On Wednesday 14th/17th May 2017, a team of 20 Romanian Journalists visited the Patriarchate, escorted by Mrs. Eleanna Ayas, representative of the State of Palestine.

H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos and Hagiotaphite Fathers received this team of journalists. Answering to their questions, His Beatitude referred to the role of the Church of Jerusalem, which was upgraded to a Patriarchate in 451 A.D., to the formation, preservation and consolidation of the Christian character of Jerusalem through the All-holy Shrines – the Church of the Resurrection and the many Holy Monasteries inside the Old City – through which, Jerusalem and the Patriarchate have always been a meeting place of thousands of pilgrims, representatives and delegations of countries, churches and organizations.

The solution of the political issue of Jerusalem is essentially the solution of the religious issue and consideration of the religious character of Jerusalem in the three Monotheistic religions.

In reply to another question on the constitution of family, His Beatitude said that the liberal values that are projected by many countries nowadays undermine the constitution of family, the nature of man and his identity.

The Church is based on the values of the Bible, the value of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God. Globalization undermines man’s identity.

The Journalists thanked His Beatitude for His answers and asked His blessing for the continuation of their journalistic mission in the Holy Land.

From Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/zz-Wum4YEvg

On Tuesday afternoon, 3rd/16th May 2017, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Mr. Volodymyr Groysman, visited the Patriarchate, escorted by approximately thirty of his associates, among whom the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Finance and the Ambassador of Ukraine in Israel Mr. Gennadii Nadolenko.

His Excellency the Prime Minister and his exquisite team were warmly received by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos and Hagiotaphite Fathers, among whom the Most Reverend Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Dragouman Archimandrite Mattheos, Archdeacon Mark.

The Prime Minister thanked His Beatitude, as despite His many duties, He offered time to this visit at the Patriarchate, within the agenda of the P.M.’s visit in the State of Israel, and thanked Him for His position at the critical issue on the Ukraine dispute, which the Ukraine Government is striving to solve without interfering with the Ecclesiastical issue.  

His Beatitude thanked the Prime Minister for his words, and referred to the long-lasting bonds between the Patriarchate and Ukraine, since the days of the memorable Paissios, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and expressed the certainty that this issue cannot be solved diplomatically nor politically, but ecclesiastically, under the condition that the men of the Church are not involved in the political issues, nor the politicians in those of the Church. The Jerusalem Patriarchate, as the Mother of Churches, historically promotes Church unity and the solving of national issues of the Orthodox nations. This is the role that the Patriarchate serves, and it promotes through co-operation, as recently shown with the restoration of the Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre, the co-operation for the ecumenical expression of the celebration of this event.

In memory of this visit, and together with the wish for the solving of the Ukrainian issue, His Beatitude offered the Prime Minister a ceramic vase in the shape of a pomegranate, with Jerusalem representations, and blessings from Jerusalem for his wife and Ministers.

The Prime Minister offered His Beatitude a casing with Ukrainian nation emblems, and thanked Him for His position towards the Ukrainian people.

From Secretariat-General
httpv://youtu.be/cCUbJFJDacE

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On Monday, 2nd/15th May 2017, the Most Reverend Metropolitan Chrysostom of Patra with a group of pilgrims from Patra visited the Patriarchate as the reclamation of the pilgrimage of the Holy Metropolis of Patra in the Holy Land.

The Metropolitan was warmly received by His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, and Hagiotaphite Fathers. His Beatitude welcomed the pilgrims and stressed the significance of this pilgrimage for the life of each of the pilgrims, and praised the Metropolitan for his support on religious tourism, because these Holy Shrines of the Holy Land are the witnesses of the historic earthly presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each of the pilgrims receives the grace of the Holy Shrines, and especially this Paschal season of the year, and conveys it together with the message of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ to their relatives and the whole world.

His Beatitude offered the pilgrims many blessings from Jerusalem and exchanged gifts with the Metropolitan.

The Most Reverend Metropolitan offered His Beatitude a beautiful vase and edible local blessings from Ahaia, while His Beatitude gave the Metropolitan a pectoral cross of pearls, made in Bethlehem.

At the end of the exchanging of gifts and the photographs to remember this visit, His Beatitude bid farewell to the pilgrims from Ahaia, blessing them for the remaining of their pilgrimage.
From Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/o2r-eEUe3g8

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On Tuesday morning, 26th April/9th May 2017, a Foreign and European Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Cyprus, headed by the President of the Committee Mr. George Lillika, visited the Patriarchate, escorted by the Ambassador of Cyprus in Tel Aviv Mrs. Thessalia Siambou.

The Committee was warmly received by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos with Geronda Secretary-General Most Reverend Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, and other Hagiotaphite Fathers.

On the agenda of the meeting there was an interesting conversation on the complicated political situation in Jerusalem, the significance of the area around Solomon’s Temple and on the balancing role of the Patriarchate in finding the solution to this problem.

His Beatitude also explained to the members of the Committee that the Patriarchate is the owner of spiritual and material heritage of great value for the exercise of its pastoral mission in the Holy Shrines and the congregation belonging to its jurisdiction in three countries, Israel, Jordan and the State of Palestine.

His Beatitude also referred to the event of the renovation of the Exarchy of the Holy Sepulchre in Cyprus and the support of the Archdiocese of Cyrpus for this matter.

On the occasion of this visit, the delegation offered His Beatitude  a miniature of a trading ship, while His Beatidue offered them Hagiotaphite blessings.

From Secretariat-General
httpv://youtu.be/LSm-1FqPBgU

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On Monday afternoon, 25th April/ 8th May 2017, three members of the Greek Parliament visited the Patriarchate, Professor Mr. Constantine Douzinas, Mr. Demetrios Emmanouelidis and Mr. George Koumoutsakos, escorted by the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr. Sophianopoulos.

The above mentioned members of the Greek Parliament were received by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, with Geronda Secretary-General Most Reverend Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, and Dragouman Archimandrite Mattheos.

On the agenda of the meeting there was an interesting conversation on the recently celebrated by the Patriarchate Feast of the Great Martyr St. George at his Holy Church belonging to the Patriarchate in Acre-Ptolemais, at the Romanian Spiritual Delegation in Jerusalem, St. George of the Hebrew Site, and St. George of the Hospital, and about the honour accredited to the Saint in Georgia and England as their Patron Saint.

Reference was also made on the Church and the property of the Patriarchate on Zion hill and the arising problems from the extreme Israelis, about the area of Solomon’s Temple which is the heart of the city and about the religions in Jerusalem.

The conversation was also about the existence of Arab Communities/ Arab citizens in the State of Israel since 1948, who excel in various jobs.

On the occasion of this visit, the members of Parliament offered His Beatitude a volume of the Parliament with speeches of exceptional men of politics and His Beatitude offered them an icon of the Theotokos and the Sacred Edicule.

From Secretariat-General

On Sunday afternoon, 24th April/ 7th May 2017, the ceremony on the installation of the Archbishop of Canterbury took place in an Anglican Church in Jerusalem. Mr. Justin Welby was installed as the “Episcopal Canon” of Mount Carmel at St. George Cathedral of the Anglican Church in Jerusalem.

At this ceremony, invited by the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem Reverend Suheil Dawani,His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem addressed the Archbishop of Canterbury as in the link below:
 https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2017/05/07/32495

From Secretariat-General

His Beatitude Theophilos III

Patriarch of Jerusalem

Sunday 7 May 2017

Your Grace, Archbishop Justin,

Dear Mrs. Welby,

Your Grace Archbishop Suheil,

Dear Father Hosam,

Your Eminences,

Your Graces,

Dear Fathers,

Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Christ is risen!

On behalf of the Churches and Christian Communities of the Holy Land, we congratulate you, dear Archbishop Justin, on your installation into the Canonry of Mount Carmel in this cathedral.

This blessed occasion is a significant sign of your relationship to the Holy Land. For in both our Orthodox and Anglican traditions, we recognize the importance of the rootedness of the Church’s ministry in, and the Church’s relationship to, communities of faithful Christians. In both our traditions, the ordained are grounded in local communities, to emphasise that we bear a responsibility for that particular community of people. In the Church, there is no pastor without a community, and no community without a pastor.

By placing you in the stall of Mount Carmel in this cathedral, Archbishop Suheil does not simply bestow an honour upon you; more than this, a new and weighty relationship between you and our beloved Holy Land has been established. We rejoice in this, and we welcome you as a fellow labourer with us on behalf of the Church in the Holy Land.

It is pleasant coincidence that this installation falls in the days when in both our traditions we are celebrating the Feast of Saint George, the noble patron of England and this cathedral, and one of the most beloved saints of the Holy Land. So we are reminded of the words of the Orthodox service of Matins for the Feast of Saint George:

The all-glorious memorial of the servant

 hath shined upon us

 as a companion of the resurrection of Christ,

 whereon let us gather, ye faithful,

and joyfully keep the feast.

(Matins, Ode Three)

In becoming a “companion of the resurrection of Christ”, Saint George joined his life and efforts to Christ in his resurrection, and so shared in the new life that the resurrection promises to all. This makes him a model for all Christians, and especially for those who exercise spiritual leadership, for we must in our turn also be “companions of the resurrection of Christ”.

On your pilgrimage to the Holy Land, you have visited many places, and you have encountered many people and communities under pressure. There is much darkness and despair in our world today, and our region is suffering in terrible ways. Innocent people are the targets of violence, persecution, displacement, and the horrors of war. We in the Holy Land know the burden of the cross of the risen Lord, as well as the power of the resurrection.

We wish to take this opportunity also to thank you, dear Archbishop Suheil, for your commitment to peace and reconciliation, and your unwavering support and efforts to ensure the well-being of the Christian presence in our region. And we also happily celebrate the support and encouragement that you, dear Mrs. Welby give, not only to your beloved husband, but also to many in the Anglican Community and beyond the bounds of your own Church.

As we gather on this occasion, as one might say, in a contemporary “Upper Room” that displays the wonderful diversity of Pentecost, to welcome you, Your Grace, to your canonry in this cathedral, may the joyful Paschal spirit that permeates this season, and which was the inspiration of Saint George, make us “companions of the resurrection”. And may the risen Lord give us the strength and the resolve, like Saint George, to strive against the forces of darkness and despair on behalf of the people of God.

Christ is risen!

Thank you.

HIS BEATITUDE THEOPHILOS III

PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM

Sunday 7 May 2017

Dear Father Theophilos,

Your Eminences,

Your Graces,

Dear Fathers and Monastics,

Beloved Pilgrims and Faithful,

Christ is risen!

In this joyful Paschal season, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy and Glorious Great Martyr, Saint George, who was “a companion of the resurrection” of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ’s resurrection from the dead has inaugurated new life, and in this new life Saint George participated and showed to others because he was illuminated by the uncreated Light of the resurrection.

And we sing on his feast:

Since thou art limpidly illuminated

with the whole light of the Trinity, O all-blessed George,

as an invincible Martyr, as a champion of piety,

as a divinely crowned victor,

save by thine intercessions,

O Heaven-dweller, them that honour thee.

(Matins, Second Canon)

The resurrection of Christ is the event that makes clear the fundamental truth of the Christian faith. Holy Pascha, the Feast of Feasts for the Orthodox Christians, is the crown of the year and the crown of creation. As Saint Gregory Palamas says, in a typical, but rich play on words, the anastasis – that is the resurrection – means anaplasis – which is remaking – as well as anakenisis – which means renewal. And it also means anazoosis – which is bestowal of new life. All these concepts are deeply related to the resurrection.

Saint Gregory tells us further that “the resurrection of the Lord is the regeneration of human nature. It is the re-birth and re-creation of the first Adam, whom sin led to death, and who because of death, again was made to retrace his steps on earth from which he was made. The resurrection is the return to immortal life” (Sermon on Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing women).

And our Lord Jesus Christ says this in the Gospel of Saint John, when he assures us “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, even though he die, will live, and he who lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25-26).

The Saints are those whose life is the confirmation of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. They lead us in our return to immortal life. The Saints of the Church in general, and the martyrs of the Gospel kerygma (preaching) in particular, are those who imitated the life of Christ in their lives, and in this way they have attained immortality and incorruption. They are more than our inspiration; they are the confirmation for us of our won journey to theosis – of our own spiritual pilgrimage to union with God. That which the Saints have attained, we also can attain.

Of this sharing in the unapproachable glory of God, Saint George shows us the way. As we sing on his feast:

Since thou hast now laid hold on that blessed life

that is his in Christ, for which thou foughtest

even unto blood, O glorious George,

ask that they who praise thee with faith

may be saved from every adversity, O prizewinner.

(Matins, Second Canon)

So the Saints build up the Body of Christ, the Church, by being the bridge between the Church militant here on earth, and the Church triumphant in heaven.

As we gather on this joyful feast, we show our common witness that we, as Orthodox Sister Churches bear to the world. Christ is the head of the Church, Christ who has been raised from the dead, and who is the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor. 15:20), and we are united in this conviction. The Spirit-filled Fathers and Councils of the Church have established us in our common life, and given us a framework for our witness and mission that ensures the right relationship of all in the Body of Christ. As we worship today in communion with the Mother Church of Jerusalem, we give thanks to Almighty God for this gift of communion within the One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

May our risen Lord, who made His faithful servant Saint George a companion of his resurrection, bring us also with all the saints  into the fullness of glory and eternal life. And may God bless the faithful children of the Orthodox Church of Romania, and all the peoples of our beloved Holy Land in this joyful Paschal season.

Christ is risen!

Amen.

The feast of the Cathedral was celebrated with special brilliance in Doha. For pastoral reasons the feast was transferred to Friday in order to facilitate the participation of the faithful as Friday is the holiday in Qatar.

On Thursday, 4th May 2017, the Great Festal Vespers was observed, officiated by the Most Reverend Archbishop Makarios of Qatar, with the Blessing of Bread. The hymns were chanted by a three-member expert choir singers under Mr. George Ferendinos, Choir Leader of the Holy Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Lagatha, and the choir of the Holy Church.

At the end of Vespers a traditional music concert was held at the courtyard of the Holy Church. The purpose of this ceremony is to convey the aroma of the fatherly traditional church music as well as that of laity to the Greek Orthodox people who live and work in the Emirate of Qatar, to the many Arab-speaking Christians who keep the same music of the church tradition in the Arabic language, as well as to the members of the congregation who while keeping the Orthodox tradition, they use different music traditions. The ceremony honoured with their presence the Ambassadors of Greece and the Democracy of Cyprus in Doha.

On Friday, 5th May 2017, Matins and the Episcopal Divine Liturgy were celebrated with the participation of many faithful. After the Divine Liturgy there was a litany of the Holy Icon of St. George, followed by a reception at the Episcopal Quarters.

From the Holy Archdiocese of Qatar

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On Wednesday morning, 20th April/3rd May 2017, the Most Reverend Archbishop of Canterbury of the Anglican Church Mr. Justin Welby visited the Horrendous Golgotha and the Holy Sepulchre at the Church of the Resurrection, escorted by a team of his associates and entourage, among whom was the Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Jerusalem Most Rev. Suheil Dawani.

The Most Reverend Archbishop of Canterbury was received at the Horrendous Golgotha by His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos,  who was escorted by the Most Reverend Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Dragouman Archimandrite Mattheos, the Master of Ceremonies Archimandrite Bartholomew, the Assistant Sacristan Archimandrite Polykarpos and other Hagiotaphite and Templar Fathers. His Beatitude addressed the Rev. Archbishop as in the link below:

 https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2017/05/03/32404

From Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/-LI4ptXVaBg

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