On the morning of Wednesday, the 10^th/23^rd of November 2016, His Excellency Mihalui Geza, the Hungarian ambassador to Ramallah, offered the amount of 100.000 to His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, as contribution from his country to the ongoing restoration project on the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre.

Extending warm thanks, His Beatitude offered the Ambassador wishes for prosperity in his country and the blessing of the All-holy and Life-giving Sepulchre.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/FszlIolBTT8

A.The meeting of H.B. the Patriarch of Jerusalem with H.H. the Patriarch of Moscow

Before moon on Saturday, the 6^th/19^th of November 2016, His Beatitude the Patriarch of Moscow and His Entourage met with His Holiness Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow who was accompanied by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Metropolitan Sergei, Protopresbyter Nikolai Balasov and other clerics. Patriarch Kyrill expressed joy over the meeting, the first after the 2013 Joint Liturgy on the anniversary of the Russian’s baptismal. “Such meetings” He said, “solidify our unity, in spite of occasional differences. We welcome you with great joy as the Patriarch of the Holy City and the Holy Land, sanctified by the footsteps of Christ our Saviour. We welcome you from the land from where the Apostles left to proclaim the teachings of Christ across the earth”.

His Beatitude Theophilos replied that the meeting is indeed a special joy and honour bestowed by the Patriarchate of Moscow on the occasion of Patriarch Kyrill’s birthday. “This is particularly important”, His Beatitude added, “not only for strengthening the ties between the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Church of Russia, but also for expressing the unity of the Church as a whole”.

The Russian people and the Russian Church have greatly benefitted the Holy Shrines, e.g. the Russian Church’s contribution, of 3.000.000 USD, to the restoration of the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem. “The renovation”, said Patriarch Theophilos, “was effected through the Palestinian Autonomy, because of disagreement between the three Communities” and He added: “We, on our behalf, will restore the Cavern with the Franciscans, aspiring to Your interest in the subvention of the project”.

We thank our Triadic God for this project and for the fact that pilgrims from Russia and Ukraine keep supporting the Holy Lands, said Patriarch Theophilos. “These pilgrims reinforce the Christian regime and the Christian character of Jerusalem”, He said.

Patriarch Theophilos went on to invite Patriarch Kyrill to visit the Holy Land on the completion of works on the Basilica of the Nativity and of the restoration project of the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre. He expressed joy over the recent visit of Prime Minister Medvedev and his interest in the restoration of the Holy Sepulchre.

On this subject, Patriarch Kyrill said He was recently informed by PM Medvedev that Russia will sponsor the renovation of the street that leads to the Basilica and of the forecourt of the Church.

Patriarch Kyrill also referred to a war of misinformation against the Church of Russia, that blames it for the absence of a total of four Churches from the Great Synod of Orthodoxy. Our absence, He said, was also due to strong critique against the text on the relation of the Orthodox Church with Christian Communities. “However”, Patriarch Kyrill said, “we are not negative against the Synod. Its approval by the consciousness of the Church will be proven in the future”, and He added: “We are looking forward to a future Pan-Orthodox Synod”.

Patriarch Kyrill also spoke of the crisis in Ukraine, a country “ruled by dictatorship that aims at destroying the Orthodox Church”, in His words.

In His response, Patriarch Theophilos said that the absence of the four Churches from the Great Synod had not damaged the unity of Orthodoxy, as the conference paved the way for a Pan-Orthodox Synod. With regards to the crisis in Ukraine, Patriarch Theophilos said that He recently met with the Ukrainian President at the Patriarchate where He stressed the need to restore church unity in the country before anything else.

On the occasion of the meeting, the two Patriarchs exchanged gifts.

On the evening of the same day, Patriarch Kyrill hosted all the Heads of the Orthodox Churches and their attendants to dinner.

There, Patriarch Theophilos delivered an address in English, see: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2016/11/19/27882

B. Joint Patriarchal Liturgy on the 70^th birthday of His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow

On the morning of Sunday, the 7^th/20^th of November 2016, a Joint Primatial Liturgy was held on the occasion of the 70^th birthday of Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow.

All Churches participated in the Joint Liturgy, namely: the Ecumenical Patriarchate, represented by Metropolitan Emmanuel of France; the Patriarchate of Alexandria, with Patriarch Theodoros; the Patriarchate of Antioch, with Metropolitan Nephon; the Patriarchate of Serbia, with Patriarch Irinej; the Patriarchate of Bulgaria in Western Europe, the Patriarchate of Georgia, represented by Patriarch Elias of Georgia; the Church of Cyprus with Archbishop Chrysostomos; the Church of Poland, the Church of Romania, the Church of Greece, the Church of Albania, and the Church of the Czech Republic.

The Joint Liturgy was headed by Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria and it expressed the Orthodox faith of all Orthodox Churches, in accordance with the Nicene Creed.

On the apolysis, Metropolitan Onouphrios of Ukraine read the message of Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow. Addresses then followed by other Churches, i.e. Metropolitan Emmanuel of France and representatives of the state of Russia.

During the lunch that followed, His Beatitude Theophilos addressed Patriarch Kyrill in English, see link: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2016/11/20/27885

On Sunday evening, His Beatitude left the Radisson hotel for Moscow airport, accompanied by Metropolitan Barsanuphius of Petersburg, Archbishop Tikhon of Austria-Hungary and Archimandrite Theophanes.

At the airport, the Patriarch and His attendants boarded a plane of Aeroflot airlines to land safely at Ben Gurion Airport around midnight.

From the Secretariat-General

On Friday the 18^th of November 2016, a Christmas Bazaar, supplemented by a performance featuring various local traditions, took place in the area between the Bishopric and the Cathedral of the Archbishopric of Qatar.

The event included Christmas songs by the Youth Choir of the Ukrainian Music School in Doha, the Mixed Choir of the Roman Catholic Church, children from Catechism School and the Mixed Choir of Romanians and Serbs.

Handmade Christmas ornaments, presents and objects of piety were made through the contribution of the Association of the Myrrh-Bearing Women [Myrophorae], the Youth Club and members of the flock. Also on offer was a large variety of eatables from the Arabic, Greek, Serbian, Romanian, Moldavian and Ukrainian cuisine, courtesy of various companies and ladies from the flock.

The event was honoured by the presence of the Ambassadors of Cyprus, Romania, Poland, Ukraine, Moldavia, and representatives of the Embassies of Greece, Georgia and Serbia in Qatar, as well as of other denominations in Doha.

The great crowd of Qatar Orthodox and members of other Christian Communities sealed the success of the event.

From the Holy Archbishopric of Qatar

On the night of Wednesday, the 27^th of October/9^th of November 3026, His Excellency the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev visited the Church of the Resurrection.

Mr Medvedev was welcomed in the Court of the Church by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem and Hagiotaphite Fathers, e.g. Metropolitan Isychios, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Archimandrite Mathew and others.

The Russian Prime Minister venerated at the Holy Apokathelosis, the Holy Sepulchre and Golgotha, accompanied by His Beatitude. Special emphasis was placed on the restoration works on the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre, still underway.

Later, at the Office of the Sacristan of the Church of the Resurrection, His Beatitude conferred on Mr Medvedev the title of Supreme Taxiarch of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre in recognition of his Orthodox faith, help and support of the Sites of Veneration and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

On his part, Mr Medvedev thanked Patriarch Theophilos, and offered Him a fine enamelled reliquary, whilst His Beatitude reciprocated with an icon of the Holy Sepulchre. An icon was also offered by Archbishop Isidoros of Hierapolis.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/Asgcv89VPas

On Thursday, the 21^st of October/3^rd of November 2016, the Central Meeting of the Democratic Group of Engineers (DIPAM) was held at the conference hall of the Technical Chamber of Greece in the presence of all representatives, headed by NTUA Professor, Ms Antonia Moropolou, coordinator of the restoration and conservation project now underway on the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre.

At the meeting, Ms Moropoulou referred to the meeting of the National Chamber in Athens and the two meetings held in Cyprus, in collaboration with the Technical Chambers of Greece and Cyprus, on the protection of cultural heritage; also, on the meeting held on 31 October 2016, on the protection of world cultural heritage. Professor Moropoulou spoke in favour of DIPAM’s position on the inclusion of religion within those factors and organizations assigned to preserve religious and non-religious cultural heritage and to protect religious monuments.

To demonstrate DIPAM’s position, Ms Moropoulou presented the current project of restoration and conservation of the Holy Sepulchre, the Holy Rock and the Aedicula built in 1810 by Kalfas Comnenus of Mytilene and all Rum Orthodox – in accordance with a study conducted by the NTUA Interdisciplinary Team and in agreement with the three Great Communities of Greek Orthodox, Franciscans and Armenians. The agreement does not only make the Aedicula a site of veneration and pilgrimage for Christians, but also a meeting point for adherents to other religions who will witness the spirit of peaceful religious coexistence and symbiosis.

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem is in favour of the aforementioned position of DIPAM, being the first receiver of the fruits of restoration works on the Holy Aedicula.

From the Secretariat-General

Between Sunday, the 17^th/30^th of October to Wednesday, the 20^th of October/2^nd of November 2016, the Heads of the Religious Communities in the state of Israel – Christian Churches, the Rabbinate of Israel, the Druze Religious Autonomy, Ahmadiyya Muslims and Baha’i – visited the Nazi concentration camps in Auschwitz and Birkenau, Poland, in collaboration with the Israeli Ministry of Religious Affairs, represented by Mr Yakub Solame and Mr Cesar Margiye.

The visit was organized in order to condemn the inhuman crimes of Nazi Germany during the years of World War II, 1940-1944, and as a token of support to millions of victims, mostly Jews, but also Polish, Russian, Slavs, Roma and others.

The heads of the religious communities and their attendants, toured by the Israeli Ministry’s guide, Ms Naame, and by the Auschwitz and Birkenau Museum guide, witnessed with their own eyes the macabre camps were innocent men, women and children were concentrated before being condemned either to forced labour, torture or death in the gas chambers and the crematoria. Horrible ways of dying demonstrated inhuman mechanisms of death, made by godless men, stripped of love and respect to their fellow beings.

On the end of a heartrending tour, participants laid a wreath in honour and commemoration of the victims, along with a dedicatory plaque that reads:

“Eternal be the memory of the victims of one and a half million of men, women, and children, mostly Jews and others, victims of the Nazi atrocities during World War II”.

The tour was followed by a meeting between participants in this initiative and political dignitaries of Poland, as well as religious dignitaries of the Roman Catholic Church of Poland.

At the meeting, His Beatitude Theophilos, accompanied by Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, addressed attendants in English, see link:

https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2016/11/02/27432

A declaration was then issued on behalf of the Council of Religious Community Leaders in Israel, condemning the crimes of Nazi atrocity and any violence persisting today in the Holy Land and across the earth, for the sake of a peaceful religious coexistence. The declaration can be read here:

https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2016/11/05/27436

On the conclusion of the visit, His Beatitude flew via Polish Airlines to Ben Gurion airport on the morning of Thursday.

From the Secretariat-General

On the evening of Friday, the 15^th/28^th of October 2016, the National Day of the 28^th of October 1940 was celebrated at the events halls of the Holy Sion Patriarchal Hieratical School.

His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, honoured the ceremony with His presence. He was accompanied by the Chairman of the School Board, Elder Sacristan, Archbishop Isidoros of Hierapolis, and the Acting Dragoman, Archimandrite Mathew; the Patriarchal Commissioner, Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Metropolitan Joachim of Zambia and other Hagiotaphite Fathers; the Greek Consul General to Jerusalem, Mr Christos Sofianopoulos, and members of the Greek Consulate; NTUA Professor, Ms Antonia Moropolou and members of the Greek parish.

The ceremony was organized by the Principal, Mr Nikolaos Souliotis, who opened the event with an address. Mr Andreas Demetriou, on behalf of the teaching staff, delivered the panegyric speech for the day.

In addition to the speeches, the programme of the event included an essay titled “The contribution of the Church to the struggle for liberation” by student Constantinos Stamou; a message by Archbishop Damascene of Athens on the occasion of the anniversary, songs, poems and the National Anthem.

The overall content of the programme conveyed the message of the self-sacrifice and unanimity of the Greek people, the bravery of our ancestors who fought during the period between 1940-1944 in order to support the “No” proclaimed by Metaxas, and rid the nation of the Italian and German occupation, allow it to live by the principles of its national and religious tradition, democracy and Orthodoxy, heal its wounds and create structures of life that touch on prosperity, fit for human life.

On the conclusion of the ceremony, Patriarch Theophilos and the Greek Consul praised teachers and students alike on paying tribute to the message of the day, a message of hope, resurrection and progress, made possible through our ancestors’ sacrifice and bravery.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/v0_lf2LEKRg

On the evening of Friday, the 8^th/21^st of October 2016, one of the meetings of the joint visit of Roman Catholic and Evangelist church officials to the Holy Land took place on the site of the historical hospital of the Lutheran Church in Jerusalem, on the Mount of Olives, on the occasion of the 500^th anniversary of Lutheran Reformation.

Invited to attend the meeting were the leaders and representatives of Churches in the Holy Land. The invitations were sent by Propst Wolfgang Schmidt of the Lutheran Church in Jerusalem.

At the meeting, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, addressed attendants in English, see link: http://www/jp-newsgate/en/2016/10/21/27030

From the Secretariat-General

On the afternoon of Friday, the 17^th/30^th of September 2016, the Ukrainian President, Mr Petro Poroshenko, accompanied by his country’s delegation to the funeral of former Israeli President, Shimon Peres, visited the Patriarchate.

His Excellency the Ukrainian President and his 25-member escort, including the Ukrainian Ambassador to Tel Aviv, Mr Hennadii Nadolenko, were welcomed by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers.

In the context of this visit, an interesting discussion took place on the recently observed feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross, having as participants visiting Prelates of Orthodox Churches and several pilgrims, many of whom hailed from Ukraine. Reference was also made to Jerusalem as a site of spiritual repose for pilgrims and to the need for unity in the Church, particularly the Church of Ukraine.

Mr Poroshenko expressed his appreciation of His Beatitude’s unifying stance and pointed out the importance of a future visit to Ukraine.

Also discussed was the recent meeting of the General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches in Amman, Jordan, hosted by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem; the Patriarch’s recent visit to Montenegro to attend the opening of the Church of St John Vladimir and the unifying role of the Orthodox Church for all Orthodox nations.

As a token of remembrance, the Patriarch offered the President an icon of the restored Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre, which Mr Poroshenko said will decorate his office. His Beatitude also offered a gold pectoral cross and Jerusalemite eulogias for all the members of his escort.

Then, accompanied by Patriarch Theophilos and Hagiotaphite Fathers, Mr Poroshenko walked to the Church of the Resurrection where he venerated before observing the restoration works underway on the Holy Aedicula.

The Ukrainian President was then welcomed by the Assistant Sacristan, Archimandrite Polycarpos, to the Office of the Church of the Resurrection, where he venerated the holy relics and the Cross, as blessing for his arduous and significant work in his country of origin.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/yQ3kq78qimg

On the morning of Wednesday, the 7^th/20^th of September 2016, Ms Lena Karrer visited the Patriarchate.

Ms Karrer is the daughter of the late Lukas Karrer, Mayor of the island of Zakynthos during World War II. Mayor Karrer, in collaboration with the ever-memorable Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Zakynthos, helped 275 members of the Jewish Community of Zakynthos flee to the countryside, giving the Nazis a list of merely two names – of himself and the Metropolitan – which led to the saving of the island’s entire Jewish Community. In 1978, the “Yad Vashem” Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority honoured the late Mayor Lukas Karrer and Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Zakynthos with the “Righteous Among the Nations” title.

Ms Lena Karrer, accompanied by Ms Ruth Zakh, representative of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was welcomed by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem. The Patriarch expressed His appreciation of the Mayor and the Metropolitan, whilst Ms Karrer extended her gratitude to the Greek State and Church for the rescue of the Jewish Community of Zakynthos through the heroism of these two distinguished men.

During the meeting, His Beatitude offered Ms Karrer a crucifix and icon of Theotokos Jerusalemite and of the Holy Sepulchre, and a medal commemorating 2000 years of Christianity. A commemorative medal was also offered to Ms Zakh.

From the Secretariat-General