In the hall of the Patriarchate, at the conclusion of the divine Liturgy and the rite of the Elevation of the Cross in the Church of the Resurrection on Friday, 14^th/27^th September 2013, His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, decorated the Most Reverend Panteleimon, Metropolitan of Xanthe – visiting the Holy Land on pilgrimage – with the medal of the Commander of the Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher.

This honorary distinction was conferred upon the Metropolitan of Xanthe, as said by His Beatitude, for his vivid interest in the All-holy Pilgrimage Sites and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, materialized by means of several visits intended for veneration, in the company of members of his God-saved Metropolis.

Touched, Panteleimon, the Metropolitan of Xanthe, thanked His Beatitude for the honour bestowed upon him and promised to always carry the cross for the protection of himself and his Metropolis alike. He also extended thanks over the fact that the Holy Cross was sent forth to His Metropolis, accompanied by the Metropolitan of Kapitolias, Isychios, in order to guard it from occurrences of violence which, abetted by wickedness, had recently descended upon it.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/jFnxDOvKOjk

On Wednesday the 12^th/25^th of September 2013, the Acting Military Commander of Israel’s Civil Administration, Mr Raed Mansour, accompanied by the former Military Commander of Bethlehem, Mr Iyad Sirhan and the Director of the Department of Christian Affairs of Israel’s Ministry of Religious Services, Mr Sesar Margie, visited His Beatitude Theophilos, Our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem.

In the framework of this visit, His Beatitude informed the Acting Commander on the entry permits to Jerusalem issued by the Military Administration for members of our congregation inhabiting the occupied areas, and asked that these be increased for the better arrangement of matters concerning our congregation, on which the Acting Military Commander pledged to respond accordingly.

Subsequently, the new Acting Military Commander and his attendants, guided by the Elder Secretary-General Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina, visited the Church of the Resurrection.

From the Secretariat General

httpv://youtu.be/nbt89z5TlOQ

On Wednesday the 12^th/25^th of September 2013, the representative of Finland to the Palestinian Authority, Dr Martin Irulu, visited His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, upon assuming office. 

In the context of this visit, His Beatitude talked to the diplomatic representative of Finland about the work of the Patriarchate, the first Church of the Holy Land, towards the establishment of peace in the Middle East, the promotion of education, peaceful inter-religious coexistence, the protection of the Holy Land and the preservation of the status of Jerusalem.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/gIK1LXmy3qM

With the Grace of God, two young students, accepted to the Patriarchal School of Sion, were presented today, Saturday the 1^st/ 14^th of September 2013, before Our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos. Nektarios Siganos and Nikolaos Badekas, high school students, were accompanied by the Principal of the Patriarchal School, monk f. Fotios.

Welcoming the two students, His Beatitude noted that their presence in the Holy Land on the one hand makes them perennial pilgrims and on the other hand, their education at the Patriarchal School makes them future members of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulcher.

Subsequently, His Beatitude informed the new students on their school training whilst bestowing upon them and their mothers Patriarchal and Jerusalemite blessings, wishing them good progress and a pleasant stay in the Holy City.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/X1612nPd51g

On the evening of Thursday, the 30^th of August/12^th of September 2013, the Prime Minister of Jordan, His Excellency Mr Abdullah Ensour, hosted a dinner in honour of His Beatitude Theophilos, Our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, at the Prime Minister’s residence in Amman.

Also invited to dinner were ministers and MPs of the Jordan Government, Christians in their majority. His Beatitude was accompanied by the Patriarchal Commissioner in Amman, the Most Reverend Benedict, Metropolitan of Philadelphia; the Elder Secretary-General Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina; the Patriarchal Commissioner in Northern Jordan, His Eminence Philoumenos, Archbishop of Pella, and Archimandrite Hieronymos, the Hegoumen of Fhes.

During dinner, the Prime Minister welcomed His Beatitude by pointing out that it is a joy and an honour for him, the Royal family and Jordan, to meet with the representative of all Christians in Jordan, Jerusalem and the Holy Land, and that this meeting, which has as participants Christian high-ranking government officials of Jordan, reflects very positively on the coexistence and cooperation between Muslims and Christians in Jordan.

Responding, His Beatitude addressed the Prime Minister with the following speech in Arabic:  https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2013/09/12/2687

From the Secretariat-General

On Friday the 17^th/30^th of August 2013, the new Archbishop of the Ethiopian Church in Jerusalem, Mr Daniel Ilma, visited the Patriarchate upon assuming office after the election of his predecessor, Archbishop Aba Mattias, as Patriarch of Ethiopia.

The new Ethiopian Archbishop was received by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Fathers of the Holy Sepulcher.

During the Archbishop’s visit, a discussion took place on the ancient ties between the Ethiopian and Greek peoples since the years before Christ, and on the generally harmonious relation that links the Ethiopian Church and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Among further topics discussed were the peaceful coexistence between Ethiopians and Greeks in the area of the Church of the Resurrection and the Monastery of Abraham, and the willingness and ability of our Patriarchate to help the Ethiopians resolve certain problems troubling them in their Monastery, known as Dabre Seltan, situated on the roof of the Church of the Resurrection.

In the context of the meeting, His Beatitude offered the Ethiopian Archbishop an ivory engolpion (icon worn on the chest) and cross, and the “History of the Church of Jerusalem” by Chrysostomos Papadopoulos, wishing him a peaceful and fruitful tenure as Archbishop.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/XjSReAj20jc

On Tuesday the 31^st of July/13^th of August 2013, Mr Ryan Purnell, head of the Committee on Christian Affairs of the American Consulate in Jerusalem visited the Patriarchate upon assuming office.

The American Consular officer was received by His Beatitude Theophilos, Our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem. At the meeting, Mr Purnell was congratulated on his new duties and informed on pilgrimage and asset affairs of the Patriarchate as well as on the situation of Christians in the Middle East, with an eye to a collaboration which promotes and safeguards the rights of each Community in Jerusalem and the rest of the Holy Land.

Mr Ryan Purnell thanked His Beatitude and pledged himself to a very good and fruitful cooperation.

From the Secretariat-General

On Tuesday the 31^st of July/13^th of August 2013, the new Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis, visited the Patriarchate upon assuming office.

The Greek Consul General was received by His Beatitude Theophilos, Our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Brothers of the Holy Sepulcher.

In the context of this meeting, His Beatitude wished the Consul General strength in his new duties and informed him on principal matters of the Patriarchate, whilst requesting his cooperation and support in his capacity as a representative of Greece, successor to the Byzantine Empire and protector of the Holy Lands.

To such cooperation the Consul General pledged himself unreservedly.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/QtnqxIsPZh0

On Thursday the 26^th of July/8^th of August 2013, a group of thirty members of the Arab-speaking (Rum Orthodox) congregation of the Patriarchate from various regions of Jordan visited the Patriarchate. The group was headed by Hieromonk f. Athanasios Kakis.

This pious group was received by His Holiness Theophilos, Our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Brothers of the Holy Sepulcher. At the meeting, the Patriarch offered fatherly advice and blessed the group’s tour around the All-Holy Pilgrimage Sites.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/T88oFdhBKBQ

On Monday the 2^nd/15^th of July 2013, His Beatitude Theophilos, Our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem decorated the Ambassador of Israel to the Dominican Republic and Caribbean Islands, Mr Bahij Mansour with the medal of the Small Crusader of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher for his interreligious contribution and for cultivating a spirit of religious tolerance among followers of different religions.

Mr Mansour thanked His Beatitude and pledged to bear favourable witness to the Churches of Jerusalem in his new mission.

 Mr Mansour was accompanied by Mr Cesar Margi, Head of Christian Affairs at the Israeli Ministry of Religious Affairs, and by his family.

From the Secretariat-General

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