The Israel Museum is situated in West Jerusalem near the Church of the Holy Cross of the Patriarchate and close to the Knesset of the State of Israel and near the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.  This Museum was created and has been operating since 1965 with the inspiration of the Mayor of Jerusalem at that time, Teddy Kolek and through his collaboration with many representatives of successive Israeli Governments and of the Jewish society.  Alfred Mansfield & Dora Gad were the architects of the Museum.

During the last three years, through the rigorous efforts and actions of the Director of the Museum for 13 years, Mr. James Snyder and of the Architects ‘Caprenter’s & Efrat Kowalsky’, it has been renovated with regard to the structural and building elements of its three wings, the halls and the manner of arranging and exhibiting its artifacts, with the purpose of better achieving its educational aims.  The cost of these works amounted to one hundred million (100,000,000) US dollars.

This indeed ambitious, multifaceted and noteworthy project was accomplished during the planned short duration of three years and included exterior structural alterations, reconstructions and addenda which preserved the blending of the building with the natural surroundings of the valley and hillside of the Church of the Holy Cross (Minzar Ha-Matzlevah).  With these construction works, the surface area of the Museum floor-space was increased from 100,000 square metres to 200,000 m².

The occasion of the renovation was celebrated with an inauguration ceremony which took place on Sunday, the 12^th / 25^th of July 2010 in an open area of the museum constructed in an amphitheatre design.

On behalf of the Patriarchate, His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III and the Elder Chief Secretary of the Patriarchate His Eminence Aristarchos Archbishop of Constantina were invited to attend the ceremony.

Honouring the ceremony with their presence were the Prime Minister of the State of Israel Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, the President of the State His Excellency Mr. Shimon Peres, the Minister of Welfare & Social Services of Israel Mr. Isaac Herzog, and other Ministers, the Mayor of Jerusalem Mr. Nir Barkat, highest ranking government and academic representatives, Ambassadors and Consuls of States to the State of Israel, all in the midst of a dense public.

This audience was addressed by the Director of the Museum Mr. James Snyder, the President of the State of Israel His Excellency Mr. Shimon Peres, the Prime Minister His Excellency Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Mayor of Jerusalem Mr. Nir Barkat.

In his address, the Director of the Museum Mr. Snyder thanked all those who contributed to the renovation project, the government representatives, the architects ‘Carpenter’s & Efrat Kowalsky’, the personnel and, the sponsors, many of whom were present.  The other speakers, the Prime Minister and the President, emphasized the tenacity and the dynamic spirit of Mr. Snyder and the precision and professionalism of the work accomplished by him.

After the conclusion of the inauguration ceremony, members of the audience were invited, if they so wished, to take part in a guided tour of the Museum halls with their new arrangement of floor-space and the artifacts exhibit.

Chief Secretary’s Office.

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On Wednesday the 9^th / 22^nd of July 2010, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Ukraine His Excellency Mr. Kostyantyn Gryshchenko  visited the Patriarchate of Jerusalem accompanied by the Ambassador of Ukraine to the State of Israel His Excellency Mr. Hennadii Nadolenko. His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III addressed the honourable guests as follows:

“We welcome you with joy, Your Excellency, at our Patriarchate.  As you know, the Patriarchate has and performs a significant role at the Holy Shrines and in the peace process in the Holy Land.  The history of the Patriarchate is the history of the Holy Land.  The Patriarchate maintains close ties with, initially, Judaism and since the 7th century with Islam.  The role of the Patriarchate is instrumental in the shaping of the status quo of Jerusalem.  The Patriarchate has preserved and sustained the Holy Places-Holy Shrines whilst maintaining a close relationship with Ukraine which has a rich cultural heritage”.

Replying His Excellency Mr.Hryshenko said:

“It is true that we are aware of the role of the Patriarchate in the Holy Land and the efforts the Patriarchate is putting forth for the unity of the people in the Ukraine and the opinions that you have expressed on this”.

His Beatitude presented His Excellency with an icon of the Holy Sepulchre and the book by Mr. Vokotopoulos on the manuscripts of the Patriarchate Library. His Excellency then reciprocated by presenting His Beatitude with a depiction of the Parliament of Ukraine and a book on the cultural treasures of Ukraine.

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Within the framework of his two day visit to the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the Prime Minister of Greece, His Excellency Mr. George Papandreou, visited the Patriarchate of Jerusalem on Wednesday, the 8^th / 21^st of July 2010, around 7:00 pm.

The Prime Minister was received at David’s Gate, by the Elder Chief Secretary of the Patriarchate His Eminence Aristarchos Archbishop of Constantina and by the coordinator of Ceremonies Rev. Archimandrite Fr. Porfyrios.

Thence, approaching the Patriarchate, he was shown around the grounds of the Christian neighborhood of the Patriarchate surroundings and of the Greek Community.  At the junction of the streets of the School of Saint Demetrios and of the Patriarchate, and below his house, the physician Mr. John Tlyle, one of the elders of the Greek Community, received him and presented him with his book entitled “I am Jerusalem”.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Mr. Demitrios Droutsas, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. George Petalotis, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Government Spokesperson, Mr. Yiannis Zeppos Ambassador and Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with members of his political entourage and by the Ambassador of Greece to Israel His Excellency Mr. Kyriakos Loukakis, the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem His Excellency Mr. Sotirios Athanasiou and a number of Greek and international journalists.  The Prime Minister was received and welcomed with honour and acclaim by the Archbishops members of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, Priests and monks of the Patriarchate and members of the Greek Community at the entrance of the Central Monastery, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The Prime Minister was then greeted by His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III at the entrance of the Throne Hall.

Following the Greeting, His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos addressed His Excellency the Prime Minister of Greece as follows:

“Your Excellency Prime Minister,

The eminent Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre today receives and welcomes Your Excellency and distinguished escorts at the august Patriarchate of Jerusalem, with abundant joy. Your peaceful and mediating visit to this region of the Holy Land, which exhibits a political and religious turmoil and where the three Monotheistic religions namely Judaism, Christianity and Islam coexist is of important significance.

It entails particular significance, both for our Patriarchate, which embodies the holy and secular history of Jerusalem diachronically, a history which is connected with the multicultural amplitude of Romiosini and thus, with the history of the Christians in Palestine,  Jordan, and of course Israel, and moreover for our venerable genus and nation which said nation constitutes the moral and material patron and, even more so, the natural guarantor of the inalienable and ab antiquo vested privileges and sovereign rights on the Holy  Shrines with a worldwide character.

The religious and spiritual mission of the Rum Orthodox (Greek Orthodox) Patriarchate, based on the holy scriptures and evangelical commandments: “love thy neighbour as yourself”, (Mathew 19, 19), as well as “love thy enemies . . . you are rightly doing so to your enemies”, (Mathew 5, 44), this  constitutes a vehicle of respect towards the each person and on the other hand provides us with a place of peaceful coexistence and  conciliation among the followers of other religions and dogmas.

We say this now more than  ever before, that the Patriarchate today emerges as a natural and moral institutional factor, one which can contribute towards the solution of the theocratic or the religious Gordian knot that pertains to the diplomatic and political status quo of the future of Jerusalem (it is understood of the Old City of Jerusalem).

This is attested by the fact of the local and international recognition of the standing of the Patriarchate via its participation, not only in interreligious and interchristian dialogues but also, in international political – social conferences.

Your Excellency, Prime Minister,

Being grateful for your genuine interest in the Holy Places and in the Palestinian people as affirmed by the respected Greek Government and You personally, we ask you to accept the wishes of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre and Our Patriarchal blessings towards the success of Your peace mission to the region.

Furthermore, please accept this decoration of the Grand Cross of the Holy Sepulchre, as an expression of our deep appreciation towards your person and support to the governance and the  financial-political task that you are undertaking with such patience and determination.

Thank you”

Following the address, His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, decorated His Excellency Mr. George Papandreou the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic with the Order of the Grand Cross of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre along with the golden necklace as a sign of recognition and accolade for his services to the Hellenic Republic, the nation and to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Visibly moved, His Excellency the Prime Minister of Greece Mr. George Papandreou responded with the following:

“Your Beatitude, it is for me and for the whole of Christianity an exceptional honour to have bestowed upon me this highest medal, that of the Grand Cross of the Holy Sepulchre, and I will carry this cross with the utmost honour and respect, as a symbol of the unbreakable bond between Greece, Fatherland of the Greek People and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Holy Places.  I thank you especially for this honour, which will remain unforgettable for me”.

In addition, His Beatitude offered the Prime Minister an icon of the Nativity, done on the occasion of the celebration of the 2000 years of Christianity.  The Prime Minister reciprocated by presenting His Beatitude a round silver plate with the depicting the 12 Apostles.

Subsequently His Excellency the Prime Minister signed the visitors book and venerated at the Chapel of Sacred Pentecost adjacent to the Throne Hall.

Following this, His Beatitude and His Excellency, accompanied by members of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, descended to the Church of Resurrection where they venerated the Stone of Anointing, the Life Giving Tomb of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ-the Holy Sepulchre, and then proceeded to the Catholicon of the Church, venerated the Holy Calvary and the Holy Cross which is located at the Office of the Church of Resurrection.

From the Church of Resurrection the Prime Minister departed in order to carry out his peace mission to the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Chief Secretary’s Office.

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On Friday 26^th of June / 9^th of July 2010, His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III received a group of around 50 pilgrims who had come to venerate the Holy Places within the framework of a pilgrimage embarked upon by the Non Governmental Organization ‘Romiosini’ the purpose of which was the support and promotion of the Holy Shrines and their preservation by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

This pilgrimage included Egypt, the pyramids and the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai and, in the north and the south of the Holy Land, all the Holy Shrines including, primarily, the Church of Resurrection and the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III addressed the members of ‘Romiosini’ elaborating on the work done by the Patriarchate and the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepuchre in guarding and preserving the Holy Places of Christianity in the Holy Land. His Beatitude then presented them with souvenirs of the Holy Places praising them for their endeavours and unwavering support given to the august Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

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On Wednesday 10^th – 23^rd of June 2010, His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III decorated Dr. Aissa Hanna, member of the Arab-speaking Orthodox flock of our Patriarchate. Dr. Hanna is employed at the Palestinian Authority’s Presidential Office serving by the President Mahmud Abbas Abu Mazen and the Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

His Beatitude decorated Dr. Aissa Hanna with the order of the Orthodox ‘Cross-Bearer of the Holy Sepulchre’.

His Beatitude received Dr. Hanna at the Patriarchate noting “that the Patriarchate is regarded as Dr. Hanna’s home and of all Palestinians, Christian and Muslim. We cordially welcome Dr. Hanna to the Patriarchate and to the Holy City of Jerusalem.

We praise him for his numerous years of ethical and substantive interest in favour of the Patriarchate’s Communities. We hereby decorate Dr. Aissa Hanna with the order of the ‘Cross Bearer of the Holy Sepulchre”.

Dr. Hanna with deep emotion expressed his gratitude and promised to His Beatitude that he will dedicate all his powers in serving the Church and Country.

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1. Visit of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, NIKOLA SPIRIC.

On Monday, 1^st of June/14^th of June 2010, His Beatitude received the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Nikola Spiric. The Chairman of the Council of Ministers expressed his gratitude to His Beatitude for the reception and conveyed regards from the citizens of the region of Bosnia and Herzegovina where he comes from. He said that inhabitants of this region have paid the forfeit of the war. Furthermore, he implored His Beatitude to pray for their peace and prosperity. 

His Beatitude informed Mr. Spiric that He follows the political developments and that He is aware of the events in the Balkans and in Serbia. The Patriarchate, as a representative of all Orthodox Nations in the Holy Land, undertakes a pacifying role in the region and receives pilgrims from all countries.

“The Patriarchate”, according to His Beatitude, “guarantees the unity of the various Orthodox Nations from the Holy Land”. The Chairman of the Council of Ministers reaffirmed His Beatitude about his personal endeavours to contribute to the peaceful coexistence of the national and religious minorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Furthermore, His Excellency the Prime minister implored the prayers of His Beatitude for peace, tolerance, coexistence and welfare in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

2.  Visit of Pofessor Mr. Kitromilides, His Excellency Mr. Sotiris Athanasiou,His Excellency Mr. Alexander Filon and Ms Fotini Tomai-Konstantopoulou

On Tuesday, the 2^nd of June/15^th of June 2010, His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III received Mr. Paschalis Kitromilides, Professor of History at the University of Athens, the General Consul of Greece His Excellency Mr. Sotiris Athanasiou accompanied by the Honorary Ambassador His Excellency Mr. Alexander Filon and Mrs. Fotini Tomai-Konstantopoulou Head of the Historical Archives of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the context of this visit, a discussion was held regarding the Patriarchate’s mission in the Holy Land and various ways were considered by which the Patriarchate and motherland Greece can cooperate more efficiently in facilitating the Patriarchate to better perform its mission.

3. End of the school year at the Patriarchal School of Sion

Following this, His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III received the professors and the students of the Patriarchal School of Sion and blessed them for the end of the school year.

Ioannis Miniadis, a graduate of the School, addressed His Beatitude and conveyed his heartfelt thanks for everything that was offered to him by the Patriarchate and the School during his attendance.

His Beatitude praised the lecturers for their devoted educational work, wished the students of the School happy holidays and a good return to the coming school year of 2010-2011, expressing them His optimism that they will meet the standards become members of the august Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre. He awarded the graduate the ‘Apolyterion’ and wished him a brilliant career.

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On Monday, 25^th of May / 7^th of June 2010, His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III received at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem Mr. Christian Cointat, member of the French Senate, representing French citizens living abroad.

In the context of this visit an interesting and constructive discussion took place regarding Jerusalem and particularly the Holy Places considered as being of outmost spiritual importance for each individual and for religion as a whole.

“Jerusalem”, His Beatitude said, “is the spiritual capital of the world. It is in Jerusalem that the Crucifixion and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ took place. This gives us the strength to be optimistic despite the difficulties. This hope and determination supports our Patriarchate which together with the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulcher performs its religious, social, peaceful and educational mission in the Holy Land.

“Regarding Christian emigration”, His Beatitude continued “exists as a problem which should be dealt with to its roots and not through the prism of politics”

His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III offered to Senator Mr. Christian Cointat and the members of his escort the book by Mr. Vokotopoulos on the illustrated manuscripts of the Patriarchate’s Library.

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On Monday, 1^st / 14^th of June 2010, His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III received his Excellency Mr. Nicola Spiric, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia & Herzegovina. The Chairman of the Council expressed his gratitude to His Beatitude for the cordial welcome and conveyed regards from the citizens of his country who have suffered the consequences of war and implored His prayers for peace and their prosperity.

His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III informed his Excellency Mr. Spiric that He is aware of the difficulties faced by his people and that He keeps abreast of the political developments in the Balkans and former Yugoslavia, noting that the Patriarchate as the representative of all Orthodox Nations in the Holy Land exerts its pacifying role to the area in addition of receiving numerous pilgrims from all countries and nations.

His Beatitude stated that “The Patriarchate ensures the unity for the various Orthodox Nations from the Holy Land”.

The Prime minister reaffirmed his personal efforts in contributing for the peaceful coexistence of the ethnic and religious minorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

His Excellency Mr. Nikola Spiric the Prime minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina implored the prayers of His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III for peace, tolerance, coexistence and prosperity for his country.

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On Wednesday 27^th of May / 9^th of June 2010, His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III received the President of the Parliament of the Serbian Republic, Mr. Igor Radojicic.

The President and his escorts were participating at the Jerusalem International Conference 2010.

During the meeting, His Beatitude talked to the President on matters regarding the Patriarchate’s mission and the role of the Orthodox Church in uniting people of different national identities.

The President of the Parliament presented to His Beatitude a precious volume on the treasures of Serbia. His Beatitude reciprocated by offering to the President and escorts books by the author Mr. Vokotopoulos and souvenirs of Jerusalem.

The President of the Serbian Republic then visited the Church of Resurrection and other Holy Places in the Holy Land.

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The Archbishop of Canterbury of the Anglican Church the Most Reverend Dr. Rowan Williams, a scholar and writer, well disposed towards Orthodoxy, has visited the Holy Land again. Previously he had visited mainly with the aim of aiding the residents of Bethlehem and had invited His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III to participate in the Lambeth Conference of the Anglican Church (19 July -3 August 2008). On Sunday 8^th /21^st of February a reception in his honour was held at the Anglican Church of Saint George the Great Martyr in East Jerusalem by the Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem His Eminence Right Reverend Suheil Dawani. Invited to this reception, amongst others were the representatives of the Christian Churches in the Holy Land, representatives of the Department on Christian Communities of the Ministry of Religion, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel and representatives of the Israeli Police in Jerusalem.

At the reception the Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Reverend Dr. Rowan Williams was welcomed on behalf of the Anglican Church in Jerusalem by the Anglican Bishop His Eminence Suheil S. Dawani who thanked him for his visit to the Holy Land, the land where, he said, Lord Jesus Christ deigned to visit in body and was Incarnated for us, the land where a small flock resides, a Christian Community which is now decreasing due to the political tension. His Eminence Suheil Dawani expressed his wish that the mutual respect between the followers of the three Abrahamic religions will constitute the basis and the foundation for peace in Jerusalem whilst retaining its beauty, which is also essentially its diversity.

In the name of the Christian Churches in the Holy Land His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III addressed the Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Reverend Dr. Rowan Williams. His Beatitude was escorted by His Eminence Isihios Archbishop of Capitolias, His Eminence Aristarhos Archbishop of Constantina, His Eminence Dorotheos Archbishop of Avila, Hierodeacon Fr. Athanasios and the Rum-Orthodox Dr. Halil Andraous.

The address of His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III is as follows:

“Your Grace, the Most Reverend Dr Rowan Williams

Your Eminences

Dear Brothers and Sisters

Distinguished guests

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven”. (Mathew 5:13-16).

On behalf of church leaders in the holy land, We welcome His Grace, The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. rowan Williams to the holy city of Jerusalem.

We are physically only a few hundred meters away from the church of the Holy Sepulcher and a relatively short travel away from Bethlehem’s Church of Nativity.

Despite this close proximity between the two Holy cities, the faithful cannot visit one or the other freely. This situation can only be described as tragic. It is hugely unacceptable when political failures are expressed in restricting freedom of worship especially at a time when we, religious leaders, push for inter-religious dialogue and the principles of convergence and coexistence.

But not all dissimilar ideologies deal with their differences using the same methods practiced by politicians. The convergence between the Orthodox Church and the Anglican Communion carries in its spirit a role model for bringing together diverse ideologies throughout the world.

The dialogue between Orthodox Churches and the Anglican Communion began in 1973, when the Anglican-Orthodox Joint Doctrinal Discussions held its first meeting in Oxford. Through its first phase of 1976, second phase in 1984 and the conclusion of its third phase concluded in the Cyprus Agreed Statement, considerable agreement was reached over a range of issues.

We and Our Jerusalem Patriarchate of Jerusalem share these important intentions and drive for these honorable fraternal relations.

Our convergence should be developed to include more faiths and take hands –on forms of manifestation through cooperation to achieve justice and peace so as to ultimately bridge the distance between the church of Nativity and the church of Holy Sepulcher.

The current political misfortune lived in the Middle East, especially in our beloved Holy Land, carries within its reality tragic human experiences. We church leaders, guardians of faiths and carriers of holy messages intend and persevere to effect a continuation to merge through dialogue that produces practical unified vision on how responsibility can be taken towards achieving justice and peace and forming a conduit for diffusing tension and support for positive political action.

We speak with utmost sincerity about our existence as clergy and about efforts towards the realization of justice, peace and stability. At the same time, we have to be very cautious in taking the religious dimension of the political conflict and not to mistaken it for a political tool but rather as an integral part of the conflict’s resolution.

Such responsibility may touch upon causing a change in the moral climate that governs this part of the world. Such change, given the nature of the relation between human and religion in the Holy Land, can only be achieved through the solid will of religious leaders and when encouragement is given to our respective congregations to rediscover the true meaning of justice and peace in the ultimate spiritual context.

We believe that we are in the company of one of the world leaders in promoting dialogue and coexistence. The work of Your Grace in this aspect has been inspirational, to say the least, to many of us who share the same values and vision, We commend the statement given Al-Azhar University in Cairo in the Third anniversary of the 11^th of September terrorist attacks, when Your Grace pointed that the followers of the will of God should not be led into ways of violence. This drives Us to say: no doubt in my mind that The Most Reverend Rowan Williams is one of the utmost “Orthodox” believers in justice and peace for all human kind.

We would also like to extend our thanks and gratitude to our host and friend Bishop Suheil Duawani who has showed great responsibility in supporting and cooperating with many initiatives and events that serve the purpose of promoting Justice and Peace in the Holy Land.

Thank you”.

In response, the Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Reverend Dr. Rowan Williams said the following:

‘For someone to live in Jerusalem or to visit it is a grace, a blessing, a gift from God, a challenge and an opportunity to self-reflect. The work of God for mankind in the Holy Land urges and implores us to empathize with Jerusalem.  Jerusalem is a city in which all nations are called upon to live ‘Let’s rise to the mount of the Lord’. This happened on the day of Pentecost and it happens also today. Jerusalem is destined to have its gates open to everyone, but for some they are closed. For some, entrance is excluded.’

‘The way of life for the inhabitants throughout the centuries in a Jerusalem which had its doors open to everyone, sets the example for peace in the present. Let’s remember the words of the ancient ascetic hermits “our life and our death entirely depends upon the life and death of our neighbour. If our neighbour lives, we live also with him; if he dies we also die with him”.

The following Monday 9^th/23^rd February 2010, the Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Reverend Dr. Rowan Williams, escorted by His Eminence Michael Jackson Anglican Bishop of Ireland, His Eminence Suheil Dawani Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem and other clergy, visited His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III at the Patriarchate.

During this visit His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III addressed the Archbishop of Canterbury as follows:

“Your Grace, Archbishop Rowan

Bishop Suheil,

Bishop Michael,

Your Eminences,

Dear Fathers

With great joy we welcome you, Your Grace Archbishop Rowan, and those with you, to our Patriarchate once again.

As we welcome you, we remember with deep gratitude our time with you at the Lambeth Conference in Canterbury and the Walk of Witness against Global Poverty in London in 2008. We honor you in your archpastoral ministry of peace and justice both at home and around the world, and we recognize the care and concern that you have always shown to the Holy Land. We commend your thoughtfulness, and the wisdom and discretion that always mark your words and deeds.

We are also appreciative of the way in which, by your writings and your primatial ministry, you have helped to deepen the knowledge of Orthodoxy among Western Christians and thereby helped to a lay a further foundation for the unity of all Christians.

Your efforts to articulate the message of the Gospel in an increasingly secularized society are a reflection in a different place of the ministry of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem here to maintain the sacredness of Jerusalem and the integrity of the Holy Places in our region.

Jerusalem forms a kind of “universal parish”. Here millions of pilgrims come every year – Jews, Christians, Muslims and even those of no particular religious affiliation – and it is the special ministry of the Patriarchate to offer spiritual consolation and encouragement to all who come in search of the presence of God.

We know that you understand that a strong and vibrant Patriarchate ensures a strong and vibrant Christian presence in the Holy Land. We value your efforts on our behalf and we continue to ask for your prayers as we seek to be a living sign in the Holy Land of the message of mutual respect, reconciliation and peace that is our responsibility in the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

And in asking for your prayers we assure you of our own prayers for you and for the unity and well-being of the Anglican Communion with which, for so many generations, the Orthodox Church has enjoyed such close and mutually beneficial relations.

Despite the current tensions within the Anglican Communion, we continue to be committed to dialogue. Our dialogue helps us all to re-discover the shared sources of the fullness of the Christian faith, especially in the Holy Scriptures as well as the Church Fathers and Saints whom we hold in common. It is by returning to the shared heritage, we believe, that we shall find the best way of healing the divisions that keep us separated from each other. For it is not in administrative structures or any form of accommodation, but in faith, that our unity in Christ will be firmly established.

This year Christians in both the East and the West enjoy the opportunity of celebrating the Feast of the Resurrection on the same day, and so we have also entered into the fast of Great Lent together.

‘Attend, O Heaven, and I will speak, and will sing of Christ,

who came to dwell among us in flesh which he took from the Virgin’.

We sing these words at the beginning of Great Lent in the Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete, and they remind us of the truth that we begin Lent with the remembrance of the Incarnation of the Logos. Our celebration of the Sunday of Orthodoxy yesterday is just this, an affirmation that God came to share our human nature, and so to teach us that our human nature comes from the same divine source.

In this spirit of our common humanity redeemed by Our Lord Jesus Christ, we bestow our Patriarchal blessing on your trip to the Holy Land, and we thank you again for your visit to the Patriarchate”.

To this address the Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Reverend Dr. Rowan Williams responded broadly as follows:

‘It is for us, Your Beatitude, Bishop of the Jerusalem Church, a particular pleasure to meet with you again. We highly appreciate the stance of your Church and Your acceptance and participation in the Lambeth Conference. We pray for your Church as the local Church of Jerusalem that contributed greatly in conserving the Christian presence and identity in the Holy Land. The increasing presence of Christians in the Holy Land is a gift from God to the world. This is indeed possible because the Lord said to Paul, the Apostle of the Nations:  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (B’ Corinthians 12,9)

Regarding the ‘Sunday of Orthodoxy’ which You celebrated yesterday, the Anglican Church views the decision of the 7^th Ecumenical Synod on the reinstatement of the Holy Icons that they truly reflect the uncreated Light of the Lord and from Him as a source is diffused to the (faces) Saints. For all this we thank God and we thank Your Beatitude for the testimony which You give.

In light of the forthcoming visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury to Gaza the following day, His Beatitude spoke regarding the support of our Patriarchate for the people who were affected during last year’s clashes. His Beatitude spoke to the Archbishop of Canterbury about the financial and managerial crisis of the Middle East Council of Churches and the efforts of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem to upgrade its role as a Christian organization, empowering it to be a single unified Christian voice and a testament for Christians in the Middle East and for the peaceful co-existence of Christians and Muslims. For this His Beatitude requested the support of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

When asked about his Church, the Archbishop of Canterbury explained that it is founded on the apostolic faith and tradition, in which its structure is not hierarchical but based on a collective way of life and administration. However this system has a weakness in co-operation which sometimes creates difficulties, because each of the thirty one (31) Anglican Churches sometimes decides on its own regarding issues which require a collective undertaking and decision making process such as bioethics, sexuality and women in the priesthood, etc.

The Most Reverend Dr. Rowan Williams said ‘This is why we invited other Christian Churches, like Yours, to the Lambeth Conference to listen and to be of help. We have accepted the ordination of women into the priesthood and we are already facing the ordination of women to the level of Bishop which has become a serious problem for us.

In addition the Church of England takes part constitutionally in the issuing of state laws. This privilege is difficult because the truth has to be confessed in a secular environment’.

‘The Church of England has experienced a decline in the participation in sacraments of its believers over the last fifty years. In the last twenty years protestant groups have emerged with intentions rather of evangelizing and not so in participating in the sacraments.

However in the last five to six years around five hundred New Congregations of our Anglican Church have surfaced. This is encouraging, as well as the advent of approximately twenty people who were ordained into the priesthood. I consider these to be signs of God’s Grace within our Church, for which we implore Your prayers’.

His Beatitude concluded by referring to the historical connections of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem with the Anglican Church and the British Commonwealth. His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III thanked the Anglican Church for their help towards the church of Jerusalem in Qatar during the first stages of its founding there and accepted an invitation from the Archbishop of Canterbury for an official visit to the Anglican Church when time permits.

His Beatitude offered the Archbishop of Canterbury a commemorative gift for his visit to the Patriarchate, a ceramic icon of ‘Theotokos of Bethlehem’ and the Patriarchate’s precious publication of sacred objects with illustrations from the Church of Resurrection edited by Professor Nikolaos Olymbiou. To the escort of the Archbishop, His Eminence Michael Jackson Bishop of Ireland, His Beatitude offered a book of illuminated manuscripts of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem by Professor Vokotopoulos. To the rest of the escorts, medals were given depicting 1500 years of the history of Jerusalem together with a photo album on ceremonies of Jerusalem by photographer Ms. Gali Tibbon.

The Archbishop of Canterbury kindly reciprocated by offering his Beatitude a volume of prose by English authors regarding the spirituality of the Anglican Church.

Also present at the meeting was the elderly Jerusalemite Dr. Ioannis Tlil, an old and distinguished member of the Church and Jerusalem’s community, who offered to the Archbishop of Canterbury a book entitled ‘I am Jerusalem’. This was followed by a commemorative photograph taken for the visit of the Anglican delegation with His Beatitude at the Throne.

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