On Tuesday, the 10^th/23^rd of August 2016, the new Ambassador of Greece to Israel, Mr Constantinos Bikas, visited the Patriarchate on the occasion of assuming his new duties.

The Ambassador was welcomed by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers.

In the context of this inaugural visit, Mr Bikas expressed joy over starting his tenure from the Patriarchate, which he appreciates and respects as a very ancient Christian institution in the Holy Land that performs remarkable religious, cultural and pacifying work.

In His reply, the Patriarch informed the Ambassador on the present-day political situation in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, with a political solution being as yet unattainable; He also referred to the Patriarchate’s struggle, by means of religious weapons, to calm tempers and create a climate of political dialogue, aimed at a viable solution that, if possible, would satisfy the rights and demands of both political sides.

Finally, Ambassador Bikas thanked His Beatitude for bringing him up-to-date and expressed a strong desire to collaborate with the Patriarchate. Patriarch Theophilos wished the Ambassador a fruitful tenure to the benefit of the Church and the Greek nation.

From the Secretariat-General

On Saturday, the 7^th/20^th of August 2016, a group consisting of 200 members of the Hellenic Navy, headed by the Defence Attaché of the Greek Embassy in Israel, Mr V. Broumas, visited the Patriarchate.

The group was welcomed by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers.

The Captain and crew of the Hellenic Navy delegation received His Beatitude’s blessings and invited Him to visit their frigate in Haifa, either in person or by proxy.

They went on to visit the Holy Sepulchre in order to receive the power of the Resurrected Christ for their patriotic service and to observe restoration works now underway on the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre.

From the Secretariat-General

On the morning of Saturday, the 24^th of July/6^th of August 2016, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, commenced His already announced visit to the Agion Oros.

The Patriarch was accompanied by the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, the Secretary of the Holy Synod, Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda, Archbishop Nektarios of Anthedon, the Exarch in Athens, Archimandrite Damianos, Hierodeacon Markos, and Mr Theodoros Yiangou, Professor in the Faculty of Theology at the Aristotle University of Salonika.

In the early hours of the aforementioned day, His Beatitude left from Salonika for Ouranopolis and from there, at 9:30 am, He sailed for the port of Daphne. Upon His arrival, He was welcomed by the representatives of the Xeropotamos and Simonos Petras Monasteries, fathers Paul and Ieronymos respectively.

From Daphne the Patriarch left for Karies, where He was welcomed by the four representatives of the Holy Epistasia, the Executive Committee of Mount Athos. At the entrance to the church of the Dormition of Theotokos, Patriarch Theophilos was welcomed by representatives of all twenty monasteries on Mount Athos.

There, His Beatitude put on a mantle and venerated the Gospel, as cantors of the Monasteries of Vatopedi and Simonos Petras sang the “Axion Esti”.

After venerating the icon of Theotokos’ Axion Esti, the Patriarch led Doxology.

The President of the Community of Mount Athos, representative of the Vatopedi Monastery, f. Barnabas, then addressed Patriarch Theophilos, and was followed by the Patriarch’s reply speech.

In His address, the Patriarch spoke of the beneficial and salvaging work carried on by the Church of Jerusalem through the centuries. “With the help and protection of great emperors, e.g. St Constantine and his mother, St Helena, Theodosius the Great, Justinian and others, the Pan-Orthodox and Pan-Christian holy site, the fulcrum of our faith, the Church of the Resurrection and the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, was first built, followed by Monasteries, Cenobia and Lavrae”. In these sites of veneration, Patriarch Theophilos said, the Church of Jerusalem attests to this day, among heterodox and followers of other religions, to the synergy of Christ’s two natures, the divine and the human, in a single hypostasis, according to the Christological doctrine of the Fourth Ecumenical Synod in Chalcedon. In closing, His Beatitude asked for a renewal and strengthening of the spiritual ties between the Agion Oros and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, so that Fathers from Mount Athos may be informed of the Patriarchate’s work and that Hagiotaphite Fathers can visit Mount Athos and learn of the cenobitic and ascetic way of life.

After the exchange of gifts, His Beatitude was addressed by the hegumen of the Monastery of Stavronikitas, Hieromonk Nathaniel. In replying, the Patriarch spoke of the inextricable ties between the Mother of Churches and Mount Athos, expressed through the flow of history by monks of Jerusalem and Mount Athos, joined by their ascetic traditions. The ecumenical ascetic figures of the Holy Land, the Patriarch said, cultivated an infertile land with their virtues and stand to this day as role models for the Fathers of Mount Athos too. “The continuous immigration of monks between these two spiritual centres […] and above all the unparalleled contribution of both these sanctified and spiritual sites towards the formulation of Orthodox worship […] shortened distances and joined the spirits and hearts of Mount Athites and Jerusalemites”, the Patriarch remarked.

From Karies, the Patriarch returned to Daphne and from there He sailed for the Holy Skete of St Anna. There, He was warmly welcomed by Hieromonk Ioannis, hegumen of the cell of the Dormition of Theotokos, and others.

In the evening, the Patriarch walked to the katholikon of St Anna Skete, where He was addressed by the hegumen of the Monastery of the Great Lavra, Hieromonk Prodromos.

The Patriarch went on to lead the night-long vigil for the feast of the Dormition of St Anna, having as co-officiants Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina, Demetrios of Lydda, Nektarios of Anthedon and a plethora of Hieromonks, Mount Athites and the Exarch in Athens, Archbishop Damianos. Monks and pilgrims, numbering approximately 500, attended the vigil.

The divine Liturgy was indeed a communion of heaven and earth, a descent of heaven to earth and rise of the earth to heaven; rise of the congregation to the kingdom of God, that was given to earth through the Incarnate, Crucified and Resurrected Jesus Christ.

The divine Liturgy was followed by lunch, during which His Beatitude addressed the hegumen of the Great Lavra, commemorating the life of the barren St Anna who neither despaired nor stopped praying to God and was therefore rewarded with a great gift, the ever-Virgin Mary who would go on to bear the Incarnate Jesus Christ.  Likewise, the Patriarch said, we pray to God to allow us to bear the Orthodox testimony in the Holy Land and “to complete the already launched project for the restoration of the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre for the glory of God and the praise of the blessed race of the Rum Orthodox”.

From the Secretariat-General

At noon of Tuesday, the 20^th of July/2^nd of August 2016, the Greek Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Demetrios Mardas, accompanied by the new Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Christos Sofianopoulos, Consul Vasileios Koinis, and associates of his, visited the Patriarchate.

Deputy Minister Mardas and his entourage were welcomed by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Patriarchal Commissioner, Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, the Elder Secretary-General, the Assistant Dragoman and other Hagiotaphite Fathers.

In the context of the visit, an interesting discussion took place on the Monastery of the Prophet Elias and the significance of the region where the Prophet’s memory was recently observed. Reference was also made to the importance of the Holy Sites of Veneration and the protection of Christians in the Holy Land.

The Patriarchate’s mediation for the resolution of veneration and intercommunal problems in Jerusalem was also pointed out.

On this occasion, Patriarch Theophilos informed the Deputy Minister of restoration works on the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre, now underway according to the study conducted by the Nationtal Technical University of Athens and coordinated by Professor A. Moropoulou.

As a token of remembrance, His Beatitude offered Mr Mardas an icon of the Nativity of Christ, and received a medal shaped after an “olkas” sail ship.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/VxvcHfRjfQU

On Thursday, the 15^th/28^th of July 2016, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, visited the Acropolis of Lindos in Rhodes. Toured on the site, the Patriarch admired the ancient Temple dated to the Classical Period, and the Byzantine Church, both restored from the ruins, as well as the entire citadel, surrounded by a wall dated to the Venetian period. From the top of the site, His Beatitude enjoyed the serene, wonderful view to the South and the small port where Paul, the Apostle of the Nations, had anchored.

The site abounded with numerous visitors, either on foot or riding donkeys. At the foothills of the Acropolis, His Beatitude was keen to observe handiwork made by the residents of the local settlement. At the settlement, accompanied by Metropolitan Kyrillos of Rhodes, Patriarch Theophilos visited the small underground chapel of St George “Chostos” and the beautiful Church of the Dormition of Theotokos, dated to the 17^th c. The entire church is covered by wall-paintings. Adjacent to it is a museum of ecclesiastical items.

At noon of the same day, His Beatitude, accompanied by Metropolitan Kyrillos, left Rhodes for Athens by airplane. From Athens he boarded a flight of Aegean Airlines and arrived safely in Tel Aviv and from there to Jerusalem, praising God for His visit to Rhodes, which is expected to contribute to the promotion and success of the restoration of the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre, already underway.

From the Secretariat-General

On Wednesday, the 14^th/27^th of July 2016, H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Hierodeacon Markos, Professor A. Moropoulou of the NTUA, the former Ambassador of Greece to Jordan, and then to Lithuania, M. H. Asteriades, visited the island of Simi by ship.

There, the Patriarch visited the holy site of the Archangel-Panormites, where He was warmly welcomed by the clerics of the Bishopric of Simi and a crowd of pilgrims praying for the Archangel’s help and protection. After venerating, His Beatitude and Entourage prayed to the Archangel for the success of restoration works on the Holy Aedicula, now underway.

They then admired the wall-painting in 17^th c. Cretan style and the tokens of gratitude brought by those helped by the Archangel. They went on to visit the Ecclesiastical Museum, rich in ecclesiastical exhibits.

Around noon, the Patriarch visited the “Aigialos” beach, where he was courteously hosted to lunch by Professor Moropoulou, the Mayor and the hospitable inhabitants of Simi.

On the evening of the same day, His Beatitude sat at dinner hosted in His honour by the Rhodes Association of Hoteliers and their President, Mr Antonios Kambourakis.

From the Secretariat-General

On Tuesday, the 13^th/26^th of July 2016, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, aiming to promote the restoration works underway on the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre, with the agreement of the Franciscan Order, visited Santa Maria-Dormition of Theotokos Church in Rhodes. There, the Patriarch and His Entourage were warmly welcomed by the Franciscan Order’s representative, f. Loukas and his associates.

During the meeting, the Patriarch and f. Loukas stressed the need for collaboration amongst Churches against incidents of violence throughout the Middle East region. The need to complete restoration works on the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre was also pointed out, for the peace, hope and joy of pilgrims across the world.

Subsequently, His Beatitude, accompanied by Ms Moropoulou, visited the Venetian and Byzantine “Palace of the Magister” and the Byzantine and Venetian Church of Panagia at the Castle, the Metropolitan Church of the Annunciation and the Town Hall.

There, Patriarch Theophilos was warmly welcomed by Mayor F. Hatzidiakos and the Municipal Council. During their addresses, both His Beatitude and the Mayor stressed the ties between the Rhodians and the Holy Sepulchre, evident on the banner of the Holy Sepulchre kept at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Theotokos together with banners of other Churches since 1963. This particular banner was used by the inhabitants of Symi during the launch of the 1821 Greek Revolution.

On the afternoon of the same day, His Beatitude met with Metropolitan Kyrillos of Rhodes at the Bishopric Palace, as well as with the Mayor and other personalities of the island.

From the Secretariat-General

On Tuesday, the 6^th/19^th of July 2016, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, received ten graduates of St Demetrios School who have excelled academically, from the towns of Taybeh, Remli and Ramallah.

The graduates were accompanied by the Principal, Mr Samir Zananiri, in the presence of Archimandrite Ieronymos, responsible for the Patriarchate’s Schools in Israel and Jordan, and teacher Fadi Abdelnour.

His Beatitude warmly congratulated the graduates and pledged that the Patriarchate will help them pursue further studies by means of scholarships.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/9zpPxB7LKjc

On Sunday, the 20^th of June/3^rd of July 2016, a group of seventy pilgrims from the Holy Bishopric of Hierapytna and Sitia of the Church of Crete visited the Patriarchate. They were headed by the Most Reverend Metropolitan Evgenios. Clerics and pious pilgrims were warmly welcomed by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers. His Beatitude spoke of the Church as the Body of Christ where its members gather, and also of the Church of Jerusalem, the first “to receive atonement through the Resurrection”.

His Beatitude thanked the Most Reverend Evgenios, Metropolitan of Hierapytna, for leading the pilgrimage which benefits pilgrims and the Patriarchate alike.

Metropolitan Evgenios extended thanks for the divine Liturgy held the previous night at the Holy Sepulchre, a source of strength, light, bliss and salvation, and went on to underline His Beatitude’s contribution to the deliberations of the recently held Great Synod of Orthodoxy.

In the same context, the Patriarch referred to the Patriarchal School, preparing Hagiotaphite Fathers, and asked Metropolitan Evgenios to inform children of a higher calling from his Bishopric of the School’s mission.

Finally, the pilgrims asked for the Patriarch’s blessings and continued their pilgrimage.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/qx-_XBEmp00

On Saturday, the 12^th/25^th of June 2016, after the divine Liturgy held in Albanian by the Church of Albania at the Monastery of Gonia, the Holy and Great Synod, during a closed meeting, dealt with the completion of the text entitled “The relations of the Orthodox Church with the rest of the Christian world”, which it had also discussed on the previous day. After long deliberations, the Synod reached an agreement and submitted the text to the Secretariat for amendment and signing.

During the same meeting, the Synod ratified the text to serve as its “Circular” along with the “Brief Message”, after the contribution of His Beatitude Anastasios, Archbishop of Albania. The brief text will be read tomorrow during the Joint Patriarchal Liturgy at St Paul’s Church of the Bishopric of Kydonia and Apokoronos. On the evening of the same day, in the presence of King Simeon of Bulgaria and the Observers of the other Christian Churches and Organisations, the closing of the proceedings took place in the presence, of course, of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Heads of the Autocephalous Orthodox Churches and their accompanying Hierarchs and advisors.

On the evening, a cultural event was performed by the Order of St Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America, at the Nautical Museum of Chania.

 From the Secretariat-General