On Wednesday, the 3^rd/16^th of November 2016, the Patriarchate observed the memory of the translation of the relics of St George the Trophy-Bearer, at the Monastery of St George ‘of the Hospital’ in the Old City of Jerusalem. Vespers and the Divine Liturgy were led by the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, His Eminence Demetrios, Archbishop of Lydda. The choir sang under Elder Nun Mariam Skorda.

On the conclusion of the divine Liturgy, Nun Pansemni hosted His Eminence and the congregation to a reception at the hegumeneion and the forecourt of the Church.

The feast was also observed at the Monastery of St George ‘of the Jewish’ through Vespers and the Divine Liturgy, led by Protopresbyter Nikitas and Hierodeacon Markos.

After the divine Liturgy, Elder Nun Anna hosted the Priest and the congregation to a reception at the hegumeneion.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/R1nlFt6Xbas

httpv://youtu.be/gn7hlP9MLQg

On Saturday, the 30^th of October/12^th of November 2016, H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, crossed the bridge of the River Jordan to arrive at the Patriarchate’s Bishopric in Amman, from where He left for the city of Mafraq, Northern Jordan.

The Patriarch was accompanied by the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Metropolitan Joachim of Zambia, Archimandrite Hieronymos, hegumen in Fhes, f. Issa Mousleh, and Hierodeacon Markos.

Nearing the city, His Beatitude was courteously greeted by a delegation of officials before being welcomed to the Church of the Dormition of Theotokos of the Mafrak Community, numbering approximately 120 families, by Archbishop Philoumenos of Pella, Archimandrite Hieronymos, some twenty priests of adjacent parishes, the members of the Church Board and a crowd of faithful.

The Patriarch went on to lead panegyric Vespers before inaugurating a hall built on the subvention of the Patriarchate, to host several events organized by the Rum Orthodox Community.

During dinner hosted in the inaugurated hall, His Beatitude addressed attendants in Arabic, see: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2016/11/12/25264 and offered financial aid amounting to ten thousand dinars.

Archbishop Philoumenos of Pella extended thanks for the aid and for the Patriarch’s overall moral and material support, offering Him an enameled icon.

The following day, Sunday the 31^st of October/13^th of November 2016, a Joint Prelatic Liturgy was held in the aforementioned church, led by His Beatitude, who had as concelebrants: Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina and Philoumenos of Pella, Metropolitan Joachim of Zambia, local priests, Hierodeacon Markos and deacon Evangelos Psiaras. Attending the service was the Greek Ambassador to Jordan, Mr V. Bornovas. A choir of young men and women sang in Greek and Arabic for a large congregation.

Patriarch Theophilos preached the Word of God in Greek, referring to the wise and salvaging word of the Apostles, the Gospel of Christ’s Love. “This is the light”, the Patriarch said, “of Christ, the Sun of justice, we are called upon to put on, not the porphyry of the unjust rich man of today’s Evangelical pericope, indulging in material goods and looking down on impoverished Lazaros who had wished to feed on crumbs falling from the rich man’s table”.

To explain the pericope, the Patriarch spoke of man’s condition in this world and his condition in life after death, where his soul will be judged by the Son of God according to the testament of the Evangelist John: “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.  By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me” (John 5, 26-30).

In Arabic, the sermon can be reached here: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2016/11/13/25262

After the Apolysis, the pious congregation venerated the Holy Cross, held by His Beatitude, and received the antidoron and an icon of Theotokos.

Patriarch Theophilos offered a Byzantine icon of Theotokos for the Church, and a pectoral cross for the priest, f. Demetrios Samai. An enameled icon of Theotokos was offered by the Community to His Beatitude.

During the reception that followed, the Patriarch offered financial blessings to the choir and to the Women’s Association.

At noon, His Beatitude and Entourage sat at lunch hosted in his honour by the Community.

On the way to Amman, Patriarch Theophilos was toured by a Jordan archaeologist to the ruins of two recently excavated Byzantine churches with mosaics and Greek inscriptions, in the Irhab area. From there, He left for the Bishopric of Amman from where He returned to Jerusalem, praising God for this visit.

From the Secretariat-General

On Friday, the 29^th of October/11^th of November 2016, the feast of St Demetrius the Myrrh-Streamer was observed belatedly at St Demetrius church in Raffidia, at a short distance from Jacob’s well, in Nablus, Samaria.

In this church, built by the ever-memorable Patriarch Cyril circa 1850, Patriarch Theophilos led the divine Liturgy, having as concelebrants Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Metropolitan Joachim of Zambia, Archimandrites Epiphanius and Leontios, Archdeacon Marcos and Hierodeacon Agapius. Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang on the right in Greek, as cantors sang in Arabic on the left. Parishioners, a minority within a Muslim population, observed mass in piety.

To the pious congregation, His Beatitude delivered a sermon in Greek, quoting the Evangelical pericope of the day: “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning” (John 15, 26-27).

“This testament”, Patriarch Theophilos said, “that ‘you have been with me from the beginning’, is fervently proclaimed by the Church of Christ, constituted and held together by the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth, namely the Spirit of God and Christ our Saviour”.

St Demetrius, His Beatitude added, imitated Christ’s life-giving passion, from which he drew the energy of miracles and the enlightening power to teach the Gospel’s message, but also to heal diseases.

“Let us all beseech St Demetrius”, Patriarch Theophilos concluded, “through the mediation of Theotokos and all other saints, to guard us from danger and grief”.

On the conclusion of the divine Liturgy, the hegumen and church board hosted His Beatitude and Entourage to lunch at the hegumeneion.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/yK-pz2JFZXM

On Tuesday, the 26^th of October/8^th of November 2016, the Patriarchate celebrated the memory of the glorious great martyr, St Demetrius of Thessaloniki, the Myrrh-Streamer, at the chapel dedicated to his name, that stands between the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood and St Demetrius School which, for more than half a century, had housed the Patriarchal Hieratical School that educated most Hagiotaphites, and now houses an Arabic-speaking School from Pre-school to the Lyceum.

In commemoration of St Demetrius who had glorified Christ through his martyrdom, Vespers and the Divine Liturgy were led by the Secretary of the Holy and Great Synod, Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda, who had as concelebrants Archimandrites Sergios and Mathew, f. Charalambos-Farah Bantour, and Hierodeacons Demetrios and Agapios. Patriarchal School students sang, whilst students from the Arabic-speaking Patriarchal School attended the service, alongside monks, nuns and pious pilgrims.

After the Divine Liturgy, the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood attended a modest celebratory event hosted by the students in honour of St Demetrius the Myrrh-Streamer.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/K85e1IMQ4ds

httpv://youtu.be/xNVBsCq58Tw

On the day after St James feast, Sunday, the 24^th of October/6^th of November 2016, Vespers and the Divine Liturgy were held at the Chapel of the Forty Martyrs within St James church, in commemoration of the church’s proprietors, the ever-memorable Patriarchs of Jerusalem, many of whom lie within the Chapel. The service was led by Archbishop Theodosios of Sebaste, having as concelebrants f. Charalambos/Farah Bantour and deacon Agapios, for the Arabic-speaking faithful of Jerusalem’s Rum Orthodox Community.

A memorial service for the departed Patriarchs was performed before the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy.

From the Secretariat-General

On Saturday, the 23^rd of October/5^th of November 2016, the Patriarchate observed the memory of St James the Brother of God, first Bishop of Jerusalem, at the Cathedral dedicated to his name, connecting the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood with the Church of the Resurrection and used, over the last centuries, for the veneration needs of the Arabic-speaking Rum Orthodox Community of Jerusalem.

St James is called Equal to the Apostles for, as son to Joseph the Betrothed, he is considered the Lord’s brother by law. This was established by the Lord so that he would become, after His Resurrection and Ascension, the first Bishop of the Church of Jerusalem. During his diaconate, St James had played a significant role in the affairs of the Church of Jerusalem, leading the First Apostolic Synod of Jerusalem in 49 AD, and writing his Catholic Epistle in the New Testament “on the twelve tribes of Israel in diaspora”. He suffered a martyr’s death for Christ, when pushed down by the Jews from the arch of the Temple of Solomon.

His Beatitude Theophilos led Vespers, Matins and the divine Liturgy for the feast, having as concelebrants Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina, Theodosios of Sebaste and Michael of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, i.e. the Elder Kamarasis, Archimandrite Nektarios, the vicar of the church, f. Charalambos-Farah Bantour, Archdeacon Markos and deacon Agapios. The congregation consisted of Arabic-speaking Greek Orthodox faithful, and pilgrims from Greece, Russia and Ukraine.

To the pious, His Beatitude spoke in Greek, quoting words from the Catholic Epistle of St James and the significance of patience in Christ: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1, 12). Similarly, Patriarch Theophilos quoted the Apostle Paul from the Epistle to the Romans (5 2-5): And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

“The value of patience” the Patriarch added, “has been demonstrated by the Lord Himself, who said: “By your patience, possess your souls” (Luke 21, 19). In other words, patience is compared to fire through which gold is tried and cleaned, just like men are welcomed by God once they have been through the furnace of humility, namely of patience through temptation”.

The commemoration of St James’ death for Christ, Patriarch Theophilos added, invites us, in the words of the Apostle Paul, “to be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1, 9-10).

After the divine Liturgy, His Beatitude and Entourage walked to the roof of Sts Constantine and Helen Church, passed through the Gate of the Central Monastery, and received “blessed loaves of bread” from Archimandrite Paisios and Elder Nun Seraphima.

At the Hall of the Throne, after a supplication and the Patriarchal Polychronism, Patriarch Theophilos wished on everyone the mediation of St James, first elected Bishop of Jerusalem.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/Vl5c7LOPB80

On the morning of Friday, the 15^th/28^th of October 2016, Doxology was held at the katholikon of the All-holy Church of the Resurrection, on the national day celebrated in commemoration of the 28^th of October 1940.

Doxology was performed as gratitude to God for His help to our nation for liberation from the 1940-1944 German occupation, and as supplication for the atonement and repose of all departed fathers.

The service was led by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, having as concelebrants Prelate and Hieromonks of the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood, in the presence of the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Christos Sofianopoulos, praying members of the Greek parish and local Jerusalemites.

After Doxology, participants were hosted at the Patriarchate, where His Beatitude Theophilos addressed guests in Greek.

The anniversary of the 28^th of October epos, said the Patriarch, is undoubtedly a turning point not only for the history of the Greek nation but also for the history of the world.

“The struggle against the forces of Fascism and Nazism”, Patriarch Theophilos added, “the face of which has already appeared in different form and shape in our days and within the limits of our own region, namely the Middle East, has admittedly been a miracle of patriotism yielded from the magnificence of the Greek soul and its Christian faith”.  

The significance of the anniversary of “No” to the Axis forces must not be ignored, the Patriarch pointed out, “neither should it be construed as a conventional fact of our historical memory, but rather as a call for alertness in the face of merciless persecutions committed before our very eyes, displacement and murderous crimes against our innocent fellow humans, especially children”.

The Patriarch’s address was followed by a speech by Greece’s Consul-General.

“No”, Mr Sofianopoulos said, represented the Greeks’ unanimous refusal to cede their freedom and national honour. “It was their refusal to repudiate their history and live insignificant and subdued. It was their reaction against the darkest political forces that had attempted to subjugate Europe and the world”.

“Hellenism”, the Consul-General added, “fought with strength, self-denial, patriotism and heroism for the integrity of their homeland and for liberation, demonstrating the Greek virtues, dedication to traditions and resilience, inviting the admiration of the international public opinion”.

Today’s anniversary, concluded Mr Sofianopoulos, urges us to “contemplate the significance of the symbolism of the 28^th of October 1940 for Hellenism on this present day. The unbreakable unit and patriotism shown by people who fought for peace, freedom, dignity and social justice, reminds us that “our ability to bounce back and triumph was and still is endless. A great responsibility weights upon us, to understand this message, convey it to the younger generations and move on united as then, with decisiveness”, the Greek Consul-General concluded.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/zPzwhR0Wpko

On Wednesday, the 13^th/26^th of October 2016, the Patriarchate celebrated the return of the relics of hosios Savva the Sanctified to his Monastery.

On this particular feast-day, the Mother of Churches celebrated the translation, in 1965, of the relic of hosios Savva from Venice to Jerusalem, and then to his Monastery, where it is kept to this day. The saint’s relic had been transferred by the Crusaders to Venice, and returned by the Roman Catholic Church upon request by the Church of Jerusalem after the meeting between the Pope and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras in Jerusalem and the lifting of the anathemas.

The feast was initially led, during Vespers, by His Eminence Theophanes, Archbishop of Gerassa; then, during an all-night vigil, by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, having as concelebrants Archbishops Theophanes of Gerassa, Aristarchos of Constantina and Metropolitan Joachim of Zambia. Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang in Greek on the right and Archimandrite Philotheos sang on the left, in Arabic, with Sabbaite Fathers. In attendance were pilgrims from Greece, locals from Bethlehem, Beit-Jala and Beit-Sahour, praising the Lord for the presence of the hosios’ consecrated relic.

During Communion, His Beatitude delivered a sermon in Greek, saying that Hosios Savva had realized that his body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, according to the teachings of St Paul, who said: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6, 19). “This divine light of the Holy Spirit”, His Beatitude added, “is provided by our blessed Father Savva through his lantern, namely this sacred relic, attesting the transfiguration and resurrection of Christ, our Saviour. And it is precisely this transfiguration and resurrection in Christ that incessant prayer aims at, prayer not only by monks but by all those wishing to save their souls”.

“The venerable members of our Hagiotaphite Fathers are workers of the Lord’s pedagogy, these monks trained here with their spiritual Fathers under the protection of the Most Blessed and Ever-Virgin Mary, and under the guidance of Father Savva the sanctified, whom we honour today”, added Patriarch Theophilos.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/-ptcqJpXaWE

In an ambiance of piety and glory, the feast of St Isaac the Syrian, who had led an ascetic’s life in Qatar, was celebrated at Doha Cathedral.

On the afternoon of Thursday, the 30^th of September/13^th of October 2016, Great Panegyric Vespers was performed with a breaking of bread, whilst cantors invited from Greece sang both inside the Church and in the forecourt, accompanied by traditional instruments, for the enjoyment and support of the flock. The service and event were honoured by the presence of representatives of the Greek, Cypriot and Serbian Embassy in Qatar. 

Matins was performed in the morning, followed by Prelatic Divine Liturgy, led by Archbishop Makarios of Qatar. Attending the service was a great crowd of faithful, demonstrating their respect and devoutness of their patron saint and mediator to the Lord.

The divine Liturgy was followed by procession from the Church to the Archbishopric’s facilities, where guests were hosted to a reception.

From the Holy Archbishopric of Qatar

On Friday the 24^th of September/7^th of October 2016, the feast of St Thekla the Protomarty and Equal to the Apostles was celebrated by the Patriarchate at the chapel dedicated to her name, to the west of the monastic Church of Sts Constantine and Helen.

The Church honours St Thekla, who hailed from Ikonion, Asia Minor, and was taught the faith in Christ by Paul, the Apostle of the Nations. Having preached Christ and suffering for Him, St Thekla is commemorated as a protomartyr and equal to the apostles. She passed away in her homeland at the age of ninety.

Vespers was held in the evening, followed by divine Liturgy on the morning, led by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem. In attendance were Hagiotaphite Fathers and Prelates. Archimandrite Nektarios officiated, having as co-officiants other Hagiotaphites. Archimandrite Eusebius sang for monks, nuns and local faithful from the Greek Parish.

Kollyva and rusks were distributed after Vespers in the open-air area outside the chapel. Reception followed after the divine Liturgy at the Church Board’s Hall.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/OsSOaFPSV1w

httpv://youtu.be/j83fA1u07U0