On Tuesday, the 18th of November/1st of December 2015, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, blessed the frock of novice Alexandros, serving for some time at Sts Constantine and Helen Church and at the Central Cookery, and wished that he honour the cloth through honesty in his life and diaconate.
From the Secretariat-General
On Monday, the 17th/30th of November 2015, a three-member Hieratic Delegation from the Ethiopian Church in Jerusalem visited the Patriarchate.
The Delegation was welcomed by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Discussed at the meeting was the problem caused by the gathering of Ethiopian faithful in front of their chapel in the area of the Holy Court of the Church of the Resurrection, which is in breach of the status quo for religious veneration.
His Beatitude suggested the Ethiopian Delegation ways in which to avoid overcrowding caused by the chapel’s narrowness, which stands on the way to the monastery of the Copts.
From the Secretariat-General
On Monday, the 17th/30th of November 2015, the Board of Commissioners of the Greek Orthodox Arabic-speaking Community of the Village of the Shepherds or Beit Sahour, visited Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem to ask that f. Georgios Banoura, hailing from Beit Sahour, return to serve his town, having served for two years in Birzet.
Patriarch Theophilos told commissioners that once a priest becomes available to serve the Community of Birzet, then, in accordance with the relevant decision by the Holy and Sacred Synod, f. Georgios will return to the flock of Beit Sahour.
From the Secretariat-General
httpv://youtu.be/qQiNNnCU2nE
On Wednesday the 12th/25th of November 2015, the Russian Ambassador to Israel, Mr Alexander Shein, visited the Patriarchate. He was welcomed by Patriarch Theophilos and Hagiotaphite Fathers.
An interesting discussion took place in the context of the meeting, on the position of the Patriarchate in the Holy Land, its natural, proprietary, venerating and cultural heritage, and on the harmonious relations it maintains with the Patriarchate of Moscow, especially in modern years. Reference was also made to the Monasteries of the Patriarchate of Moscow within the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Mr Shein and the Patriarch also pointed out the need to unite the Church and the state’s peace-making forces in order to fight incidents of atrocious violence that cost the lives of the innocent.
After the exchange of gifts, the Patriarch wished the Russian Ambassador a successful tenure to the benefit of his country and of Christians in the Holy Land.
From the Secretariat-General
httpv://youtu.be/RsXhe73qZS4
On Monday, the 10th/23rd of November 2015, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of the hegoumen of Mount Tabor Monastery, Archimandrite Hilarion, awarded the pectoral blessing cross to father Panteleimon, Steward and former vicar at the Shrine of Madeba, now vicar in the Church of Hilda. Also present was the Most Reverend Benedict, Metropolitan of Philadelphia. The Patriarch also awarded a pectoral blessing cross to Steward f. Salem-Irineos, vicar in Abdali, and Steward f. Abdullah Hamarne, vicar in Hashmi.
Touched, the honoured priests thanked His Beatitude, assuring Him they would do their utmost to serve their parishes in a Christian and constructive manner.
From the Secretariat-General
On Wednesday, the 5th/18th of November 2015, at noon, the new Consul-General of the United States to Jerusalem, Mr Donald Blome, visited the Patriarchate. He was accompanied by associates of his.
The new Consul-General was welcomed by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers.
An interesting discussion took place in the context of the visit on the position of Christians in the Holy Land, on their number and immigration, as well as on the refugees and the need to offer financial assistance to Christians in Christian minority schools. Reference was made on the importance placed by the Patriarchate on education and the schools it maintains in Jerusalem, the Village of the Shepherds, Ramallah, Joppa and Remli in Israel, and in Amman, Fhes, Madeba in Jordan.
Also discussed at the meeting was the unruly political situation in Israel and the Palestinian Autonomy as well as the conciliatory and peace-making role undertaken by the Patriarchate in its capacity as guard and keeper of the Holy Shrines, protector of its flock and all Christians in the Holy Land.
The Consul-General of the United States said how much he appreciated the work performed by the Patriarchate and expressed his will for cooperation and support.
From the Secretariat-General
httpv://youtu.be/s085QSKNTbA
On Wednesday, the 5th/18th of November 2015, a group of Greek journalists on a visit to Israel’s Foreign Ministry visited the Patriarchate after venerating at the Church of the Resurrection and the Holy Sepulcher.
They were welcomed by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, who went on to talk to them about the unstable situation in the Middle East, the refugee problem, and the position of Orthodox Christians in the region, before answering questions on theological matters.
On the conclusion of the meeting, His Beatitude offered guests an icon of Panagia Jerusalemite and other Jerusalemite eulogias.
From the Secretariat-General
httpv://youtu.be/IMf41fHlXoA
On Thursday the 30th of October/12th of November 2015, a group of 30 Greek pilgrims from the island of Thera and Ioannina, led by the Most Reverend Epiphanios, Metropolitan of Thera, Amorgos and Islands, visited the Patriarchate. They were accompanied by Archimandrite Christoforos Karamolengos.
The pilgrims were warmly welcomed by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers and the Hegoumen of the Monastery of Chozeba, Archimandrite Constantinos. At the meeting, the Patriarch spoke of the significance of the pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the continuous presence of the Greek parish there since the establishment of the first Apostolic Church of Jerusalem to the present day, the operation of the Highest Theological School of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem and the visits of numerous Greek pilgrims in spite of their country’s adverse situation.
The Metropolitan and accompanying priests thanked His Beatitude for meeting with them and asked for His permission to officiate at Golgotha, the All-holy and Life-giving Sepulcher and the Holy Monastery of Chozeba, to which Metropolitan Epiphanios offered an exact replica of the Holy Icon of Theotokos of Chozeba, the “Hozoviotissa”.
Gifts of love were also offered to His Beatitude, which He reciprocated by offering the Most Reverend Metropolitan an engolpion of mother-of-pearl, an icon of Theotokos Jerusalemite and the “History of the Church of Jerusalem” edition. Eulogias were also offered to all pilgrims.
From the Secretariat-General
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDOvgLUp9dQ
On Wednesday, the 19th of October/10th of November 2015, a delegation of the Hellenic Coast Guard and the Hellenic Police/Anti-terrorist Service, accompanied by Mr Vasileios Koinis, representing the Greek Consulate-General to Jerusalem, visited the Patriarchate.
The Police delegation, headed by Major General Antonios Bakas, consisted of Mr Eleftherios Chardalias, Ms Zacharenia Makri and Mr Nikolaos Zapaniotis. The Coast Guard delegation, headed by Rear Admiral Nikolaos Patrinos, consisted of Mr Georgios Seferiades, Mr Georgios Koulikas and Mr Argyrios Markopoulos.
Guests were warmly welcomed by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers. In the context of the meeting, the Patriarch referred to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem as the oldest religious institution in the Holy Land, its significance and role there, as well as its religious property, its substantial mediating role for the preservation of the status quo in the Holy City of Jerusalem, its religious character in particular.
On the occasion of the meeting, His Beatitude offered guests Jerusalemite eulogias and the “History of the Church of Jerusalem” edition. On their part, visitors extended thanks for the constructive information, and offered the Patriarch gifts of their love before going on to venerate at the All-holy Church of the Resurrection.
From the Secretariat-General
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjRMIuBfGm8
On the morning of Friday, the 24th of October/6th of November 2015, Greek University Rectors visited the Patriarchate, accompanied by the representative of the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Consul Vasileios Koinis.
The Rectors were: Mr Nikos Mylonas of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mr Constantinos Gatsios of the Athens University of Economics, Mr Pericles Mitkas of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Mr Achilleas Zapranis of the University of Macedonia, Mr Nikolaos Kanellopoulos of the Democritus National Centre for Scientific Research, Mr Vasileios Digalakis of the Technical University of Crete and Mr Spyridon Anastasiades of the Institute of Technology and Research.
The distinguished Rectors were warmly welcomed by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers. At the meeting, the Patriarch talked of the Patriarchate’s position in the Holy Land through times, especially of its peace-making and balancing role in the political instability of the relation between Israelis and Palestinians, even in Jerusalem. He also referred to the preservation of the city’s status quo and indelible religious character.
The Rectors thanked His Beatitude for His words and presents and went on to ask for His blessing before carrying on a pilgrimage to the Holy Sepulcher and the other Shrines.
From the Secretariat-General
httpv://youtu.be/vxXu_mlg1TE