On Saturday, the 8^th/21^st of November 2015, the Patriarchate observed the feast of the Gathering of the Apostles Michael and Gabriel and all the heavenly Bodiless Powers in the city of Joppa, at the homonymous Monastery by the sea. The divine Liturgy was led by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem. Co-officiating were: Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth; Archbishops Damascene of Joppa, Aristarchos of Constantina, Nektarios of Anthedon; Metropolitan Joachim of former Zambia; Hieromonks as Archimandrite Ieronymos, hegoumen in Fhes, Jordan; Archimandrite Bartholomew, Archimandrites Alexandros and Leontios of the Russian MISSIA in Jerusalem; Archimandrite Nephon, Archdeacon Evlogios, Hierodeacon Markos and Archimandrite Timofti of the Monastery of the Archangels. Head cantor Mr Martinakos, invited by the Archbishop of Joppa, sang on the right in Greek whilst the Choir of Joppa sang in Arabic. In attendance were the Greek ambassador to Israel, Mr Spyridon Lamprides, the Ambassador of Cyprus and other diplomats.

To the pious congregation His Beatitude preached the Word of God in Greek.

The divine Liturgy was followed by reception at the hegoumeneion, then by lunch hosted by Archbishop Damascene of Joppa.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/7pe10xkY-wQ

httpv://youtu.be/rQ3UYTte8p8

On Wednesday, the 5^th/18^th of November 2015, at noon, the new Consul-General of the United States to Jerusalem, Mr Donald Blome, visited the Patriarchate. He was accompanied by associates of his.

The new Consul-General was welcomed by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers.

An interesting discussion took place in the context of the visit on the position of Christians in the Holy Land, on their number and immigration, as well as on the refugees and the need to offer financial assistance to Christians in Christian minority schools. Reference was made on the importance placed by the Patriarchate on education and the schools it maintains in Jerusalem, the Village of the Shepherds, Ramallah, Joppa and Remli in Israel, and in Amman, Fhes, Madeba in Jordan.

Also discussed at the meeting was the unruly political situation in Israel and the Palestinian Autonomy as well as the conciliatory and peace-making role undertaken by the Patriarchate in its capacity as guard and keeper of the Holy Shrines, protector of its flock and all Christians in the Holy Land.

The Consul-General of the United States said how much he appreciated the work performed by the Patriarchate and expressed his will for cooperation and support.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/s085QSKNTbA

On Wednesday, the 5^th/18^th of November 2015, a group of Greek journalists on a visit to Israel’s Foreign Ministry visited the Patriarchate after venerating at the Church of the Resurrection and the Holy Sepulcher.

They were welcomed by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, who went on to talk to them about the unstable situation in the Middle East, the refugee problem, and the position of Orthodox Christians in the region, before answering questions on theological matters.

On the conclusion of the meeting, His Beatitude offered guests an icon of Panagia Jerusalemite and other Jerusalemite eulogias.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/IMf41fHlXoA

On Monday, the 3^rd/16^th of November 2015, the Patriarchate commemorated the translation of the relics of St George the Great Martyr and Trophy Bearer, and the inauguration of the church dedicated to his name in Lydda (Lod) in the 4^th c. AD.

The relics of St George had been translated from Rome, where he had suffered a martyr’s death, to Lydda, the birthplace of his mother, where it was buried in a tomb over which a magnificent church was constructed on the instructions of St Helena. The church opened on the 3^rd of November, the day on which we celebrate the translation of the saint’s relics, whilst the 23^rd of April commemorates his death.

St George’s Church has suffered damages and attrition throughout the history of Palestine, but has remained one of the Patriarchate’s Shrines and the Church of the Greek Orthodox Arabic-speaking Community in Lydda, numbering approximately 1300 members.

The divine Liturgy was led by Patriarch Theophilos having as concelebrants: Archbishops Damascene of Joppa and Aristarchos of Constantina; Metropolitan Joachim of former Zambia, and Bishop Isaiah visiting from the Czech Lands and Slovakia, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks of neighbouring towns; Archimandrite Sophronios, Hegoumen in Rene; Archimandrite Ieronymos, Hegoumen in Fhes, Jordan; the Head of the Russian MISSIA, Archimandrite Leontios; the Hegoumen in Remle, Archimandrite Niphon, Archdeacon Evlogios and deacon Synesios. Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang with the Community’s cantors in Greek and Arabic in the presence of Mr Alexandros Gennimatas, representative of the Hellenic Embassy to Israel; the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Israel; the Georgian Ambassador and a crowd of faithful that included Greek Orthodox Arabic-speaking locals, as well as visitors from the adjacent towns of Joppa and Remli, but also from Galilee and the occupied areas.

During Communion, His Beatitude preached the Word of God in Greek.

After the distribution of the antidoron and the apolysis, a reception was held at the Hegoumen’s quarters, followed by lunch hosted by Archimandrite Nicodemus and the Community of Lydda.

The representatives of the Embassies of Greece, Cyprus and Georgia attended lunch and were addressed in English by the Chairman of the Community. See link: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2015/11/16/18063

From the Secretariat-General  

httpv://youtu.be/R5av9FBrPLc

httpv://youtu.be/S_boa7KZqjE

On Thursday the 30^th of October/12^th of November 2015, a group of 30 Greek pilgrims from the island of Thera and Ioannina, led by the Most Reverend Epiphanios, Metropolitan of Thera, Amorgos and Islands, visited the Patriarchate. They were accompanied by Archimandrite Christoforos Karamolengos.

The pilgrims were warmly welcomed by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers and the Hegoumen of the Monastery of Chozeba, Archimandrite Constantinos. At the meeting, the Patriarch spoke of the significance of the pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the continuous presence of the Greek parish there since the establishment of the first Apostolic Church of Jerusalem to the present day, the operation of the Highest Theological School of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem and the visits of numerous Greek pilgrims in spite of their country’s adverse situation.

The Metropolitan and accompanying priests thanked His Beatitude for meeting with them and asked for His permission to officiate at Golgotha, the All-holy and Life-giving Sepulcher and the Holy Monastery of Chozeba, to which Metropolitan Epiphanios offered an exact replica of the Holy Icon of Theotokos of Chozeba, the “Hozoviotissa”.

Gifts of love were also offered to His Beatitude, which He reciprocated by offering the Most Reverend Metropolitan an engolpion of mother-of-pearl, an icon of Theotokos Jerusalemite and the “History of the Church of Jerusalem” edition. Eulogias were also offered to all pilgrims.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDOvgLUp9dQ

On Wednesday, the 19th of October/10th of November 2015, a delegation of the Hellenic Coast Guard and the Hellenic Police/Anti-terrorist Service, accompanied by Mr Vasileios Koinis, representing the Greek Consulate-General to Jerusalem, visited the Patriarchate.

The Police delegation, headed by Major General Antonios Bakas, consisted of Mr Eleftherios Chardalias, Ms Zacharenia Makri and Mr Nikolaos Zapaniotis. The Coast Guard delegation, headed by Rear Admiral Nikolaos Patrinos, consisted of Mr Georgios Seferiades, Mr Georgios Koulikas and Mr Argyrios Markopoulos.

Guests were warmly welcomed by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers. In the context of the meeting, the Patriarch referred to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem as the oldest religious institution in the Holy Land, its significance and role there, as well as its religious property, its substantial mediating role for the preservation of the status quo in the Holy City of Jerusalem, its religious character in particular.

On the occasion of the meeting, His Beatitude offered guests Jerusalemite eulogias and the “History of the Church of Jerusalem” edition. On their part, visitors extended thanks for the constructive information, and offered the Patriarch gifts of their love before going on to venerate at the All-holy Church of the Resurrection.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjRMIuBfGm8

On the morning of Friday, the 24^th of October/6^th of November 2015, Greek University Rectors visited the Patriarchate, accompanied by the representative of the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Consul Vasileios Koinis.

The Rectors were: Mr Nikos Mylonas of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mr Constantinos Gatsios of the Athens University of Economics, Mr Pericles Mitkas of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Mr Achilleas Zapranis of the University of Macedonia, Mr Nikolaos Kanellopoulos of the Democritus National Centre for Scientific Research, Mr Vasileios Digalakis of the Technical University of Crete and Mr Spyridon Anastasiades of the Institute of Technology and Research.

The distinguished Rectors were warmly welcomed by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers. At the meeting, the Patriarch talked of the Patriarchate’s position in the Holy Land through times, especially of its peace-making and balancing role in the political instability of the relation between Israelis and Palestinians, even in Jerusalem. He also referred to the preservation of the city’s status quo and indelible religious character.

The Rectors thanked His Beatitude for His words and presents and went on to ask for His blessing before carrying on a pilgrimage to the Holy Sepulcher and the other Shrines.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/vxXu_mlg1TE

3–4 November 2015

Your Beatitude,

Your Eminences,

Your Graces,

Beloved Pastors,

Sisters and Brothers,

We greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and we bring you the greetings of your Cristian sisters and brothers of the Holy Land. At this time of deepening crisis in the Middle East, Christians from every Church and community are united in suffering, and as we come to Egypt, where there have been many sacrifices, we wish to express our solidarity with you.

As we meet in the Executive Committee, we wish to emphasize some issues that we have mentioned before, both to the Middle East Council of Churches and to other meetings.

First we must always do our best to ensure that, as the Leaders of the Churches and Christian communities of the Middle East, we are united. We cannot allow any difference or spirit of rivalry to infect our common witness and common mission. In so many parts of our region, Christians are at risk of violence, persecution, death and exile and no persecutor is concerned with any distinctions.

As the Leadership of the Middle East Council of Churches, therefore, we must show a united front, and ensure that this united front is the sign of united action on behalf of all our faithful. We can, and we must, speak with one voice, so that people both at the Middle East and around the World see that we are working together to stop the horrific crimes that are happening to so many innocent people and that we are also working together to support and care for all those who are in any kind of need.

We recognize a special role for the Christian Leaders here in defending the Christians in this country. Egypt boasts a noble Christian civilization that goes back to the earlier centuries of the Church. Here Christianity came very early from the Holy Land, and here the first ascetics moved to the desert, where the monastic tradition flourishes to this day. Here in modern times, in addition to the Coptic Church, there are the Rum Orthodox, Roman Catholics, as well as the Anglican diocese, the groups of Protestants, all of them indigenous communities of Egyptian Christians. We in the Middle East Council of Churches wish to reassure the Church leaders of our support and encouragement in their pastoral concern for all Christians in this country.

While the Middle East Council of Churches must speak with one voice and help to lead in the service of the Christian communities of the region, we must also be in a willing partner with all people of good will, including Muslim leadership, in opposing extremism and violence, and in securing peaceful co-existence. Ours is a region in which peoples of different faiths, cultures and ethnicities have been able to live side by side for centuries and this is rich cultural diversity must be restored and even strengthened for the well-being of all.

In addition to this, the Middle East Council of Churches must continue to find ways to help the displaced and persecuted at the local level in a range of practical ways. Our relationships with Churches and non-governmental organizations outside our region are crucial. We have an obligation to enable our local communities to work in mature, organized ways and to create effective partnerships between our local communities and those outside our region, who have the capacity and the willingness to make a difference. The existence of many thousands of people in the Middle East worsens with each passing day, and they need specific assistance, from decent accommodation to health care, to education to job training.

As we look to the future, we are planning our next General Assembly. This will be a decisive meeting, and many eyes will be on us, as we respond to the current situation. This meeting will have two sections, the first, the General Assembly itself at which the Secretary General will be elected, and the second the regional and Ecumenical Church Leaders Summit.

We propose and believe that this meeting should take place in a suitable environment, such as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Because of its importance and the large number of people both from our region and around the world who will need to be in attendance, we consider that Jordan provides the most convenient location. In the present state of conflict, Jordan continues to be the country in which it is easiest for all the Middle Eastern leadership to gather, and it is important that we meet in the region and not outside the region if this is at all possible.

We are pleased to say that we have secured the support of His Majesty King Abdullah II for such a gathering, and we have also managed to secure the necessary funding for the meeting to take place in Amman. We encourage the Executive Committee to support the choice of Amman as the site for the Next General Assembly.

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

we face a critical time both for the Middle East Council of Churches and our region. We to whom the leadership of the Churches has been entrusted by divine providence must not shrink from taking decisive action to support an active and vibrant Christian presence in the Middle East and to oppose violence and discrimination of any kind against any individual or community.

We are living witnesses of great risks and immeasurable costs. Too many lives are been lost, too many communities dispersed, too many ancient and Holy Places destroyed. This cannot continue, and the eyes of the world look to us for responsible Christian leadership.

May God bless our common task at this meeting and may God bless all those who are working to bring peace and reconciliation to our region. As we remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ from the Sermon of the Mount:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:6– 10)

 Thank you.

His Beatitude

THEOPHILOS III

Patriarch of Jerusalem.

On Thursday, the 16^th/29^th of October 2015, His Beatitude welcomed the reverend Protopresbyter fr. Antonios Kalogirou, former Principal of the “Apostle Barnabas” Hieratic School of Cyprus. Fr. Antonios was accompanied by a group of sixty pious pilgrims from Cyprus, and Metropolitan Timotheos of Bostra, Exarch of the Holy Sepulcher in Nicosia.

The guests were warmly welcomed by Patriarch Theophilos, who talked to them of the importance of their pilgrimage, of the Holy Shrines in general, that urge pilgrims towards spirituality and the quest of a more devout way of life.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuWPSLI4B_w

On Wednesday, the 15^th/28^th of October 2015, Doxology was performed at the katholikon of the Church of the Resurrection in commemoration of the 28^th of October 1940 National Day.

Doxology was held in the form of gratitude to God for liberating the Greek nation from the 1940-1944 German occupation, and also of supplication for the repose of the soul of those who fought heroically against the tyrant and fell gloriously for the national cause.

Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem led the Doxology with co-officiating Primates and Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, in the presence of Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis, Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem. The service was attended by members of the Greek parish of Jerusalem and of the Rum Orthodox Arabic-speaking flock.

On the conclusion of the service, the Patriarch, Primates and guests walked to the Patriarchate, where His Beatitude addressed everyone in Greek, referring to the Greeks’ struggle against Nazism as a great miracle of mental strength, love for the homeland and unwavering faith to the Crucified and Resurrected Lord.

Mr Zacharoudiakis, the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, also addressed guests in Greek, saying that the 28^th of October has been indelibly marked on our collective consciousness as a foundation of national identity. “Hellenism across the world”, said the Consul-General, “celebrates this day as one of the most glorious chapters in the country’s recent history. Greeks celebrate their magnificent and unanimous decision to defend their moral stature and fight with self-denial for the preservation of their ideals, justice and liberty”.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfwRB6RIyv8