On the evening of Monday the 1^st/4^th of October 2013, the newly elected Jamaiyie, namely the Council of the Greek Orthodox Community of Bethlehem, headed by its President in the presence of its thirteen new members, hosted dinner at its seat near the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in honour of His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem. HB was accompanied by the Patriarchal Commissioner in Bethlehem, His Eminence Theophylaktos, Archbishop of Jordan; the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constanina; Fhes hegoumen, the Reverend Archimandrite f. Hieronymos and the four Arabic-speaking Presbyters of the Community: f. Georgios Bantak, f. Spyridon Samour, f. Tziries Martzouka and f. Issa Thaltzie.

At the dinner which was hosted in honour of His Beatitude and aimed at hand-to-hand cooperation on topics concerning the Community of Bethlehem, Jamaiyie President Mr Azmi Juha addressed His Beatitude in Arabic. This speech may be read here: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2013/10/14/2764

Mr Juha also offered His Beatitude an exquisite icon of Theotokos. In response, His Beatitude extended his thanks for the icon and made a reply speech in Arabic, see:  https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2013/10/14/2765

From the Secretariat General

On Wednesday the 8^th of October 2013, the internationally acclaimed Greek singer Mr Yiannis Parios, whilst on a visit to Israel for professional reasons, visited the Patriarchate in order to receive the blessing of our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos.

Mr Parios, his associates and kin were warmly received by His Beatitude and Hagiotaphite Fathers.

Welcoming Mr Parios, His Beatitude congratulated him on praising love and the Greek element with his songs and talked with him about the importance of Greek music which, founded as it is on the Greek Orthodox schooling and on the spirit of Christ’s Resurrection, offers the world optimism and joy, and not melancholy.

Mr Parios avowed his emotion for being in the Holy Land, and having the honour to meet the Head of the Church of Jerusalem in person, as well as the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood. He added that precisely this Spirit of joy and Resurrection is conferred by the Patriarchate on the whole world. Mr Parios expressed the wish to venerate the Church of the Resurrection and other sites of Christian pilgrimage in the Holy Land. To this end he left the Patriarchate, accompanied by Hagiotaphite members.

From the Secretariat-General

On Thursday the 20^th of September/3^rd of October 2013, the new French Consul in Jerusalem, Mr Hervé Magro, accompanied by the Consulate’s religious attendant, fr. Luke, visited the Patriarchate.

The new French Consul was received by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of members of the Holy Sepulcher.

In the context of this visit, His Beatitude informed Mr Magro on the Patriarchate’s religious, cultural and pacifying work, especially today, when extreme religious and political elements cause confusion, insecurity and terror in the Middle East and across the world.

In contrast to this, said His Beatitude, the Patriarchate projects the importance of peace and the position that Jerusalem owes to maintain its status and remain the spiritual capital of all Christians and humanity as a whole, because it is here where the blood of the prophets and of our Lord Jesus Christ was shed. Jerusalem, especially the Old City, remains “one great ecumenical monastery”. If Jerusalem does not maintain its character and if war is to be proclaimed in the city, this war will expand across the world, with international results and consequences.

The French Consul-General thanked Hi Beatitude for the update and expressed interest in contributing to the work of the Patriarchate.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/CRwLtalXdrk

On Saturday the 15^th/28^th of September 2013, Mr Muhammed Basri Atilgan and Mr Harun Tokak, education counselors of Turkey in Eastern Jerusalem, visited the Patriarchate.

They were received by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem.

After explaining that they have founded an Association having its seat in Ras-al-Amoud, an area between Eastern Jerusalem and Bethany, which undertakes the promotion of inter-religious dialogue in the Middle East, peaceful inter-religious coexistence and the financial aid of cultural and educational projects, the two men asked for the Patriarchate’s collaboration.

His Beatitude responded positively to their request for collaboration, pointing out that since its first days the Patriarchate has been involved in all pacifying, cultural initiatives and that it maintained harmonious relations with the Ottoman Empire during the period between 1517 to 1917, for the preservation of the veneration regime and the safeguard of the rights of the Greek Orthodox in the Holy Land.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/rGxeJ75TIqA

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