holy Cathedral, adjacent to the Holy and Life-giving Tomb of our Saviour Christ, to honour his holy memory.

Saint James acquired a prominent position in the holy Church of God and the city of Jerusalem, and because of his great piety he was given the title “the Just”.

In fact, Saint James was shown to be a “pillar of the faith” and a support of the Church”; and this, because his Catholic letter shows him as “a teacher of great personal prestige among its readers”. On the other hand, his participation in the Apostolic Synod of Jerusalem and his teaching concerning the evangelization of the Gentiles, that is, the idolaters, confirm the prestige of James.

Saint Chrysostom, interpreting the fact that the Brother of God spoke in the Synod “after Barnabas and Paul had silenced them”, (Acts 15:12) says: “This [James] is the bishop of the Church in Jerusalem, for he says clearly; and “in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word is established” (Cf. Matt. 18:16), then it is fulfilled. The hymnographer of the Church, extolling the preaching of Saint James, says: “Unto all the farthest regions of the earth, the sound of thy words hath resounded most mightily; and through them, O blessed James, we have been enlightened in all godly virtues and we are guided faithfully to the divine knowledge of the Trinity. We therefore importune thee: as a hierarch, offer up fervent prayer unto Jesus, the Friend of man, in His mercy to save our souls” (Minaion, Vespers, sticheron 2).

James the Brother of God boldly declared the Lord Jesus God as the Word and Creator of everything and that God the Father is the supreme and unique source of all enlightenment, physical or moral, and says “The wisdom of the people descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife are, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace” (James 3, 17 -18).

In other words, the fruits of God’s wisdom are produced through the power and grace of Jesus Christ. And among the good things of these fruits, the fruit of justice is distinguished. And this fruit is none other than the peace of Christ, who said “Without me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Even Saint Paul commands saying: “Be filled with the fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God” (Phil. 1,11). And Isaiah says: “And let the works of righteousness be peace, and let righteousness keep rest, and trust forever” (Is. 32,17).

[And in more detail: the result of justice will be peace. Justice will bring rest and peace, and people will walk in faith after everything].

Justice and peace between people are essentially the fruit of God’s Grace and faith in Christ according to the testimony of the hymnographer:

“Truth has arisen from the earth and justice has flowed from heaven” (Psalm 84:12). For this reason, Saint James who was an eye-and-ear-witness, i.e. a natural witness of the mystery of piety, of the mystery of the divine Providence in Christ, on the one hand refers to Christ, Who walked the path of righteousness and opened it for us as well; on the other hand, he wonders, where wars and battles among men come from: “Whence are wars and battles among you? Are they not from your desires, rooted in your body parts?…. adulterers and adulteresses! Have you not seen that the friendship of the world is the enmity of God? Whoever, therefore, willfully is a friend of the world, becomes an enemy of God”.

Interpreting these reasons, Ecumenius says: “Have you not seen that the friendship of the world is alien to the friendship of God, or it makes enemies of God? In the world [the Brother God] calls out all material life, as the mother of corruption. He who communes with it hastily becomes an enemy of God”.

Indeed, my beloved brothers, “the friendship of the world alienates us from the friendship of God. And this, because according to the Righteous James, God is all light and out of His own good will He gave birth to us spiritually through the gospel, which is the word of truth, so that we may be among the first and most honourable of His creations, chosen and dedicated to the God. “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1,18).

Let us who solemnly honour Saint James, the Brother God and the first Hierarch of Jerusalem, beseech him so that by his prayers and the intercessions of the most blessed Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, the Lord our God, may implant in the hearts of all of us, this word of truth, namely of the divine light of righteousness and of peace, especially in the hearts and minds of the keepers of the world and our tested region. Amen. May you have many blessed and peaceful returns.”

After the end of the Divine Liturgy, the full congregation went up to the Patriarchate Hall through the historic steps of Saint James carrying the Holy Icon of Saint James, passing through the Gate of the Patriarchate, where they received the ceremonial loaf of bread as a blessing by Nun Serafima, who is in charge of the Patriarchate’s bakery.

In the hall of the Patriarchate, a prayer was offered, the Polychronion of His Beatitude was chanted and a reception followed, where His Beatitude spoke again as follows:

“Come and with sacred hymns let us all magnify James, the first enthroned bishop and luminary of the Church, as a hierarch and divine herald, who was fittingly called the Just” his hymnographer exclaims.

Your Excellency Consul General of Greece Mr Dimitrios Angelosopoulos,

Dear Holy Fathers and Brothers,

Beloved brothers in Christ,

The Holy Church of Jerusalem honours and commemorates today the sacred memory of the holy Hieromartyr and Apostle James the Brother of God, the so-called “the Just”.

This Saint James, who in his epistle calls himself “a servant of God and our Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1), became bishop of Jerusalem and was called to the Apostolic office by the Lord. As such, Saint James appears as the operator of the whole church life, of the formation and indeed of the organization of the administrative system of the Church of Jerusalem, which as the mother of all the Churches throughout the world was the model for everything on the part of the Church. This is evidenced by his universal epistle of the greatest Apostolic authority addressed to “the twelve tribes in the diaspora” (James 1:1) of the Jews who believed in Christ.

Saint James, who was appointed by the Father of the only begotten God the Word as the first Hierarch, shepherd, teacher and faithful steward of the spiritual mysteries, became the foundation stone of the apostolate “indeed the cornerstone of Jesus Christ” (Eph. 2:20) of the Church of Jerusalem and the celebrated commemoration of Saint James refers to the Apostolic and Patriarchal throne of the Zionist Church, whose Minister and Successor Our Modesty became.

To this end we came, accompanied by honourable members of the High Priests, Priests and Hierodeacons in the holy Church of Saint James, where we celebrated in a Patriarchal Assembly the great Sacrament of the divine Eucharist to the honour and glory of the celebrated saint and righteous James, co-martyr of our crucified Saviour Christ by his own blood.

Today’s institutional celebration of the Throne and of the holy memory of the holy glorious Apostle James the Brother of God and first Hierarch of the Church of Jerusalem is an undeniable testimony of the ongoing Apostolic succession, of the one imprinted on the face of each Primate of the Church of Jerusalem for one; and of the unceasing prayerful presence of the mission of the order of the Studious, of our Venerable Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood, as well as of our devout Roman-Orthodox flock rooted and living in the Holy Land on the other hand.

This great Apostle and witness of Christ’s love, let us beseech: Drive away all sorrows arising from the war in our region and grant us and the whole world justice and its fruit, peace.

Many and peaceful returns! Amen”.

The celebration was sealed with the traditional handover by His Beatitude of the keys of the Cathedral of Saint James the Brother of God to its Priests and Stewards.

From Secretariat-General

 On Saturday, October 15/28, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. a doxology was held in the Catholicon of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on the national holiday of October 28, 1940.

This Doxology was offered as thanks to God for His help in our nation to defend against the Italian military invasion of 1940 and to shake off the barbaric German Nazi occupation of World War II during the years 1941-1944 and as a prayer for the repose of the souls of those who fought heroically and fell in battle or were fraudulently and unjustly executed collectively or individually.

The doxology was presided over by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos, along with the Bishops and Priests of the Patriarchate, in the presence of the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem, Mr Dimitrios Angelosopoulos, members of the Church of Jerusalem and our Greek Orthodox Arabic-speaking flock.

After the Doxology in the hall of the Patriarchate, His Beatitude spoke with the following address:

“Your Excellency Consul General of Greece

Mr Dimitrios Angelesopoulos,

Dear Holy Fathers and Brothers,

Beloved brothers in Christ,

Filled with national pride, we celebrate today the anniversary of October 28, 1940, which belongs to the leading milestones in the history of the Greek nation. We celebrate the shining of the light of righteousness over the darkness of injustice. We celebrate the dominance of common universal moral values, which Greece overcame, over the forces of greed and brutality.

October 28, 1940, is an important example of self-sacrifice in defence of the honour, freedom, independence and national territorial integrity of our heroically fallen fathers and brothers. This fight was a holy fight against the arrogance and oppressive power of the invaders of the Nazi and Fascist atrocities, which were imprinted in the hideous concentration camps of our innocent fellow human beings.

For this Our Mediocrity, accompanied by the honourable members of our Venerable Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood as well as pious people, went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where we sent thanksgiving praise to the Holy Triune God ” giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (cf. 1 Cor. 15:57); ” and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4) according to Saint John the Theologian.

Moreover, we prayed for eternal memory and blessed repose of the souls of those who heroically fought and gloriously martyred for the name of Christ, our nation and its blessed motherland.

The epic of 1940 demonstrated that justice and peace are not simply metaphysical or theoretical values, but have a divine existence. Because, as the wise Paul says, “God is not for disorder, but for peace” (1 Cor. 14:33), and “his righteousness endures forever” (2 Cor. 9:9). We say this because the threat of Nazism and Fascism against humanity has now returned and acts under the guise of modernist principles and progress, but also of illegal and perverted ideas about the purpose of human existence and life. ” This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish” (James 3:15) Saint James the Brother of God preaches.

October 28, 1940, is the day on which, admittedly, the eternal slogan “now above all the struggle” resounded throughout Greece. This struggle, which was a struggle for faith and country, as well as for the spiritual ideals of the Greek Nation, was recognized internationally as a miracle of the faith of the Greeks in the God of Justice, our Lord Jesus Christ and the most blessed Theotokos, His Mother.

Also noteworthy is the contribution of the Greek Orthodox Church through the active participation of its senior and junior clergy and also the military priests, who, through the spiritual word of the Gospel of the crucified and risen Christ, strengthened the moral and patriotic sentiment of the Greek warriors. Needless to say, among the heroically fallen fighters, the hundreds of killed priests can be distinguished.

Today’s solemn anniversary of the unrepeatable epic of 1940 is particularly important for humanity in general and our region, the Middle East in particular, tested by war and violent conflicts. “Ask for peace and pursue it” (Ps. 33:15) the psalmist exclaims. ” Recompense to no man evil for evil…If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom. 12,17-18) the Apostle Paul orders.

We, ministers of the divine commandments and ” Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2), we pray, as “This Lord of peace has given us peace in all things and in all ways” (cf. B Thess. 3:16). The significant landmark of the epic of 1940 calls us, on the one hand, to be vigilant, on the other hand to preserve the sacred legacy of the moral and spiritual values of the Greek-Christian heritage and the Roman Orthodox faith and holy tradition, for which our Fathers and brothers sacrificed themselves with their honourable blood.

Concluding, let us exclaim:

Long live the “No” of October 28, 1940!

Long live the pious race of the Roman Orthodox!

Long live Greece!

Long live our Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood!”

The Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem also delivered the following address: 

“Your Beatitude,

Your Eminences

Respected fathers and members of the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood,

Dear compatriots and friends,

The celebration of the anniversary of October 28, 1940, always inspires a special emotion. It is still, for our generations, a living memory, if only indirectly, as our parents and grandparents experienced and participated in the great historical events associated with this anniversary. We had the privilege of being direct recipients of their experiences and memories, but also of their feelings, which colour the personal narrative more vividly, making it our own experience.

The memory of this day rightly inspires emotion because it constitutes one of the most brilliant chapters of the long Greek history. When, once again, before a terrible dilemma, Greece and the Greeks chose, without hesitation, without fear and suspicion, the path of Honour and Dignity of our country and nation.

They did it with a source of enthusiasm, which shocks even today. But also fully aware that this road was uphill. The leadership of Greece, with the strategic and diplomatic acumen that distinguished it, as well as the entire Greek people, understood well: that the conflict with one of the founding powers of the Axis would ultimately bring Greece face to face with the whole aluminum machine of totalitarianism. Which had already, in October 1940, spread its dark dominion over continental Europe.

They knew it, they understood it. But at the dawn of October 28, 1940, the whole country with one mind opposed the absolute refusal to submit and the renunciation of its right and honour. Thus Greece shone, worthy of her eternal example in favour of the struggle for freedom, in a world where hope was flickering.

And our ancestors were not limited to a desperate struggle for the honour of the Nation. But they threw themselves into it with faith for victory, with the belief that Justice and Liberty would prevail, no matter what sacrifices were required. And they achieved, in the mountains of Pindos and the Albanian Front, what friends and enemies considered impossible. They shattered the invincibility of the Axis and humiliated the arrogance of totalitarianism. They became an unsurpassed example of bravery and devotion to the noble ideals of Humanity.

And when indeed the steel military machine of the Axis gathered invincible forces against Greece, leading to the horrible and bloody occupation of our country, the struggle did not cease. It continued in its cities and mountains. From our Navy to the Mediterranean and to distant seas. From organized Greek tactical forces to fierce battles in North Africa, Italy, and the Aegean. Until the final rule of law and the liberation of our country. These games ranked Greece among the winners of the terrible World War II. And to the few founding members of the United Nations, in the hope of a better post-war world.

Unlike most Greeks, those of us here today are celebrating today’s glorious anniversary in warlike conditions. We feel, perhaps more than ever, that the peace, the freedom, and the preeminence that our country has enjoyed for decades are never taken for granted. They require our care, the care of every generation called to preserve and develop what the sacrifices of our ancestors secured. A great inheritance comes with a great moral debt.

Celebrating here, in the arms of the Church, I would like to ask you to turn our thoughts and prayers today to our fellow Greeks and their families who are trapped in the Gaza Strip, at risk of terrible hardship, and to the Monastery of St. Porphyrios where the Christians of Gaza have taken refuge.

And let us wish for the speedy return of Peace to the Holy Land.

Many happy returns.”

From Secretariat-General

On Thursday, October 13/26, 2023, the Patriarchate celebrated the commemoration of the return of the relics of our Holy Father among the Saints Sabba the Sanctified.

On this day the Church, and especially the Church of Jerusalem commemorates that on October 13/26, 1965, the relics of Saint Sabba the Sanctified was returned from Venice, where it had been transferred by the Crusaders. The sacred and incorrupt relics of Saint Sabba was given to the Church it belongs by the Roman Catholic Church, after the removal of the anathemas and the beginning of the dialogue with the Orthodox Church in 1964.

For the return of the relics the blessed Metropolitans Germanos of Petra and Basileios of Caesarea, the Spiritual Father of Saint Sabba Monastery Archimandrite Seraphim and the current Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, who was a Deacon then, went to Venice. After the welcoming reception of the Saint’s relics at Jaffa Gate, it was displayed for veneration at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for a week and then transferred to the Monastery Saint Sabba founded, to remain there for the blessing and healing of the Monastery Fathers and the pilgrims.

This event was celebrated this year with an all-night vigil at the Monastery, presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, with the co-celebration of the Spiritual Father of the Monastery Archimandrite Eudokimos, the Hegoumen of the Monastery of the Shepherds and Beit Jala Archimandrite Ignatios, at the chanting of Hierodeacon Simeon. The Vigil was attended by members of the flock from the occupied territories of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour.

His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos did not attend the Vigil due to the ongoing hostilities, however, He sent the following Sermon:

“Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness” (Ps. 97, 11-12), the psalmist proclaims.

Beloved Fathers and brethren in Christ,

Reverend Christians

Today the Holy Church of Jerusalem rends glory and thanksgiving to the Holy Triune God, on the commemoration of the return of Saint Sabba’s relics at his Lavra.

The honour given to the holy relics of the Saints by the Holy Orthodox and Apostolic Church is an action of faith and confession to the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And this is, because according to Saint Paul, “But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain” (1 Cor. 15, 13-14).

According to the testimony of the Holy Bible, the Saints’ relics are distinguished for their grace which stems from the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us hear Saint Chrysostom saying: “For it is possible for the one who comes here in faith to gain great benefits; because not only the bodies but also the reliquaries of the Saints themselves are full of spiritual grace. If this happened on the occasion of the prophet Elisha and the dead person who touched the reliquary broke the bonds of death and returned to life, how much more now, that grace is more abundant, now that the power of the Holy Spirit is more, the one who touches the reliquary in faith can receive great power from it. For this reason, God left the Saints’ relics with us, wanting to guide us to the same zeal as theirs, and offer us a safe harbour and comfort for the evil things that always happen to us”.

The fact that the Saint’s relics are carriers of the grace of the Holy Spirit’s power is steadfast proof that the Saints’ dead bodies testify to Christ’s resurrection, as Saint John Damascene says: “They have become vessels of God and sacred dwelling places; “as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God” (2 Cor. 6,16). For they are “righteous people who are protected by God and will never suffer torment” (Wisdom of Solomon 3,1). And it is written in the Bible, that the death of the Saints is sleep rather than death; for they toiled forever and shall live until the end; “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” (Ps. 116,15). What is more honourable than being in the hands of God? For God is life and light and those who are in the hands of God exist in life and light”.

This is precisely what the Resurrection of Christ is, namely the light and life of God. “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8,12), the Lord says.

Our Holy Father Sabba followed Christ, walking in His light, that is why he received the light of life, of the resurrected Christ, and received the incorruption of his earthly body. The incorrupt relics of our Sanctified Father Sabba is an endless source gushing forth fragrance and healing power of the Holy Spirit.

Behold, therefore, my dear brethren, the meaning of the holy relics and the reason why our Holy Orthodox Church holds special honour for the relics of its saints and righteous. Let us hear again Saint John Damascene: “Through the mind, God dwelt in the bodies of the righteous, as Saint Paul says: “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you” (1 Cor. 6,19), “the Lord is that Spirit” (2 Cor. 3,17). How can we not then honour the living souls of the temples of God, the living dwelling places of God? For they stood in boldness before God, yet living”.

Our God-bearing Father Sabba became such a living temple of God, whose “death is sleep rather than death”, as the hymnographer says: “Since thou wast temperate, guileless, silent and simple and meek, past what is common for men, thou O Father, didst truly appear as immaterial while in the flesh, and an all-worthy house of God; and in thy sympathy, thou dost pass on to us of the gifts that come from Him to thee” (Minaion, December 5, Matins, praises, Troparion 3).

We, my dear brethren, who honour the return of the relics of our Holy Father Sabba the Sanctified, let us entreat him and the Most blessed Theotokos saying: beseech Christ to grant our region and the world peace and great mercy. Amen. Many happy and peaceful returns.”

The Fathers returned to Jerusalem via the Holy Monastery of Abba Theodosios according to the custom.

From Secretariat-General

Jerusalem
22 October 2023

This morning, at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, H.B. Theophilos III, held a prayer and memorial service for the souls of the Gaza war victims, and the victims of the Israeli air strike that hit the St. Porphyrius Orthodox Church compound on Thursday, killing at least 18 people who had been seeking shelter in the church, which dates back to the 5th century, and is of at least 1616 years old.

“We appeal to you to awaken the longing for a peaceful life in all those who are filled with hatred for their neighbours, especially those now at war or preparing for war,” the Patriarch said.

At least 450 people had been sheltering at the church complex in Gaza city when it was hit by an Israeli air strike.

The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem issued a strongly worded statement on the attack.

“The survivors of this horrific bombing are resilient and filled with the spirit of Christ,” the Patriarchate said. “Together with them we continue to display faith through the aftermath of this horrific ordeal. We have come together as a community to support one another, praying for healing and strength in the face of adversity.”

On Saturday morning, October 8/21, 2023, after the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, a Trisagion was held for the repose of the souls of the Gaza war victims.

This memorial service was led by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, with the participation in prayer of the Holy Sepulchre Archbishops and Fathers.

From Secretariat-General

The feast of the Cathedral of Doha was celebrated again this year with all ecclesiastical splendour. For pastoral reasons, the holiday was moved to Friday.

  On Thursday, September 29/October 12, 2023, the great solemn Vespers was sung, with the blessing of bread. The hymns were sung by the choir of the Holy Church in Greek and Arabic, in the presence of the new Ambassador of Greece in Doha, Mr Ioannis Ioannidis and the Deputy Commander of Defence, Mr Argirios Kostouros. After the end of Vespers, a pre-festal banquet was held, to which the flock members gathered.

On Friday, October 30/13, 2023, Matins and the Episcopal Divine Liturgy were held, officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Qatar with the participation of the Christian congregation of the local Church.

After the Divine Liturgy, the Holy Icon of Saint Isaac the Syriac procession took place.

  From the Holy Archdiocese of Qatar

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem, praying daily for the peace of the whole world is praying fervently especially today 4/17 October 2023 according to the statement of the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem released on October 13th, 2023.

The prayer was held today at the Horrendous Golgotha for the cessation of all hostilities in Israel and Gaza and for the prevailing spirit of dialogue and peace and the relief of all those wounded by war and in favour of respecting every human soul as the image of God.

From Secretariat-General

On Saturday, September 24th/October 7th, 2023, the feast of the Holy First Martyr and Equal to the Apostles Thekla was celebrated by the Patriarchate.

On this feast, the Church remembers that Saint Thekla came from Iconium in Asia Minor and from the age of 18 she followed the Apostle Paul and was taught the Christian faith by him, and preached Christ in many areas and having suffered a lot, she died at an old age in her own homeland.

This feast was celebrated in the Saint’s chapel in the Central Monastery, dating from the 16th century, where ancient icons and the footprint of the Lord’s foot from the rock of His Ascension are kept.

The feast was celebrated with Vespers in the evening and the Divine Liturgy in the morning, held by the priests of St. Constantine. The Typikon keeper Archimandrite Alexios had the lead, in the presence of His Beatitude, with the participation in prayer of the Holy Sepulchre Fathers monks, locals and pilgrims.

After Vespers, the boiled wheat with dried bread and wine was offered in the forecourt of the Central Monastery next to the well and after the Divine Liturgy, the festive treat was provided at the Epitropikon.

From Secretariat–General

On Sunday, September 18th / October 1st, 2023, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was celebrated, according to the order of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the Holy Monastery of the Holy Cross, located in West Jerusalem near the Jewish Knesset.

In this area, the tradition of the Church maintains that the three-composite wood of pine, cedar and cypress was planted by Lot, from which the Cross was made, on which our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified for our salvation.

In honour of the Holy Cross and its exaltation, Vespers was celebrated on Saturday afternoon and the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda with the co-celebration of the Archimandrites Claudius, Amfilochios, Fr Dometian from the Patriarchate of Moscow and of Fr Ioannis from the Patriarchate of Romania and many Priests of other Orthodox countries, the Hierodeacons Simeon and Dositheos. The chanting was delivered by the “Tropos” Byzantine choir from Greece by Mr Angelidis. The services were attended by Christians from Jerusalem and pilgrims, in the presence of the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Demetrios Angelosopoulos.

After the Divine Liturgy, there was a procession into the Church, the service of the exaltation of the Holy Cross and its veneration by the Archbishop, the Priests, and all the faithful.

Afterward, the Hegoumen and curator of the Monastery  Elder Dragoman, Archimandrite  Matthaios, hosted a reception for the Episcopal entourage and the congregation in the reception hall and the courtyard of the Monastery.

From Secretariat-General

On Wednesday, September 14/27, 2023, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was celebrated by the Patriarchate.

During this feast, the Church remembers that Saint Helen, sent to the Holy Land by her son Constantine the Great, saw on the Horrendous Golgotha the Tomb of the Lord and the Cross, on which he was attached for our salvation, and she built the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the decade 326-336 AD.

To the glory of our Crucified and Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, Saint Helen performed the Inauguration of his surrounding Church on September 13, 336 AD in the presence of the Archbishop of Jerusalem Makarios. Then he raised the Cross of Christ, so that the assembled multitudes could look at it from afar, and they repeatedly called out “Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy”.

This act has remained as a tradition since then in the Church, celebrated the day after the feast of the Inauguration, that is on September 14th.

In honour of this event, Great Vespers was held on Tuesday afternoon in the Catholicon of the Church of the Resurrection after incense and the blessing of bread presided over by our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem  Theophilos.

On the morning of the feast, Wednesday, September 14/27, 2023, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Catholicon of the Church of the Resurrection, led by His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, with the co-celebration of their Eminences, Metropolitans Isychios of Capitolias and Panteleimon of Xanthi, two Bishops from the Patriarchate of Serbia, the Hegoumen of the Monastery Vlatadon, Reverend Bishop Nikiforos of Amorio, the Archbishops; Theophanes of Gerassa, Aristarchos of Constantina, Philoumenos of Pella, Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, Archbishop Aristovoulos of Madaba, the Elder Kamarasis Archimandrite Nectarios, Holy Sepulchre Hieromonks, priests from other Orthodox Churches, Archdeacon Mark and Hierodeacon Eulogios. The chanting was delivered by Hierodeacon Simeon and Mr Angelos Gianopoulos with the help of Byzantine singers from Greece. The service was attended by a large congregation and the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Demetrios Angelosopoulos.

The Divine Liturgy was followed by a litany which marched from the Catholicon to the Shrine of Deposition, went down the stairs to Saint Helen’s chapel and after the incense offering at the Altar of the Armenians and the throne of Saint Helen, it went to the Cave of the finding of the Cross. The exaltation of the Cross followed there, held by our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos and the Holy Wood was exalted at the four parts of the horizon, under the chanting of the apolytikion of the feast. The Holy Cross was placed at the place of its finding and it was venerated by the High Priests and the Consul General.

The litany continued to the Holy Sepulchre, thrice around the Sacred Edicule as the Holy Wood was held on top of the heads of H.H.B. the High Priests and concluded at the Horrendous Golgotha. There the Cross was exalted again at the four parts of the horizon by His Beatitude, while the large crowd of people were chanting the apolytikion of the feast. The High Priests and the Consul General venerated again the Holy Cross there, holding basil branches in their hands, which they will keep as a blessing in their homes.

After the dismissal of the Liturgy, all the congregation venerated the Holy Wood which is kept in the case of King Justin.

At the end of the service, the Patriarchal entourage returned to the Patriarchate Reception Hall, along with a large crowd of faithful Christians to whom His Beatitude delivered the following address:  

“Christ on the cross; let us come together as partakers of His sufferings, so that we may also be born of His glory. Christ in the dead, let us die to sin, that we may live in righteousness… Christ in hades; let us come together to the highest humility, that we may also meet and be exalted and be glorified, forever seeing God and be seen”, says Saint John of Damascus.

Beloved brothers in Christ,

Reverend Christians and pilgrims,

The power of the Holy and Life-giving Cross deemed us worthy to celebrate in this place of its finding under Saint Helen, but also in the place of the Crucifixion of our God and Saviour Christ in the Horrendous Golgotha, the so-called “Skull Place”, its Universal Exaltation.

The truly great mystery of the divine Providence, as well as of the Holy Cross, whose “word to those who are lost is a blessing, to those who are saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18), cannot be understood by human logic, but only through faith and the purity of the soul, as Saint John of Damascus says: “Great grace, admittedly, the mystery of the divine Providence will not be understood, it will be believed only by one who is free, of a pure mind, out of fear of God and with a desire to be given.”

The Cross is the sacrificial power of God, and this is because in the Cross and through the Cross the great mystery of man’s salvation was accomplished. It is written; “God our king, centuries ago, worked salvation in the midst of the earth” (Ps. 73,12). The Son of God, “Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” (Eph. 5:2). Because of this, all who obey him “he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”(Hebrews 5:9).

The Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is “the beauty of the Church”, “the support of the faithful”, and the “weapon against the devil”. The Cross is the trophy of Christ, through which the demons flee. “The cross is a trophy for Christ; Once it was stood up, forever it is woe to the demons who are driven away”, says Saint John of Damascus.

Saint Cosmas, bishop of Maiouma, extolling the sermon of today’s great feast, of the exaltation of the Holy Cross, exclaims hymnologically: “O Theotokos, thou art a mystical paradise, which being untilled hath blossomed forth Christ, by Who the life-bringing Three of the Cross was planted in the earth. In worshipping Him now through its exaltation, thee do we magnify” (Ode 9, Heirmos).  

In other words, Jesus Christ, as perfect God, is the one who planted “the tree of life in Paradise” (Genesis 2:9). He Himself planted “the life-giving tree of the Cross on earth” from the pure blood of the Virgin and Theotokos Mary during His incarnation.

The life-giving tree is none other than the wood of the Cross, on which he was crucified and in which “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1, 7- 8). Through the cross, we worship “Christ our God, who was lifted up on the cross and sacrificed for our sins”. Let us honour and magnify the most blessed Theotokos and Mother of God, who gave birth to our God, the Word and our Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the kingdom now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Many happy returns”.

After this address, His Beatitude blessed all present. He awarded the honorary distinction of the Superior Brigade of the Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre to the Hegoumen of the Holy Monastery of Vlatadon, His Eminence Bishop Nikiforos of Amori in recognition and appreciation of the accomplishments of the centre of this Monastery of outstanding theological and uniting work of the Churches and the provision of hospitality to students of the Patriarchate in it.

The multitudes of the faithful, receiving the Patriarchal blessing glorified to God for the salvation He provided to the world through the Cross of His Son.

From Secretariat-General