On Friday the 25^th of September / 8^th of October 2010 the new Consul of Sweden {Konungariket Sverige} to Israel His Excellency Mr. Axel Wernhoff  visited His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III on the occasion of the assumption of his new duties as Consul.

Within the framework of this visit an interesting discussion took place regarding the role of the Patriarchate and about the Library of the Patriarchate which he visited, along with the Librarian, in order to see a manuscript with a text of Job which his son is researching and been involved with.

Chief Secretary’s Office.

ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder

On Thursday, 10^th/23^rd of September 2010, a meeting took place between His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III and the Prime Minister of Jordan, Mr Samir Rifai, at the Prime Minister’s office in Amman, Jordan. The meeting was also attended by notable personalities of Jordan’s state as well as active members of our Orthodox Community: the ex-minister of Foreign Affairs for Jordan, Kamel Abu-Jaber, the ex-minister of Water and Irrigation for Jordan, Munther Haddadin and the ex-minister Samir Kawar.

His Beatitude was escorted by His Eminence Isychios Metropolitan of Capitolias, His Eminence Venedictos Metropolitan of Philadelphia, His Eminence Dorotheos Archbishop of Avila and Rev. Archimandrite Fr. Ieronymos and Rev. Archimandrite Fr. Filoumenos.

His Excellency the Prime Minister conveyed to His Beatitude Patriarch  of Jerusalem Theophilos III, the wishes and appreciation of His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan for His Beatitude’s contribution to the interreligious dialogue between Christians and Muslims and His cooperation in establishing peace and welfare in the Middle East and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Chief-Secretary’s Office.

Between the 2^nd / 15^th and the 3^rd / 16^th of September 2010, a meeting between His Beatitude Theodoros Patriarch of Alexandria, His Beatitude Ignatios Patriarch of Antioch, His Beatitude Theophilos III Patriarch of Jerusalem  and  His Beatitude Chrysostomos Archbishop of Cyprus  took place in Nicosia.

The Heads of the Patriarchates and of the Church of Cyprus were escorted as follows; His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III escorted by the representative of the Patriarchate in Cyprus His Eminence Timotheos Metropolitan of Vostron;  the Elder Chief Secretary His Eminence Aristarchos Archbishop of Constantina, and   His Eminence Dorotheos Archbishop of Avila. His Beatitude Ignatios Patriarch of Antioch escorted by His Eminence Loukas Metropolitan of Seidanayias  and  the Chief Secretary Rev. Archimandrite Father Ibrahim Daoud; His Beatitude Patriarch of Alexandria Theodoros escorted by His Eminence Georgios Metropolitan of Zimbabwe and   His Eminence Nicolaos Metropolitan of Hermopolis; and His Beatitude Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos escorted by the assistant Bishop of Carpassia Christoforos and  the Coadjutor Archimandrite Father Ieronymos.

Upon the arrival of the dignitaries at Larnaca airport on the morning of Wednesday, the 2^nd / 15^th of September 2010, they were received by His Beatitude Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos.  His Beatitude Patriarch of Alexandria Theodoros arrived during the evening on this day.

The aforementioned dignitaries met in their capacity as Representatives of the Orthodox Churches of the Middle East in the Council of Churches of the Middle East (CCME) as it is known. In this Council, four so called “families” take part, that is the families of the Orthodox, the Pre-Chalkedonian, the Latins and the Protestants.  His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III is the President of the family of the Orthodox which includes the Patriarchates of Alexandria, of Antioch, and Jerusalem and also the Archdiocese of Cyprus for the current four year term.

Upon their arrival at Larnaca airport, the Dignitaries gave a brief interview. Firstly the Archbishop of Cyprus expressed His  joy at receiving the Dignitaries in order to discuss subjects that will assist and that  will be of benefit to the Christians of the Churches of the Middle East. Then the Patriarch of Antioch stated that he is particularly delighted about His meeting with the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III for the first time and, furthermore, that this meeting will contribute towards the solution of problems that beset the Christians of the Middle East. Finally, His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III explained that the purpose of this meeting is to tackle, primarily, the problem of the crisis which currently assails the CCME and also the status of the Christians in the Middle East.

Concerning the first topic, they held a meeting on the morning of Wednesday, the 2^nd / 15^th of September 2010, with the representatives of the Orthodox family of the CCME at the Hilton Park Hotel, where they were also lodged by the kind and polite gesture of the Holy Archdiocese of Cyprus.

At noon on this day, His Beatitude Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos hosted dinner for all of the representatives of the CCME that came to the Archdiocese.

During the course of the meal His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III thanked the Archbishop of Cyprus for His kind hospitality  and for the support offered by the Archdiocese of Cyprus to the CCME and congratulated Him on the recent ratification by the Government of Cyprus of the Charter of the Church of Cyprus.

In the evening on this day a meeting of the Presidents of the four families, namely His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III,  the Most Reverend Armenian Catholic Patriarch of Cilicia Aram Kisisian, the representative of the PreChalkedonian Churches,  the Most Reverend Maronite Metropolitan of Beirut Boutros Matar,  a representative of the Latin family, and  a representative of the Protestant church the Most Reverend Bishop of the Lutherans in Jerusalem Mounib Yunan took place in a hall at the Hilton Park Hotel where the representatives were lodged.

After an intensive discussion they decided that the efforts for the redress, reestablishment and strengthening of the CCME as a union of expression of justice and peace in the Middle East and of support of the status of the Christians should be continued. Furthermore the mission and deed should be continued with the Coptic Church, which is expected to be reconnected with the CCME. The General Assembly of the Council will be convened in Cyprus around the end of February 2011. These decisions by the four Presidents were relegated, according to the bylaws of the CCME, to its Executive Committee, which will convene on the 24^th of September of the current year in Damascus.

Following this, a meeting between His Beatitude Patriarchate of Jerusalem Theophilos III, His escorts, and the representative of the Patriarchate in Cyprus, His Eminence Timotheos Metropolitan of Vostron took place concerning matters of property of the Patriarchate in Cyprus.

Later, His Beatitude Theodoros Patriarch of Alexandria and the whole of Africa arrived at the hotel, accompanied by His Eminence Georgios Metropolitan of Zimbabwe and His Eminence Nikolaos Metropolitan of Hermopolis.

His Beatitude Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos hosted a banquet dinner for all the dignitaries and their escorts at their lodging hotel.

On the morning of Thursday, the 3^rd / 16^th of September, the Heads of the three Primal Patriarchates visited the Archdiocese of Cyprus where His Beatitude Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos cordially welcomed them.

There, between the Heads of the three Patriarchates and their representatives, as well as His Eminence Nikolaos Bishop of Amathus,  representative of the Church of Cyprus to the European Union, and the Reverend Father Ioannis, representative in the CCME, an intensive discussion took place regarding the causes of the financial and administrative crisis of the Council of Churches of the Middle East (CCME) and the measures which are warranted in order to overcome this crisis.  As one means of assistance, it was proposed to accept the offer from the Archdiocese of (the Church of) Cyprus of the premises to house the offices of the CCME in Cyprus and to accommodate their Secretarial personnel together with the offer of hospitality for all meetings of Council representatives whenever and as often as they take place in Cyprus.  Likewise, the insistence on the convening of the General Assembly as agreed and the determination of the Orthodox Churches to continue to take an active part in and to confront the problems of the Churches which  they represent in unanimity, and to contribute to their spiritual progress and  the amelioration of their terms of life, was highlighted and emphasized.

During this meeting the three Primuses paid particular attention  to the status of Christians in Israel, Palestine, the Holy Land and, generally in the Middle East, as well as to Christians’ problems, the expatriations, the emigration, the education, their coexistence and their symbiosis with adherents of other religions.  It was decided to bring into effect the cooperation between the Churches of the Orthodox family, but also the Churches of the other three families of CCME, for the purpose of helping and assisting the Christians whom the various Churches represent.

This help will be delivered through the improvement of the level of the schools already in existence via the establishment of new ones and the granting of scholarships to young Christians either for studies at Universities in the Holy Land or at institutions abroad  on the condition that, upon  completion of their studies, they will return for employment to their birth place. Furthermore, Christians will be offered assistance through their Churches with the creation of jobs and via the establishment of works projects with funding from the European Union and other organizations.

At the close of this meeting, the Dignitaries gave an interview to the Cypriot Media, the communiqué is as follows:

The Primuses of the three Primal Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem Their Beatitudes Patriarchs Theodoros, Ignatios and Theophilos III met by themselves in Cyprus following the initiative and the invitation of His Beatitude Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos. They discussed ways and concrete measures in order to resolve the problems and overcome the crisis of the Council of Churches of the Middle East, so that the Council will be able to continue to deservedly fulfill the purpose of its establishment, that is to support the Christians in Jerusalem, Palestine and the wider Middle East and, simultaneously, to continuously strive for peaceful coexistence and symbiosis of Christians amongst the people of the region and for the prevalence of a just and peaceful solution in the Middle East,  Jerusalem,  the Holy Land and on the martyred island of Cyprus.

The Heads held a private meeting the central subject of which was the status of Christians in the Middle East.

During the afternoon of the last day of the visit in Cyprus, His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III along with His Beatitude Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos and His escorts went from the Archdiocese of Cyprus to the area nearby where the Hexarchy of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem was situated and where it will be reestablished and will be erected.  The current representative of the Patriarchate at the Exarchate is His Eminence Timotheos Metropolitan of Vostra.

After this visit His Beatitude Theophilos III Patriarch of Jerusalem along with His escorts returned via Cyprus Airways to Tel–Aviv airport and from there to the Patriarchate  of  Jerusalem.

Chief Secretary’s Office.

ngg_shortcode_1_placeholder

Since Tuesday 25^th of August / 7^th of September 2010, the official visit of His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III to the Autonomous Orthodox Church of Finland has been taking place.

This visit was arranged after the attainment of an understanding between the two Churches, a pertinent Synodal decision of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and in full knowledge of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

For this visit, His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, departed on the morning of Tuesday  25^th of August / 7^th of September 2010 from Ben Gurion airport  TelAviv with Austrian Airlines and was accompanied by His Eminenence Hysichios Metropolitan of Kapitolias, His Eminence Dorotheos Archbishop of Avila and the Elder Chief Secretary His Eminence Aristarchos Archbishop of Constantina  and Rev.  Archdeacon father Athanasios.

The Patriarchal Escort arrived auspiciously in Vienna where, after a short stay,  it then departed for Helsinki by air.  The other two designated members of the Patriarchal Escort, the Arabic speaking Rev. Archimandrite father Galaktion Superior of Ramallah and the Arabic speaking Presbyter father Issa Mouslech, parish priest at the village of Beit Sahour / Village of the Shepherds and spokesman for the Press in the Arabic language for the Patriarchate, arrived in Helsinki via another flight from Jordan.

Upon His arrival along with His escort at Helsinki airport, His Beatitude was received with a warm welcome by a group of priests from the city of Helsinki, capital of Finland, and by the Ambassador of Greece in Finland, His Excellency Mr. Christos Kontobounisios.

After a stay of one and a half hours at Helsinki airportthe Patriarchal escort departed by air for the city of Joensuu.

Upon arrival at Joensuu airport in the evening, His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III and His escort were cordially received by  His Eminence Archbishop of Karelia and the whole of Finland, Leon,  His Eminence Arsenios Bishop of Joensuu, priests of the Archdiocese, and Greek speaking personnel.

In the evening, after a brief rest, His Eminence Leon Archbishop of Karelia hosted a dinner banquet in honour of His Beatitude and His Escort. During this dinner, an interesting discussion took place concerning the Orthodox Church of Finland and the program for the subsequent days of the visit, which would be posted as a briefing on the world wide web.

Thus are the preliminaries of the visit of His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III at the Autonomous Orthodox Church of Finland as a prelude for the visit of the Patriarch of Jerusalem to the Church of Finland.

Chief Secretary’s Office.

ngg_shortcode_2_placeholder

On Thursday, 19^th August/ 2^nd September 2010, the Heads of the Churches of Jerusalem invited  Moslems and Christians in an Iftahr in Notre-Damme Hotel. Among the invitees was the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit with his escort.

In this Iftahr His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III addressed the participants in the name of the Christian Leaders as follows:

“Your Eminences,

Your Excellencies,

Distinguished Members of the Delegation of the World Council of Churches,

Dear Friends,

We greet you this evening in the name of Almighty God.

This Iftahr, hosted by the Leaders of the Churches for the Muslim community of Jerusalem, is a very special occasion for all of us in the Holy Land and especially for the peoples of Jerusalem. Our gathering this evening demonstrates the experience that is ours in this Holy City as we strive to live out the unique cultural and religious character of Jerusalem.

Our faith in the One God, and our religious diversity, find a unity in Jerusalem. Our diversity is not a cause of difficulty and misunderstanding, but a cause of private and public strength. Here we see that the essential values of our monotheistic religious traditions have a common root. And we Muslims and Christians take pride in being the stewards and servants of the sacred heritage that has been passed down to us by the great leaders Omar ibn al Khattab and Patriarch Sophronios of Jerusalem.

On this occasion this evening we are glad to be able to welcome distinguished guests in the delegation from the World Council of Churches, headed by the new Secretary General, the Reverend Dr Olav Tveit. The World Council of Churches has committed itself to promote love of God and neighbor, peace, mutual respect, justice and reconciliation, which are religious values that we all share.

As we gather together to share this Iftahr, we are reminded that, despite the challenges before us as the peoples of this Holy City and this Holy Land, we are people of faith and God is our living hope. We remain firm in our mission here to preserve the Holy Land as a place where people of different religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds may live together in peaceful and genuine co-existence.

May our God in heaven, who is the author and creator of our common humanity, give us the strength ad the courage to remain steadfast in the unique mission of Jerusalem. And may we show the world that is by prayer that the human community builds is firm foundation. For we are in Jerusalem a community of prayer.

May God bless you all”.

Chief Secretary’s Office.

On Sunday the 16^th / 29^th of August 2010, His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III received the General Secretary of the WCC (World Council of Churches) Reverend Dr. Olav Tveit, accompanied by hiscolleagues, at the Patriarchate.

His Beatitude pronounced the blessings of Jerusalem to the recently elected General Secretary of the WCC. This election was made by the Central Committee of the WCC convened during the months of August and September 2009,  with duties being assumed from the beginning of the year 2010. Reverend Dr. Olav Tveit, in order for Reverend Dr. Olav Tveit to be able to continue his mission on behalf of the Christian rapprochement for the protection of human rights and for the peaceful coexistence between nations and religions, as an ecclesiastic and not as a  secular organization, as a place of prayer and of theological dialogue and not as a place of political activities.

The General Secretary explained to His Beatitude that he strongly wishes to renew communication with the Land where the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Christ took place.

His Beatitude emphasized how important it is for the Patriarchate to contribute to thepreservation  of the Christian character of the city of Jerusalem and of its status as an open city to the adherents and believers of all religions.

The General Secretary asked about the renewal of the negations between Israelis and Palestinians and of the prospect of progress of these negations, His Beatitude replied that the religious dimension of the problem should be perceived, especially the cardinal one that is situated in the area of the Temple of Solomon and the mutual respective acceptance amongst the two nations, Israeli and Palestinian.

When asked to comment upon the situation in Gaza His Beatitude  detailed the work done by the Patriarchate from the beginning ofand throughout the crisis that started two years ago.

The General Secretary said the World Council of Churches pledges to stand by and support this work of the Patriarchate.

The General Secretary presented  His Beatitude with a symbolic present from the WCC, and His Beatitude presented him with the book by Dr. Fotios Dimitrakopoulos on the traditional place of Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Jordan River.

His Beatitude referred to the passing crisis of the Council of Churches of the Middle East and the need for assistance from the WCC in order to overcome this crisis.

Chief Secretary’s Office.

ngg_shortcode_3_placeholder

On Monday the 10^th / 23^d of August 2010, the Ambassador of Slovakia to Israel His Excellency Dr. Ivo Hlavacek and the President of the Slovakian Supreme Court The Honourable Mr. Stefan Harabin were received by His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III at the Patriarchate.

Welcoming them, His Beatitude elaborated to the honourable guests on the work performed by the Patriarchate and its mission in the Holy Land from its conception in the early era of the Judeo–Christian Community of Jerusalem until the present day.

The President of the Supreme Court expressed his feelings of gratitude for the reception at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which is lauded for its considerably important pastoral work and long history.

On the occasion of this visit, the President of the Supreme Court offered  His Beatitude a seal, a symbol of human justice, and His Beatitude offered  the President the book by Mr. Votokopoulos on the illustrated manuscripts of the Central Library of the Patriarchate and memorabilia of the Sacred Shrines.

After the visit at the Patriarchate the honourable visitors venerated the Holy Sepulchre at the Church of Ressurection.

Chief Secretary’s Office.

ngg_shortcode_4_placeholder

On the evening of the feast of the Transfiguration, 6^th / 19^th of August 2010 ,and upon his return from the celebration of the feast on Mount Tabor,  His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III received the Minister of Regional Development & Infrastructure of Georgia His Excellency Mr. Ramaz Nikolaishvili at the Patriarchate along with the members of his escort and members of the Israeli Police of Jerusalem.

The Minister Explained to His Beatitude that since he had visited Him two years ago the relations between the Church and the State of Georgia have been advanced to the best degree possible.

In response His Beatitude said that the Patriarchate has always maintained close ties with Georgia as well as properties, Churches and Glebes in that country;  furthermore, nowadays, the Patriarchate finds itself in the pleasant position to regularly receive  Georgian pious worshippers that venerate the Holy Shrines.

The Minister thanked His Beatitude for the reception and presented  Him with gifts, souvenirs from the cultural treasures of Georgia which were retrieved from the storm of atheism.  His Beatitude presented  the Minister and his escorts with a descriptive book about the illustrated manuscripts of the Patriarchate’s Central Library, medals of the Patriarchate representing the 2000 years of Christianity and pectoral gold crosses.

Chief Secretary’s Office.

ngg_shortcode_5_placeholder

On Monday the 3^d / 16^th of August 2010 the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska His Excellency Mr. Milorad Dodik, accompanied by the Diplomatic Representative of the Republic to the State of Israel  and by representatives of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was received by His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III.

Within the framework of this visit, the Prime Minister addressed His Beatitude as follows: «I am pleased that I am visiting, for the second time, the Holy Places.  I convey to You the respects of the Bishops, the priests and of the devout people of Republika Srpska.  I reminisce about my visit as the representative of Srpska for the celebration of the 2000 years of Christianity by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, when I was also decorated by Your Predecessor the late Patriarch of Jerusalem Diodoros.

The majority of the people of Srpska are Orthodox Christians who foster feelings of respect and high esteemfor the Patriarch of Jerusalem.  Republika Srpska is an autonomous state within the state of Serbia».

Welcoming the Prime Minister, His Beatitudereplied: «we follow the effected changes as well as the ones taking place in the Republic of Serbia (Republika Srbija) and Republika Srpska.  We wish that religion, namely the Christian Orthodox Religion, will play its unifying role for the Serbian people.  We have full confidence only in God.  We rest our hopes in God and the Orthodox Church.  We, the Orthodox, believe and contemplate the Resurrection through the prism of the Holy Cross».

The Prime Minister presented  His Beatitude with a painting depicting Banja Luka, the capital of Srpska.

His Beatitude offered  the Prime Minister a commemorative medal representing the 2000 years of Christianity, a book about the illustrated manuscripts of the Central Library of the Patriarchate and an icon of the of the Holy Sepulchre.

After  visiting  the Patriarchate, His Excellency the Prime Minister, along with his entourage, visited, in order to venerate, the Church of Resurrection.

Chief Secretary’s Office.

ngg_shortcode_6_placeholder

On Tuesday 21^st of July / 3d of August 2010, a group of African Religious Leaders, Christian and Muslim, led by Rabbi Dr. David Rozen, visited the Patriarchate.  Coming from 6 African countries and numbering around 15 persons, they were received by His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III.  They were invited by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the American Jewish Committee as religious leaders of Muslim and Christian Communities in Africa, for the purpose of exploring possibilities for a more in depth dialogue and closer religious cooperation with the Middle East, all for the benefit of the peace process which currently remains at an impasse.

His Beatitude spoke to them about the existence and the work of the Patriarchate from the beginning of Christianity and of the Patriarchate’s relationship with Islam from 638 AD when the Patriarch of Jerusalem Sophronios surrendered Jerusalem to Omar Hatamb.

«The role of the Patriarchate», explained His Beatitude, «is to contribute to the pacification and the conciliation of people, amongst which the Patriarchate lives, moves and acts.  The political solution to the problem of Jerusalem requires the religious solution”

At the conclusion of the visit, His Beatitude presented them with the book by Mr. Votokopoulos on the illustrated manuscripts of the Library of the Patriarchate, a medal of the Patriarchate issued on the occasion of the two millennia of Christianity, and the photo-album of Mrs. Gali Tibbon on the Church of Resurrection and on the Orthodox ceremonies taking place therein as the navel of the Earth.

Chief Secretary’s Office.

ngg_shortcode_7_placeholder