Jerusalem, November 6, 2023

Her Excellency Mrs Rita Herenescar, the Representative of Hungary in Ramallah, accompanied by her deputy, paid a visit today to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem where she was received by H.B. Theophilos III, the Patriarch of Jerusalem. The meeting emphasized the importance of cooperation to solidify humanitarian efforts in Gaza.

As Hungary’s newly appointed representative in Ramallah, H.E. Ms. Herenescar expressed her pleasure by the meeting and extended an invitation to His Beatitude to visit Hungary.

During the meeting, H.E. Ms. Herenescar conveyed her sympathy for the innocent victims of the war in Gaza and the unfortunate casualties of the Monastery of Saint Porphyrios, the Orthodox Cultural Centre, and the Anglican Church hospital. His Beatitude emphasized that various churches had called for an end to the war and prayed for peace and enlightenment among the governing authorities. He added that a special memorial service was held for the war victims at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Highlighting coexistence between different faiths, His Beatitude mentioned the town of Burkin, where Muslims and Christians live harmoniously around a holy site associated with the therapy of the ten lepers. He underlined Jerusalem’s role as a multi-religious, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural city. This spirit of coexistence, as per the Caliph Omar bin Khattab’s agreement with Patriarch Sophronios, also extends to Gaza and other parts of Palestinian territory.

His Beatitude affirmed that the churches of the Holy Land stand united in their commitment to the values of the Bible, opposition to antisemitism and islamophobia, and work tirelessly for the promotion of peace and coexistence. He also expressed gratitude for Hungary’s support in renovating the Sacred Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre a few years ago.

His Beatitude also noted the severe economic challenges facing the region. The absence of pilgrims and tourists on Jerusalem’s streets and disrupted communication between Jerusalem and Palestinian Autonomy towns have added to the economic woes as a result of the war on Gaza.

His Beatitude requested that H.E. Ms. Herenescar convey His gratitude to the President of Hungary, whom he had met during his last visit. During that visit, he had admired Saint Stephen’s Church and acknowledged the Byzantine architectural influence on Hungarian buildings. He expressed his consideration of the invitation to visit Hungary again when the time is right and extended thanks for the scholarships Hungary provides to students of the congregation.

His Beatitude emphasized His Christian commitment to keeping churches open as sanctuaries for all people in Gaza. Assuring that the Christian faith in the Cross and resurrection of Christ remains unwavering, even in the shadow of hostilities and economic hardships.

From Secretariat-General

On the evening of Saturday, October 15/28, 2023, a school event took place at the Patriarchal School of Holy Zion in honour of the national anniversary of October 28, 1940.

This event was honoured by the presence of H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, the Chairman of the School Board, His Eminence Archbishop Isidoros of Hierapolis, the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem, Mr Dimitrios Angelosopoulos, Holy Sepulchre Bishops and Fathers, monks and nuns and members of the Greek parish.

The program of the event included a foreword by the Managing Director of the School, Elder Dragoman Archimandrite Mattheos Siopis, the speech of the day by the teacher Mrs Sarantidou Anna, and recitation of poems, singing of songs and acting in short plays by the students.

Through all these, the struggles of our Greek ancestors, worthy descendants of our Ancient, Byzantine, and those of 1821, against the Italian invasion and the Nazi and German occupation and their liberation at the end of the Second World War came to the fore.

The competitiveness of the Greeks in all regions of the Greek Empire, despite the victims of the struggle, dealt serious blows to the conquered, delayed their expansion towards Russia, and contributed the most to their crushing under the Great Powers.

The celebration ended with the reminder of our “debt” to the fighters of 1940.

His Beatitude and the Consul General thanked the Managing Director of the School, the teachers, and the students for the fact that through the actions of those presented on stage and screen, they transported us all to the battlefields of 1940 when the fighting spirit of the Greeks triumphed.

From the General Secretariat

Jerusalem, The Holy Land

27 October 2023

The Consul General of France in Jerusalem, Mr Nikolaos Kassianidis, extended his respects to His Beatitude, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III in a visit to the Patriarchate this morning.

Mr. Kassianidis expressed his gratitude to His Beatitude for sparing his valuable time. He emphasized that this visit marked the inception of his tenure in Jerusalem, with the primary objective of gaining insights from the Patriarch on how the Patriarchate navigates the multifaceted challenges and difficulties faced by the churches in the Holy Land amidst the ongoing state of conflict.

The Patriarch, in response, conveyed that the Patriarchate stands as the oldest religious institution in the Holy Land, steadfastly dedicated to fostering reconciliation and peaceful coexistence among all residents of the region, irrespective of their religious or ethnic backgrounds. The core mission of the Patriarchate is to ensure accessibility to the Holy Places without any discrimination.

One notable aspect of this mission, His Beatitude added,  is the cultivation of religious coexistence through educational institutions, where Christian and Muslim students study side by side, embracing diversity as a strength.

The Patriarch of Jerusalem stressed “The ongoing commitment of the churches in maintaining the Status Quo in the Holy Land, particularly in the Old City of Jerusalem”. His Beatitude drew attention to the airstrike at the Christian Shrine of the Patriarchate in Gaza, exemplifying the unwavering determination of Archbishop Alexios, who, amidst challenges, vowed to protect the church. The conversation also delved into the tragic strike at the Anglican hospital in Gaza, resulting in the loss of 470 lives.

Further discussions highlighted the persistent challenges that the Patriarchate faces, including encounters with radical Israelis at the property on Mount Zion. His Beatitude stressed that a viable solution to the complex political issues could be realized through a profound consideration of the role of religion.

It was reiterated that the Patriarchate, as an autocephalous Church and decision-making authority, maintains its autonomy and does not rely on external parties for statements or decisions. His Beatitude stressed that collaboration with other churches is pursued, with a commitment to preserving the Status Quo, guided by the Custodianship of His Majesty, the King of Jordan, over holy sites.

His Beatitude explained that the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem extends across Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Qatar and that its collaboration with other churches and the Kingdom of Jordan is grounded in an ancient agreement dating back to AD 637 between the second Caliph Omar ibn Al-Khattab and the then Patriarch of Jerusalem, Sophronios. This historical accord underscores the commitment to harmony and coexistence that continues to shape the Patriarchate’s mission in the modern era.

From Secretariat-General

On Friday, October 14/27, 2023, His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos awarded the representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate to the Russian Spiritual Mission (MISSIA) in Jerusalem an honorary distinction for the completion of their fruitful ministry.

The Head of the Russian Mission, Reverend Archimandrite Alexander Elisov, was awarded the order of the Cross-bearer of the Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Deputy Head Archimandrite Dometianos the medal of the small Cross-bearer of the same Order.

Presenting them with the medals, His Beatitude said that this honorary distinction is awarded to Archimandrite Alexander for his kind cooperation with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in matters concerning its relations with the Patriarchate of Moscow, as well as Archimandrite  Dometianos for his devotion and effective cooperation with Archimandrite Alexander. Archimandrite Dometianos was praised for his care in cooperation with the conservator from Cyprus Mr Stavros Andreou as well as the conservators and a donor from Russia for the maintenance of the chandeliers of the Church of the Resurrection and the icons of the Art Gallery and the Museum of the Patriarchate.

 Archimandrite Alexander thanked His Beatitude for the Patriarchal love and support in his work and for the always hospitable reception of the Bishops, Priests and numerous pilgrims of the Moscow Patriarchate and pledged to become a messenger of this experience to the Moscow Patriarchate, in which he will continue his ministry.

From the General Secretariat

On the morning of Friday, September 23 / October 6, 2023, the International Commission for Dialogue between the Anglican Community and the Orthodox Church visited the Patriarchate, convened in Jerusalem at the invitation of Mr. Hosam Naoum, Anglican Archbishop,. Jerusalem and St. Georges Cathedral Close’ in Jerusalem from October 5 to 12, 2023.

Anglican Churches from various countries, Orthodox Patriarchates and Orthodox Churches participate in this dialogue, as is evident from the list posted here:

Orthodox members

Co-Chair:

Ecumenical Patriarchate Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium

Co-Secretary:

Rev. Dr Christos B. Christakis

Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation

Greek Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa:

Metropolitan Serafim Kykkotis Archbishop of

Zimbabwe & Angola

Patriarchate of Antioch: Fr. Jonathan Hemmings

Patriarchate of Jerusalem: V. Rev. Dr. George Dragas

The Anglican members

Canada: The Revd Canon Philip Hobson OGS

England: The Rt Revd Graham Usher, The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce

Wales: The Very Revd Dr Sarah Rowland Jones

USA: The Revd Dr Christopher Beeley

 Jerusalem & The Middle East: The Rt Revd Michael Lewis,

The Most Revd Hosam E. Naoum

Brazil: The Rt Revd Dr Humberto Maiztegui Gonçalves

Southern Africa: The Revd Gcebile Phumzile Gina

Australia: The Rt Revd Dr Phillip Aspinall

Sri Lanka: The Revd Marc Billimoria

Archbishop of Canterbury’s Representative

The co-chairs of the Dialogue are from the Orthodox side His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and from the Anglicans side the Most Reverend Michael Lewis.

The plenary session of the Committee was warmly received by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos Who addressed them and emphasized the contribution of this dialogue, which has been ongoing for years, for the Theological mutual understanding and approach between the respective Churches on the basis of the Holy Bible and the Fathers of the Church.

To his words, the Presidents of the Orthodox and Anglican Committees responded with gratitude for the warm welcome and thorough theological address of His Beatitude, giving a Christian witness to a world “of disorder, wars, crimes of violence against children and injustices against the innocent.

The Co-President of the Anglican Church expressed his joy that it is witnessed that the Christian Churches are not fighting each other as in the past, but are harmoniously cooperating for a Christian witness under the wise guidance of His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos. His Beatitude referred in particular to the difficult task of renovating the Sacred Edicule, when the energy and unifying power of the Life-giving Tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ was seen not only by the leaders but also by the members of all the Christian Churches.

After the blessing of His Beatitude, the members of the assembly left for veneration to the Holy Sepulchre to ask for the illuminating power of the Crucified and Risen Christ for their work during these days.

From Secretariat–General

https://jerusalem-patriarchate.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023_10_07_18_05_27.pdf

Today, Tuesday, October 3, 2023, His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos received the Head of the EU Representation Office to West Bank & Gaza Strip, Mr Alexandre Stutzmann with the Heads of Churches and their representatives.

In this meeting, His Beatitude said that the Churches in the Holy Land aim to promote reconciliation and peace, the Holy Places should be accessible to all, and efforts must be fortified to protect the Christians from the attacks of radical Israeli elements. His Beatitude also emphasised that the Churches are effectively cooperating among themselves and are steadfast in their struggle to keep the Status Quo of the Old City of Jerusalem unchanged.

The Patriarch also referred to his recent visit to His Holiness Pope Francis in the Vatican and joined the events of elevating the Latin Patriarch Pierrrebatista Pizzaballa to the Sacred College of Cardinals.

Mr Stutzmann expressed his appreciation for the work of the Churches and said he feels at home in the Patriarchate. He also said that he happened to be present in incidents when Christians were spat on by radical Israeli groups. He noted also that the European Union is not a religious institution but it has Christian roots, because, he said, “our fathers were Christian democrats”. He expressed his commitment to be in sympathy and support of the Christian communities and in support of the religious and cultural heritage in the Holy Land; “we as politicians shouldn’t forget the role of religion in the solution of difficult problems”.

The Heads and representatives of the other Churches referred also to issues and problems the Churches face. His Paternity the Custos referred to the recent problem in “Stella Maris” in Haifa and how the Christian properties are recognized as property of the Churches but without the right to be developed. Also, the Custos referred to the lack of free access of the Christians to their Churches and to the infringements on the freedom to worship as was seen in the feast of the Orthodox Church of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor.

His Eminence Bishop Marcutso said; “we try to keep our properties because they help the Churches sustain religious and educational institutions. Our Christians, especially the young people, feel vulnerable. We have our own educational system and try to teach our young people to live in peace and coexist with members of other religions.

On this occasion of the visit, His Beatitude offered Mr Stutzmann a picture of the Old City of Jerusalem.

From Secretariat-General

On Wednesday, September 21/October 4, 2023, His Beatitude received a twenty-member delegation of the Panathinaikos football team and blessed them for the victory in their match on Thursday, September 22/October 5, 2023, against the Israeli football team Maccabi Haifa.

For this purpose, the members of the group visited the Holy Sepulchre for veneration.

From Secretariat-General

On Tuesday, September 13/26, 2023, His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos honoured with the distinction of the Cross-bearer of the Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre Mr Nasri Moussa – Abou Samir, who worked for many years in the Greek Orthodox Arabic-speaking Community of Beit Jala as a Steward and as a Byzantine choir singer.

From Secretariat-General

On Saturday morning, September 10/23, 2023, His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, according to the existing order of the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood, honoured the new Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Demetrios Angelosopoulos with the honorary distinction of the Grand Commander of the Order of Knights of the Holy Sepulchre,  recognising the beginning of his office in the Consulate and as the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross approaches.

His Beatitude wished Mr Angelosopoulos the strength of the Holy and Life-giving Cross, for a prosperous and fruitful ministry, for the benefit of the beloved nation of Greece, our Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood, the Jerusalem Patriarchate, our flock and all the communities of the Holy Land, stressing that the Patriarchate is a historical continuation and proof of the bond of the Holy Places with the Byzantine Empire throughout the centuries, as well as with Greece, and a guarantee for the presence of all Christians in the Holy Land. The Consul General was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Pothiti Pappa.

Mr Angelosopoulos thanked His Beatitude for this honour and offered Him gifts on the occasion of the beginning of his Office, a copy of a 16^th-century silver platter with the inscription of the Holy Great Martyr George the Trophy-bearer.  

On this same joyous occasion, His Beatitude awarded the honorary distinction of the Cross-bearer of the Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre to the Consul Mrs Christina Zacharioudaki, who was accompanied by her husband Mr Constantaras, upon the expiration of her service in the country, as an official of the Greek Consulate in Tel Aviv, and her loving cooperation with the Patriarchate.

Mrs Zacharioudaki thanked His Beatitude and promised that from her position in Greece she will always be an advocate for the rights of the Patriarchate, and all the communities of the Holy Land.

From Secretariat-General

On Wednesday, September 7/20, 2023, His Eminence Archbishop Tychon of the Holy Archdiocese of Rouza of the Moscow Patriarchate, who served in the past as the Head of the Russian Mission in Jerusalem (MISSIA), visited the Patriarchate with the MISSIA Representative Archimandrite Dometian and a small group of clergy and pilgrims.

In the words of His warm reception, His Beatitude underlined the importance of the Holy Sepulchre as safeguarding the unity of Jerusalem and the unity of the Orthodox Churches.

1. Afterwards, His Beatitude received a large group of Priests and Pilgrims from the Patriarchate of Serbia, the Holy Metropolis of Eleftheroupolis of the Church of Greece and from the parishes of the Holy Metropolis of Gortyna and Arcadia of the Church of Crete. 

Among the last of these was the Hegoumen of the Monastery Koudouma, Archimandrite Makarios, accompanied by monks of the same Monastery and a group of pilgrims from the village Charakas, the birthplace of the blessed Archimandrite Philotheos.

The Hegoumen of the Monastery Koudouma and his entourage and the parish priests of Charakas Fr Nektarios and Fr Georgios were received personally by His Beatitude, Who presented to them the liturgical vestments of the blessed Archimandrite Philotheos and an icon of Jerusalem, praising the important pastoral work, which he performed for the benefit of the flock of the Metropolis of Ptolemais-Akris, a praise for the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood and his birthplace, saying that his death was sudden, which we accept according to God’s grace and economy.

From Secretariat-General