On the day after the feast of the Transfiguration, namely the 7^th/20^th of August 2015, His Eminence Methodios, Archbishop of Tabor, offered a valuable and elaborately made Primatial Staff to the Monastery of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, to be kept there as a relic.

The Staff was delivered to the Patriarch at the Patriarchate in the presence of Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina and other Hagiotaphite Fathers.

His Beatitude praised the Archbishop of Tabor and expressed the wish that his example be emulated by other Hagiotaphites.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s4oM1eLhLo

On Thursday, the 31^st of July/13^th of August 2015, a group of thirty young men and women from the Patriarchate’s Greek Orthodox Community in Nazareth, led by their Presbyter, f. Lazaros, visited the Patriarchate.

They were welcomed by H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem and Hagiotaphite Fathers.

On behalf of the group, father Lazaros thanked the Patriarch for the Patriarchate’s assistance in securing accommodation for the youth in the summer camps of the Holy Metropolis of Serres, with the kind consent of Metropolitan Theologos of Serres.

The Patriarch blessed the youth and paternally advised them to frequently and devotedly participate in the life of the Orthodox Church, in which they have become members through the sacrament of Baptism.

The group then went on to continue their pilgrimage at the All-holy and Life-giving Sepulcher of the Lord.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHZC0noFBzo

On Wednesday the 30^th of July/12^th of August 2015, H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers, met with Ms Maha Darawsha, hailing from Nazareth, now a professor of Archaeology at Hartford University, Connecticut. The meeting took place at the Patriarchate.

On a computer screen, the professor presented to His Beatitude and the Fathers the finds of excavations she had recently conducted, namely the numerous surviving parts of a Byzantine church dating from the 4^th and the 11^th c. AD, over and south to the Patriarchate’s Shrine of the Annunciation in Nazareth.

His Beatitude praised Ms Darawsha for her significant archaeological work, which reveals the roots of the Byzantine Church in the Holy Land, and expressed wishes that this work be continued over the next year. Lastly, the Patriarch offered Ms Darawsha and her son, Adam, a memento of Jerusalem.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKFziU1A–I

On Tuesday, the 29^th of July/11^th of August 2015, Mr Hejab Al-Jabra and Mr Kifah Barakat, heads of the relations between the Palestinians of the occupied areas and the Israeli Army, accompanied by the Patriarchal Commissioner in Bethlehem, Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan, visited the Patriarchate.

They were welcomed by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem and Hagiotaphite Fathers.

In the context of this meeting, an interesting discussion took place on the good relations between the Patriarchate and the Islamic State since the days of Umar Khattab and Patriarch Sophronios of Jerusalem, when the Christians were offered the freedom to perform their religious obligations.

These harmonious relations are preserved to this day in Bethlehem and other areas of the Palestinian state.

His Beatitude offered guests a simulacrum of Jerusalem and wished that the harmonious collaboration be preserved to the benefit of Palestinian citizens, Christians and Muslims alike.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-tkRD2c6RE

On Friday, the 25^th of July/7^th of August 2015, H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, met with the thirty five members of the recently elected Executive Committee representing all Greek Orthodox Arabic-speaking Communities of the Patriarchate in Israel. Heading the Committee was its reelected Chairman, former judge Raed Jarjura from Nazareth, and Vice-Chairman Basem from Kafr Yasif Community. Present at the meeting was the President of the Community of Nazareth, Ms Afaf.

The Executive Committee asked for His Beatitude’s blessing on its reelection and expressed its will to collaborate with the Patriarchate with trust and dedication for the promotion of matters of interest to the Communities, i.e. the education of the clergy, the Catechizing schools, the preservation of the Christians’ identity within the State of Israel, the defrocking of former priest Romanos, and the prosperity of Christians within the Arabic-speaking Muslim and Jewish society of Israel.

The Patriarch congratulated the Executive Committee on its reelection, offered His blessings and assured them that He will support its activities to the benefit of Greek Orthodox Arabic-speaking Christian Communities in Israel.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWk2S0rhbSs

On Tuesday the 15^th/28^th of July 2015, the new Consul of Sweden to Jerusalem, Ms Ann Sophia Nilsson, visited the Patriarchate on the occasion of assuming her new duties.

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

In the context of this visit, the Patriarch informed Ms Nilsson on the history of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the Holy Land and its contribution to the safekeeping of the Holy Shrines and the protection of Christians now faced with economic problems, persecution, displacement, questions of identity, education, prosperity etc.

In the course of its work, the Patriarchate is supported by states protecting the human rights, such as the country of Sweden, represented by Consul Nilsson.

Ms Nilsson thanked His Beatitude for updating her, and pledged to cooperate with the Patriarchate during her tenure as Consul, to the benefit of Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land, both locals and foreigners.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/qZxC2rW1obc

On Friday, the 11^th/24^th of July 2015, the new Head of the Russian Spiritual Mission (MISSIA) in Jerusalem, Archimandrite Alexandros, visited the Patriarchate. He was accompanied by the former head of the MISSIA, Archimandrite Theophanes.

They were welcomed by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem.

Patriarch Theophilos thanked Archimandrite Theophanes for a fruitful 14-year collaboration between the MISSIA and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, extending wishes for a successful diaconate from a different post.

At the same time, the Patriarch confirmed the Patriarchate’s support in upholding its harmonious relations with the Patriarchate of Moscow, for the spiritual benefit of both, whilst wishing Archimandrite Alexandros a prolific and effective diaconate after the example of his predecessors.

The Patriarch then offered Archimandrite Theophanes a fine icon of Panaghia Jerusalemite, to look after him in his new post.

He then offered Archimandrite Alexandros an icon of the Holy Sepulcher so that, by its grace and blessing, he may successfully perform his duties as a representative of the Patriarchate of Moscow in the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the Holy Land.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/_KV0SThHEGw

On Tuesday the 8^th/21^st of July 2015 the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) visited the Patriarchate.

The UNMAS representatives, Sasha Logie and Shoula Kreton, were welcomed by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem.

During the meeting, His Beatitude was informed of the United Nations’ project to demine the entire region of the Jordan river, around the site of the Baptismal of the Lord. The site, on the border between Jordan and Israel, was mined in 1948, which still endangers the movement of pilgrims. The two representatives also asked for the Patriarch’s license to demine land owned by the Patriarchate.

His Beatitude praised the United Nations’ humanitarian work and suggested it be carried out in collaboration with the State Authorities having political ownership, and the Churches, owning land in the region.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/3DdUKMfvq14

On the morning of Tuesday the 8^th/21^st of July 2015, the Steward serving at the Madaba Shrine in Jordan, father Nikolaos, visited the Patriarchate. He was accompanied by his wife.

Presbyter Nikolaos was welcomed by Patriarch Theophilos, who went on to bless him and award him the cross of Presbyter with wishes for the continuance of his dedicated diaconate under Archimandrite Innocentius at the historical Shrine of Madaba. The Shrine contains the historical Mosaic Map depicting the Holy Land in the years of Christ.

From the Secretariat-General

On Monday, the 7^th/20^th of July 2015, Mr Igor Ashurbeyli, Vice Chairman of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, visited the Patriarchate accompanied by Bishop Methodius of Alapayevsk. Warmly welcomed by the Patriarch, the two guests conveyed the well-wishes of President Putin, and the brotherly embrace of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. They also asked for the Patriarch’s blessings and help towards solving problems relating to the Church of St Alexander Nevsky within a designated period of time. Founded in the 19^th c., the Church stands to the east of the Church of the Resurrection.

During the discussion that followed, His Beatitude expressed His interest in having the aforementioned problems resolved to the benefit of the Patriarchates of Jerusalem and Russia in the Holy Land.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/1_fzwO0cUaA

httpv://youtu.be/ySv4tIxmhJE

httpv://youtu.be/7L-lgbHR3L0