On Saturday, 20 December 2020/ 2 January 2021, the Mayor of town Sahnin in North Israel and of the Rum-Orthodox Community of this town, visited the Patriarchate, with the aim to cultivate and seal the spirit of reconciliation and co-operation with all the inhabitants of this town.

The delegation was warmly received by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos and Geronda Secretary-General, His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina. His Beatitude praised especially the Mayor, Mr Safwat Abo-Raya, for his unifying actions among the inhabitants of his town and the Commissaries, and for their co-operation with the Patriarchate and the Mayoralty.

After their visit, the Delegation went to venerate the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

From Secretariat-General

On Monday morning, November 24 / December 7, 2020, the Ambassador of Greece in Tel-Aviv Mr Panayiotis Sarris visited the Patriarchate, accompanied by his wife Mrs Catherine Loupa and his colleagues Mr Constantinos Daskalopoulos and Mrs Dimitra Mazaraki.

The Ambassador and his company were received by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos and Hagiotaphite Fathers.

His Beatitude informed the Ambassador about the Patriarchate shrines and the material property, and about the problems we face regarding the challenging of the Patriarchate rights. His Beatitude also mentioned the pastoral, educational and peace-making role of the Patriarchate in the Holy Land, which has always the support of our blessed nation, despite the adverse conditions.

Thanking His Beatitude for the information, Mr Sarris expressed his sincere interest in supporting the mission of the Patriarchate, and afterwards, he visited the Central Library of the Patriarchate and venerated the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Tomb of the Mother of God in Gethsemane.

His Beatitude offered the Ambassador and his company an icon of the Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre for their visit.

From Secretariat-General

On Thursday, November 3/20, 2020, the new Ambassador of Cyprus in Tel-Aviv/ Israel, Mrs Theodora Constantinidou visited the Patriarchate, accompanied by the Attache’ Mr Constantinou.

The new Ambassador was warmly received by His Beatitude and Hagiotaphite Fathers. In this visit, His Beatitude spoke to the Ambassador about the Patriarchate, as the first Christian religious institution in the Holy Land, which bears the holy history of the Old and the New Testament, and has a conciliatory and peace-making role in the Holy land.

Working on its pastoral mission, the Patriarchate is the guardian of both the spiritual and material property in Jerusalem and in other places of the Holy Land.

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem is considered by the civil authorities of Israel, Jordan and Palestine, to be the oldest religious institution in the Holy Land and each Patriarch is recognized with the confirmation of his election.

The heart of the Patriarchate is the Holy Sepulchre along with the Horrendous Golgotha, where our Lord Jesus Christ shed His redeeming blood.

The Ambassador thanked His Beatitude for His briefing and expressed her will to co-operate with the Patriarchate for the support and the benefit of the Patriarchate and our nation and of the legal rights of the Cypriot people.

His Beatitude offered the Ambassador an icon of the renovated Sacred Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre and offering thanks, Mrs Constantinidou and Mr Constantinou went to venerate the Holy Tomb.

From Secretariat-General

On Sunday, October 19/ November 1, 2020, the shipowner Mr Athanasios Martinos visited the Patriarchate.

Mr Martinos and his companion, architect Mr Gregorios Pinelis, were received by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos and Hagiotaphite Fathers at the Catholicon of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

There, at the presence of the Consul General of Greece Mr Evangelos Vlioras, His Beatitude informed Mr Martinos about the Rum Orthodox rights in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, especially for the Catholicon, which is a special place for the Orthodox worship, the heart of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, opposite the Holy Tomb.

His Beatitude also mentioned the need for the renovation of the Catholicon, a very important project, which Mr Martinos expressed the will to undertake, at the suggestion of the Prime Minister of Greece, Mr Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

After visiting the other areas of the Church, such as the Sacristy and Golgotha, Mr Martinos was received by Geronda Sacristan Most Reverend Archbishop Isidoros of Hierapolis in the latter’s Office, where Mr Martinos venerated the Precious Wood of the Cross and was offered an icon of the Sacred Edicule.

From the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Mr Martinos was escorted to the Patriarchate Headquarters through the staircase of Saint James Cathedral and the terrace of the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen.

At the Patriarchate, His Beatitude thanked Mr Martinos for his genuine interest to support the mission of the Patriarchate and offered him an icon of the renovated Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre, while Mr Martinos offered His Beatitude an album with the treasures of Petraki Monastery, which is an edition of his company.

From Secretariat-General

On Thursday, August 21/September 3, 2020, the New Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem, Mr. Vlioras visited H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos on the occasion of the undertaking of his new duties. Mr. Vlioras was accompanied by the Vice Consul Mrs. Christina Zaharioudaki.

On this visit Mr. Vlioras informed His Beatitude on his intention to continue the established cooperation of the Greek Consulate of Jerusalem with the Patriarchate and asked His blessing and guidance for the accomplishment of this aim.

His Beatitude also expressed His intention on any good cooperation and wished Mr. Vlioras success in his high national and diplomatic mission.

On this occasion, His Beatitude offered Mr. Vlioras and Mrs. Zaharioudaki an icon of Theotokos, the book written by the memorable Hagiotaphite Archbishop of Athens Chrysostomos Papadopoulos “The History of the Church of Jerusalem” and the book written by the memorable John Tlel, “I am Jerusalem”, while Mr. Vlioras offered His Beatitude a very beautiful Byzantine Icon of Theotokos.

From Secretariat-General

On Monday, August 18/31, 2020, His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos received the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem, His Excellency Mr. Christos Sophianopoulos on his retirement from his position after four years of service.

On this meeting Mr. Sophianopoulos thanked His Beatitude for His co-operation, the information He provided on matters related to the Patriarchate and Hellenism for the sensitive diplomatic position of the Consul General in Jerusalem, and His support in his work.

Replying, His Beatitude also thanked the Consul General for his wholehearted co-operation for the important and crucial problems of the Patriarchate, regarding the ownership and the privileges of the rights of our nation in the Holy Land, and in recognition of his support, His Beatitude offered Mr. Sophianopoulos a gold medal-souvenir, made on the restoration of the Sacred Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre.

Thanking His Beatitude, Mr. Sophianopoulos reassured that he will continue to remember and support the rights of the Patriarchate even from his position in Greece.

From Secretariat-General

On Tuesday morning, August 12/25, 2020, the Head of the Russian MISSIA of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archimandrite Alexander and the New Abbess of the Russian Monastery in Ein Karem-Gornia, Ekaterini visited His Beatitude, accompanied by Archimandrite Dometianos and Archimandrite Nikon. Abbess Ekaterini came from the Monastery of Diveyevo, the place of ascesis of St. Seraphim of Sarov, and has been appointed by His Beatitude the Patriarch of Moscow Cyril to replace the elderly and in ill-health Abbess Georgia. The purpose of her visit was to ask the blessing of His Beatitude.

His Beatitude blessed Abbess Ekaterini, whishing her the strength of our Crucified and Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ to the success of her mission as an Abbess of the Holy Monastery of Gornia, in the Russian MISSIA within the jurisdiction of the Jerusalem Patriarchate, the guardian of the All-holy Shrines. His Beatitude also offered the new Abbess a cross and an icon of Theotokos.

From Secretariat-General

On Tuesday morning, August 5/18, 2020, the retiring after three years of service at the Greek Consulate as a Consul in Jerusalem, Mrs. Katherine Tzima visited His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, accompanied by Mrs. Ioanna Vlahonikolou and Mrs. Euagelia Strefiotou, in order to thank Him for the co-operation and support at her diplomatic mission, and ask His blessing for the continuation of her work in Greece.

On this occasion, His Beatitude praised Mrs. Tzima for her good co-operation with the Patriarchate for matters related to it and to our nation, for her devotion to the Church, and as a token of the recognition of her work, decorated her with the medal of the Cross-bearer of the Order of Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, and wished her the strength of the Resurrected Christ, of the All-holy and Life-giving Tomb and of the Sacred Cross. His Beatitude offered Mrs. Tzima the medal and an icon of the Holy Sepulchre for the continuation of her high mission in Greece and the protection of herself, along with her family.

Emotional, Mrs. Tzima thanked His Beatitude, saying that this diplomatic ministry in Jerusalem and the co-operation with the Patriarchate were a unique opportunity which will remain unforgettable and accompany her in her life. Knowing that His Beatitude is a good reader, she offered Him two books on the history of art by Mr. Liakos and “Greece in the 21^st century”.

From Secretariat-General

On Thursday evening, July 31/ August 13, 2020, one day before the fast of the Dormition, His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos visited the Holy Monastery of our Holy Father among the Saints Savvas the Sanctified for the name day of the Spiritual Father of the Lavra, Reverend Archimandrite Eudokimos.

On this visit His Beatitude was accompanied by the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr. Christos Sophianopoulos and their Eminences; Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina and the Master of Ceremonies Archimandrite Bartholomew.

His Beatitude was welcomed in reverence by the Community of St. Savvas and after the veneration of the Holy Relics of our Holy Father Savvas the Sanctified, He and the Consul General were informed by the celebrating Spiritual Father Archimandrite Eudokimos on the problems caused to the monastery by the neighbouring inhabitants in a two km distance surrounding the Monastery, a territory established to belong to the Monastery which non-buildable since the time of the Trustee English Government, then of Jordan, and until the present time.

From Secretariat-General

On Thursday, July 3/16, 2020, the Israeli Military Commander of the River Jordan area, Mr. Iran Gros and his associates visited His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos and discussed the ways to continue their cooperation for the further development of the shrine of the Holy Monastery of St. John the Baptist at the River Jordan, with the contribution of its Hegoumen Archimandrite Bartholomew.

From Secretariat-General