1. Visit at the ruins of a 7th century Monastery at the Sir Bani Yas island

On Thursday 6th/19th January 2017, at the conference room of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Abu Dhabi, capital of United Arab Emirates, the annual meeting of the Gulf Churches Fellowship took place.

On the second day of the meeting there was a visit at Sir Bani Yas island, at the United Arab Emirates border with Qatar. The participants’ team at the conference, approximately 30 clergy men, from different doctrines and countries of the Arab peninsula was accompanied by the Minister of Tolerance Seikha Lubna Khalid Al Qasimi herself.

The organization of the visit was undertaken by the Ministry of Tolerance of the United Arab Emirates Government and the expenses were covered by His Excellency, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

The discovery of the ruins took place in 1992, excavations began in 1994, and continue until the present time. Three million trees have been planted in the island, and a massive collection of animals has been transferred from various countries of the world, while there have also been constructions of an airport, three hotels and recreational areas.

The transition to the island was by plane, on a special 25-min duration flight. The archaeologists who have been carrying out the excavations gave a detailed guided tour to the members of the clergy and their formal companions’ team. During the tour, there was the first time ever presentation of artefacts with Christian symbols, which will be displayed at the Emirate of Abu Dhabi Museum.

2. The Feast of Theophany in Qatar

The Feast of Theophany was celebrated with the appropriate ecclesiastical brilliance at the Archdiocese of Qatar. Due to local conditions, the feast was moved to Friday 7th /20th January. On Thursday morning, 6th/19^th January 2017, the Royal Hours were read after Matins, and Vespers was held in the evening. In the morning after Matins, the D. Liturgy was celebrated, followed by the Blessing of the Waters.

The services were led by the Most Reverend Archbishop Makarios of Qatar, with concelebrants Archimandrite Savvas and other clergy, at the participation of the Christian Congregation of the local Church.

From the Holy Archdiocese of Qatar

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Before noon on Friday 7th/20th January 2017, the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood led by its Hegoumen, His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos returned the Armenian Church their visit on the occasion of Christmas which they celebrate together with the feast of Theophany as it was the custom of the Orthodox Church during the early Byzantine period.

The Hagiotaphite Brotherhood was received by the Armenian Patriarch Nourhan Manoukian with Armenian Fathers and gave them a welcoming address.

His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem addressed the Armenian Patriarch and the Armenian clergy with the following address in English:

” 20th January 2017

Your Beatitude,

Your Eminences,

Your Graces,

Beloved members of the Armenian Brotherhood,

Dear Fathers,

We thank you for your greetings for the great Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we rejoice in the words of this hymn:

Today Christ is born of the Virgin in Bethlehem!

Today he who knows no beginning begins to be,

and the world is made flesh.

The heavenly powers rejoice,

and the earth with humankind makes glad:

The Magi offer gifts to the Master,

and the shepherds marvel at his birth.

And we cry aloud unceasingly:

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace, good will among all people

(From Matins of the Nativity)

The Feast of the Nativity is one of great joy, a joy that is a gift from God the Father, and that is at the heart of our Christian faith and witness. This is the great joy that the angels announced to the shepherds (Lk 2:10), and this is the same joy that is born again on this Feast in the Holy Cave.

We must always nurture this joy in ourselves and in our communities. Our Christmas celebration has a special significance for our Christian martyria, not least because we are experiencing new developments in the challenges that we face in our region: the rise of extremism, persecution, and displacement; attempts to restrict some religious practices; and the pressure that is put on our sacred property and on our inheritance. And in the world over we see a disturbing rise of violence of all kinds.

Jerusalem is the place where the members of our local Christian communities, the pilgrims who come to us, and all people of good will, are renewed in the energy of hope, the consolation of the fruits of our faith, and the sacred atmosphere of this Holy Land.

This is the visible sign that our mission is not in vain. Those who are critical of the Church must understand that our spiritual and Eucharistic mission is strong and continues to have a huge impact. We are hearing calls for a fresh understanding of the oversight of the Holy City, with a special body to ensure the Status Quo and the administration of the Holy Places. This is a challenge to our role, and we must be prepared to assume this greater role, which must increase in importance with respect to the establishment of a lasting peace. Therefore our unity of heart and purpose is crucial.

Christmas is the feast of peace and justice. We who lay claim to be the followers of the Prince of Peace know that in trusting God there can be no peace without justice. As the Prophet Isaiah proclaims:

The effect of justice will be peace,

and the result of justice,

 quietness and trust forever.

(Isaiah 32:17)

The peace and justice of God’s promise to us are assured to us again by our Lord himself, when in the Sermon on the Mount he says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Mt. 5:6). Therefore there is no way for peace to co-exist with injustice.

In this Feast of the Nativity, we declare that the fruit of truth, justice, and reconciliation have been brought to earth by the Incarnation of the Divine Logos. This fruit of new life the world rejects, but we know it to be the way, the truth and the life.

This coming to earth of the fruit of truth, justice, and reconciliation is the cause and the sustenance of our joy. As the spiritual leaders of the Christian community and the guardians of the Holy Shrines, we give thanks to God, who has enlightened our minds and strengthened our hearts to join our efforts in the restoration of the Sacred Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre and to continue the renovations of the Church of the Nativity.

We rejoice in particular at the good work that we are doing together for the restoration of the Sacred Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre. Our unity of purpose in the restoration of this, the most holy site in the world, is a wonderful witness to our common faith in the Incarnation and the Resurrection, and it shows that we can indeed overcome a long history of suspicion and difficulty for the sake of our spiritual mission.

May Christ our God, who is born in the Cave of Bethlehem, renew his joy in us and in the hearts of our communities and all the people of the Holy Land, that we may work for the fruits of truth, justice, and reconciliation, and may God bless you and the members of your Brotherhood, this Christmastide and the Holy season of Epiphany.

We pray to our Lord Jesus Christ that the New Year will be a fresh season of reconciliation and co-existence of the Abrahamic traditions in the Holy Land, for this is the work that brings forth the fruit of peace.

Thank you”

From Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/qZ_A9Kbcr2g

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On Tuesday evening, 4th /17th January 2017, the Minister of Public Order and Citizen Protection Mr. Nikolaos Toskas visited the Patriarchate, accompanied by a team of his associates, his wife and the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr. Christos Sophianopoulos.

The Minister was received by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos and Hagiotaphite Fathers.

Within the framework of this visit, the Minister asked His Beatitude to update him on the progress of the exceptional work of the maintenance and restoration of the Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre by the N.T.U.A. , on the incoming pilgrims despite the recurring incidents of violence in Jerusalem, tomorrow’s visit in the River Jordan, the arrivals of a multitude of local and from other areas of Israel pilgrims there, as well as pilgrims from the occupied Palestinian regions, and those from Greece, Russia, Romania, Ukraine and Cyprus.

His Beatitude also briefed the Minister on the efforts of the Patriarchate to preserve the Status Quo of the Holy Shrines and the character of Jerusalem as the Holy City and a prototype of a peaceful, religious cohabitation. 

The Minister thanked His Beatitude for his reception and updating, while His Beatitude asked him to convey to the Prime Minister of Greece Mr. Alexis Tsipras His best wishes and the invitation for the delivery of the Edicule at the completion of its restoration project.

The Minister offered His Beatitude a gilded crown with laurel leaves, while His Beatitude offered him and each of the members of his colleagues icons of the Holy Edicule and of Theotokos; the visitors left with the intention to visit the Church of the Resurrection the following day.

From Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/AvFJfqauQ8I

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On the evening of 4th /17th January 2017 the established interschool New Year Cake ceremony took place at the Priestly Patriarchal School on the hill of Holy Zion.

Present at the ceremony were, the President of the Schools Board Most Reverend Archbishop Isidoros of Hierapolis, Hagiotaphite Fathers, the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr. Christos Sophianopoulos, members of the Greek Community and the School teachers.

The Director of the School Mr. Nikolaos Souliotis gave a short address to His Beatitude in a welcoming gesture.

His Beatitude cut the New Year cake wishing spiritual and educational progress to the students, saying “have an auspicious, happy and peaceful New Year 2017” and distributed the pieces to the guests honouring the ceremony and to the students.

During the distribution the students sang the New Year carols, St. Basil’s Apolytikion and that of the Circumcision of the Lord and other songs.

His Beatitude offered the Christmas presents of the School to the students, who overjoyed thanked Him in return and promised to live up to the expectations of the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood.

From Secretariat-General

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On Wednesday morning, 29th December 2016/11th January 2017, the Mayor of Jerusalem, Mr. Nir Barkat with a team of approximately twenty of his associates visited the Patriarchate on the occasion of the Feast of Christmas and the New Year.

The Mayor and his entourage were received by H.H.B our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos with Hagiotaphite Fathers, among whom were the Patriarchal Vicar Most Reverend Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, Geronda Secretary-General Most Reverend Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina and Dragouman Archimandrite Mattheos. At his visit, the Mayor of Jerusalem expressed his wishes for the Feast of Christmas to His Beatitude and assured him that the Mayoralty is doing the best in its power for the peaceful and seamless co-existence for all Jerusalem citizens and the Christians of the Holy Land.

His Beatitude thanked the Mayor for his wishes and visit, as well as for his concern for Jerusalem and the Christian pilgrims, and added that the Patriarchate wishes the preservation of the religious and spiritual character of Jerusalem and the peaceful cohabitation of the members of the religious parties in it.

The Mayor offered sweets to His Beatitude, while the latter offered Mr. Barkat a china vase with Jerusalem portraitures.

From Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/M4cQsyOpgqc

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On Monday 27th December 2016/ 9th January 2017, the other Christian Communities visited the Patriarchate on the occasion of Christmas in the following order:

1. At 9:18am the monastic community of the Franciscans of the Holy Land visited the Patriarchate, a team of approximately fifty monks headed by their Hegoumen Fr. Francesco Paton.

 To their address to him, His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos answered in English as follows in the link below:https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2017/01/09/29042

2. At 10:00am the other Christian communities headed by their Leaders visited the Patriarchate, namely the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem, the Anglican Church, the Lutheran Church, the Coptic Church, the Ethiopian Church and other Christian teams with them. To their short addresses, His Beatitude answered as follows:https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2017/01/09/29038

3. At 11:00am the Armenian Church in Jerusalem visited the Patriarchate. To their address His Beatitude answered as follows in the link:https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2017/01/09/29035

4. At 11:30am the Apostolic Delegate visited the Patriarchate.

5. At noon the Orthodox Communities of the Patriarchate visited His Beatitude.

From Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/TGvq35CTL7Q

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On Thursday morning of 16th/29th December 2016, the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood headed by its Hegoumen His Beatitude and our Father the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, visited on the occasion of Christmas the Franciscan Friars where Hegoumen is Fr. Francesco Paton and the Latin Patriarchate where Patriarch is the former Custodian Pierbattista Pizzaballa.

To the Franciscan Friars His Beatitude gave the following speech in English, follow the link: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2016/12/29/28806

For the His Beatitude’s speech in English to the Latin Patriarchate follow the link: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2016/12/29/28800

From Secretarial General

On the afternoon of Wednesday, the 8^th/21^st of December 2016, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, visited the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in order to inspect restoration works carried out there, particularly on the northern side of the Narthex where, at the expenses of the Hieron Koinon, the Office and reception hall have been restored. His Beatitude was welcomed by the Patriarchal Commissioner in Bethlehem, Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan, and the city’s Police Director, Muhammad Abu Rub. His Beatitude was accompanied by Archbishop Theophylaktos along the restored sites, then addressed by the Chief of Palestinian Police, Hazim Atallah and Bethlehem’s Administrator, Ala Salabi. The Chief thanked the Patriarch for helping the police and pointed out their harmonious collaboration with Archbishop Theophylaktos for the good of the City, praising the work the latter carries out in Bethlehem with the Patriarch’s blessings.

Patriarch Theophilos, on His turn, thanked Mr Atallah and Mr Salabi for their collaboration with the Patriarchate and especially for the help they provide to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. He then praised the Archbishop of Jordan for his initiative to restore the site and wished that the Police continue to work earnestly for the safety of the Church and the service of the pilgrims but above all for safeguarding the rights amongst the three Communities.

Finally, His Beatitude expressed satisfaction for the installation of an absorbent candelabrum at St Nicholas Church, intended to keep the Church clean from candle smoke.

From the Secretariat-General

On Tuesday, the 7^th/20^th of December 2016, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, bestowed upon Mr Alexandros-Andreas Gennimatas, Consul at the Greek Embassy in Tel Aviv, the honorary distinction of Crusader of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, in recognition of his contribution to the rights and interests of the Patriarchate in the Holy Land.

Mr Gennimatas thanked His Beatitude for the honour conferred upon him and for His valuable suggestions and instructions on the relations between Greece and the Patriarchate during his diplomatic tenure. He also pledged to remain a herald for the Patriarchate’s pastoral, peacemaking and cultural work.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/_uVTvCCTpP4

On the morning of Monday, the 29^th of November/12^th of December 2016, the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Major General Yoav (Poli) Mordechai, accompanied by Israeli military men from the Bethlehem region, i.e. Mr Dani Zandler and Mr Kfir, and Mr Cesar Margie, responsible for the Division of Christian Affairs of the Israeli Ministry of Religious Affairs, visited the Patriarchate.

The Major General and his attendants were welcomed by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers.

During the visit, Mr Mordechai expressed his will to contribute to the preparations for a peaceful celebration of Christmas. His Beatitude extended thanks for facilitations provided to pilgrims and for permits issued by the Israeli army to members of the Arabic-speaking Communities of the Patriarchate from the occupied territories and to pilgrims from various Orthodox countries in order to reach Jerusalem, Bethlehem and the Jordan river for the Epiphany.

The ancient Monastery of St John the Baptist, by the Jordan river, has been renovated by the Patriarchate and awaits the approval of the Israeli army for electric power supply.

At the end of the meeting, Patriarch Theophilos offered Mr Mordechai a ceramic tray with a representation and a medal commemorating 2000 years of Christianity. Mr Morderchai offered the Patriarch an army medal.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/udUkhptj0oA