On Wednesday, the 17^th/30^th of July 2014, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, awarded a grant to Mr Ala Agman Belbess, the highest ranking graduate of the Patriarchate’s School of St Demetrios, in order for him to enroll at the University of Bethlehem. The following year, Mr Belbess is intended to study in Budapest with a scholarship granted to the Patriarchate by Hungary.
In awarding Mr Belbess the grant, His Beatitude praised him and wished him success in the pursuit of his studies.

From the Secretariat-General

On Friday the 5^th/18^th of Julye 2014, a group of nuns and accompanying pilgrims from the Monastery of Chrysopege, of the Kydonia and Apokoronos Bishopric, and from the Monastery of St Irene of the Church of Crete, headed by Abbess Theoxeni and Archimandrite f. Justinus, Protosyncellus of the Bishopric of Florina, visited the Patriarchate.

This distinguished group of nuns and pilgrims was received by H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, and Hagiotaphite Fathers.

His Beatitude welcomed the nuns and pilgrims to the Holy Land, specifically in Jerusalem, where the soil has been drenched with the redeeming blood of Christ, and where the earth received the crucified, pure Body of our Saviour, who was buried and rose from the dead. Owing to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and His incarnate presence, this land bears sanctity and grace, sought and received by pilgrims. These pilgrims are sanctified as beholders of the holy lands “by the grace of the All-holy and Life-giving Tomb” and of the rest of the Shrines. By this grace, pilgrims become preachers of the hallowing property of the Holy Shrines and of the Church, which carries on its pastoral and consecrating work for the benefit of pilgrims. These very pilgrims stand among them as especially worthy of praise, for having defied the war situation in Gaza in order to conduct their pilgrimage.

Abbess Theoxeni of the Monastery of Chrysopege, thanked His Beatitude for these words and offered Him an epigonation [rhomboid ornament] embroidered at her Monastery, along with an icon of St Porphyrios, a late spiritual father at the Monastery.

Having received His Beatitude’s blessing, a cross, icons and other Jerusalemite eulogias, the nuns and pilgrims carried on their tour at the Holy Sepulcher.

From the Secretariat-General

On the evening of Tuesday, the 2^nd/15^th of July 2014, H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, accompanied by the Patriarchal Commissioner, the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias; the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina; and the Very Reverend presbyter f. Issa Musleh, participated in the reception held in His honour at the town of Shepherds Village/Beit-Sahour, by Mr Jiries Kumsiyeh and his son, Mr Bashar Jiries Kumsiyeh.

In the context of this reception, His Beatitude conferred the title of Crusader Minor of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher to the hosts of the event for their substantial interest in favour of the Patriarchate and its flock, either from the U.S., where Mr J. Kumsiyeh lives and works as an entrepreneur alongside his son Dr B. Kumsiyeh, or from their birthplace of Beit-Sahour. The Patriarch’s address in Arabic was read by f. Issa Musleh and may be reached here: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2014/07/17/6579

From the Secretariat-General

On Wednesday, the 25^th of June/9^th of July 2014, the Exarch of the Holy Sepulcher in Greece, the Most Reverend Archimandrite f. Damianos, heading a group of fifty pilgrims – including priests and faithful from the Dependencies of the Church of Sion in Greece, visited the Patriarchate.

The Exarch and accompanying pilgrims were courteously received by His Beatitude, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, and Hagiotaphite Fathers.

At the beginning of the visit, the Exarch of the Holy Sepulcher in Greece expressed his profound gratitude to God on their arrival to the Holy Land, where the Holy Shrines have been preserved through the centuries by the Patriarchate and the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood. He also reiterated his devotion to Patriarch Theophilos III for the honour bestowed upon them, namely the representation of the Church of Sion in Greece.

In His reply, His Beatitude thanked the Exarch for this initiative of veneration and explained the significance of pilgrimage as an act of spiritual construction, which enhances faith and contributes to salvation.

His Beatitude went on to offer pectoral crosses to the priests and Jerusalemite eulogias to the pilgrims, who carried on their pilgrimage.

Amongst the pilgrims were Mr Photios Kourlamanis, President of the Society of Eurytania Scientists; Mrs Adamantia Oikonomou, Deputy Public Prosecutor at the court of appeals; Mrs Eleni Papacosta, Magistrate in Agrinion; Mr Eythymios Kordoroumpas, retired Brigadier; Mr Christos Tzoumelekas, retired Major General and others.

As a token of remembrance of this visit, Mr Kourlamanis offered His Beatitude a book entitled “The Contribution of the Church in the 1940s”.

From the Secretariat-General

On Tuesday, the 25^th of June/8^th of July 2014, Mrs Kate Clerides, the daughter of the late President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Glafcos Clerides, Presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs (of Cyprus), and Mr Ioannis Iacovou, Deputy Director of the Service for Overseas and Repatriated Cypriots of the Republic of Cyprus, visited the Patriarchate.

These distinguished visitors were received by H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem and Hagiotaphite Fathers.

In the context of this visit, an interesting discussion took place on the patriotic work of the late President Clerides, on the need for a just solution to the Cyprus problem, and on the presence of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in Cyprus, especially after the recent inauguration of the Exarchy of the Holy Sepulcher on the island.

On the occasion of this visit, Mrs Clerides and Mr Ioannis Iacovou offered His Beatitude a present on behalf of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Anastasiades, namely a silver lekythos. His Beatitude, in return, offered a fine icon of Panaghia Jerusalemite and the book on the History of the Church of Jerusalem by Chrysostomos Papadopoulos.

Thanking His Beatitude for receiving them, Mrs Clerides and Mr Iacovou proceeded to venerate at the Holy Sepulcher in the company of the Most Reverend Philoumenos, Metropolitan of Pella.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/ZFuGJYTWRNk

On Tuesday, the 25^th of June/8^th of July 2014, fifty members of the Rum Orthodox Community of the Patriarchate from the town of Karak, South Jordan, and other Jordan cities, visited the Patriarchate under their Steward, f. John.

They were warmly received by H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers. The Patriarch spoke to the guests of the spiritual links between the Patriarchate and its Jordan flock within its irrevocable jurisdiction since the beginning, and advised them to study and observe the history and tradition of the Orthodox Church.

Before leaving to venerate at the Holy Sepulcher and other shrines, guests were offered Jerusalemite memorabilia and the blessing of His Beatitude.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/15EYHQHDg7Y

On Saturday, the 22^nd of June/5^th of July 2014, the Most Reverend Nikolaos, Metropolitan of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, with a group of pilgrims from his Bishopric, including pilgrims from the parish of St John Chrysostom headed by father Asterios, visited the Patriarchate.

This large and distinguished group was received by Patriarch Theophilos and Hagiotaphite Fathers.

His Beatitude spoke of the work of salvation, carried out in the Holy Land by means of the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. This work, performed in the Holy Land by Christ, is extended across the centuries through His Church. Participating in this work, are pilgrims visiting the Holy Land in order to venerate.

The head of the group, namely the Most Reverend Nikolaos, Metropolitan of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, warmly thanked His Beatitude for receiving them in the Church of Sion, for the spiritual work performed by the Church of Jerusalem and for His words of encouragement to pilgrims.

Addressing His Beatitude, the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Mesogaia explained that amongst the pilgrims are several members of the group founded by him in order to console terminal cancer patients. The group bears the name “Galilee” to commemorate the work carried out by Jesus in Galilee and the whole of the Holy Land and to preserve hope, as told in the Scriptures:  “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned” (Matthew 4, 15-16).

His Beatitude thanked the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki for supporting the Patriarchate through pilgrimage visits and otherwise, and blessed the pilgrims before their tour along Mount Sion and the Cenacle.

From the Secretariat-General 

httpv://youtu.be/qofNxmc1Fow

On Tuesday the 19^th of June/2^nd of July 2014, Steward f. Nikolaos and fifty members of the Community of Madaba, Jordan, visited the Patriarchate.

They were welcomed by H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers, who praised the priest and members of the Community for the ecclesiastical and educational work they perform in this historical town and the Greek Orthodox Church preserving a mosaic known as “The Madaba Map”, representing the Holy Land during the time of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Before their departure, guests were offered numerous Jerusalemite eulogias.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/3i3yLtz2Gcg

On Saturday the 13^th/28^th of June 2014, the Most Reverend Metropolitan Nektarios of Petra and Cherronisos, of the Church of Crete, while on a pilgrimage visit to the Holy Land, and heading a group of 100 pilgrims from his Bishopric and other Bishopric of Crete, was received by H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem.

Addressing His Beatitude, the Metropolitan of Petra praised Him and the Hagiotaphite Fathers for their centuries-long work of guarding the Holy Lands.

His Beatitude thanked the Metropolitan of Petra for his support towards the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Holy Land and went on, in recognition of his contribution, to award him the title of the Supreme Taxiarch of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher.

Moved, the Metropolitan of Petra thanked His Beatitude for the honour conferred on him, and pledged to carry on manifesting his interest in favour of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, in favour of the pilgrims and the glory of God.

From the Secretariat-General 

httpv://youtu.be/smfXC1h-iM0

On Saturday, the 15^th/28^th of June 2014, a one-hundred-member group from the flock of the Patriarchate, among whom the priest, f. Elias, teachers and pupils of Zndeinde Community, visited the Patriarchate.

This large group, varying in ages and offices, was received and blessed by H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, as children performed church and other songs, offering them icons and other eulogias, and pledging to soon make a pastoral visit to their Community.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/dd0T70_JRu8