His Beatitude Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem Theophilos III visited the Monastery of St. Georgios in the city of Acre, accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, the General Secretary of the Patriarchate Archbishop Aristarchus, the Metropolitan of Jordan, Archbishop Christophoros, and a group of the esteemed clergy. The patriarchal envoy was received by Archimandrite Silwanos, the deputy of the Patriarchal Vicar in Acre, the venerable fathers, the pastors of the churches, and Mr. Fouad Breik, the head of the Church Council in Acre, as well as the heads and members of the pastoral councils.

During the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude spoke in his sermon about the concept of divine love and zeal that operates in the Church, which the blessed Archimandrite Philotheus possessed through his service to his parish, demonstrating in words his paternalism, his honesty, his ecclesiastical and monastic morals, his close affiliation with the Jerusalem Patriarchate and the brotherhood of the Holy Sepulcher. He also talked about his liturgical and church chanting talent, which moved the believers’ souls to praise and glorification, expressing that his sudden death left a void and sadness in the hearts of everyone who knew him, affirming our hope that he cherished the true vine in Christ, praying to the compassionate God to immerse himself in the trials of the saints.

His Beatitude continued, saying, “The divine grace, through the Holy Spirit, visited the Holy Church in this historic city, through the decision of the Holy Synod to appoint Archimandrite Silwanos to this high position, to carry his message and responsibilities.” A verse, advising him to always remember what the Apostle Paul said to his student Timothy, the apostle Paul gave this strong command: “But flee youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

After His Beatitude held the fortieth day memorial service for the blessed soul of late Archimandrite Philotheos, he went with the accompanying delegation and the faithful to the main hall of the monastery, which from this day is called the “Hall of Archimandrite Philotheos” in his honor. Where a memorial ceremony was held, including a speech by the highly respected Archbishop of Jordan, Christophoros, on behalf of His Beatitude, in which he focused on the spiritual unity that we attained through the Divine Liturgy, as we unite with our risen God, it is our faith and our consolation. He also spoke about the social unity of the people of Acre, and the bond of love and coexistence embodied in preserving the common Christian and Islamic identity. Moving forward to advance the church and the community.

 Other speeches were delivered by His Eminence Sheikh Samir Assi, Father Samer Zaknoun from the Maronite Church, Mr. Iskandar Suleiman from the Galilee Choir, Mrs. Salma Hazboun, and Miss Rania of Sunday Schools, Mrs. Siham Mansi on behalf of the Ladies of St. Grace and Mr. Fouad Brik. Through it, they express the importance of moving through the Lord with the hope of resurrection and eternal life, and the spiritual and architectural work of the Blessed One of the Church and his good social and human sense in the Acre community.

 After the end of the memorial service, Archimandrite Silwanos and the head of the Church Council, Mr. Fuad Barik, hosted His Beatitude and the accompanying delegation and the attendees to a lunch in the monastery, where the meeting was distinguished by the atmosphere of love and comfort.

Towards the end of the visit, His Beatitude and the accompanying delegation bid farewell to the attendees, thanking everyone for the warm reception, hospitality, and the spirit of love that brought the pastor together with his children and flock.

On Friday, July 15/28, 2023, His Beatitude received:

1. The newlyweds Mr Amer Nassar and Mrs Elisabeth Chunk with the groom’s parents and blessed them.
2. A group of believers from the Community of the town Zdeide under Mr Yussef Kassis and Fatherly admonished them.
3. Finally, His Beatitude, accompanied by the Holy Sepulchre Fathers, the conservators Mr Andreas Stavros and Mr Igor from Russia and their collaborators, inspected the preserved and restored chandelier in the Catholicon of the Church of the Resurrection.

From Secretariat-General

On the morning of Thursday, July 14/27, 2023, a Divine Liturgy was held in the Holy Church of the Nativity of the Virgin of the Beit Jala Community under the leadership of its priests, presided over by the Hegoumen Archimandrite Ignatios, with the participation in prayer of the Priests and the Ladies, (approximately 300), from eleven Communities of the Patriarchate of the West Bank of the Palestinian Authority. His Beatitude blessed this liturgical event with the following address:

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”(Ps. 133,1), the psalmist proclaims. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”(Matt. 18,20) the Lord says.

Beloved children in Christ, brothers and sisters.

Our gathering in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in this historic and biblical town of Beit Jala is indeed excellent and pleasant. And this is because, in his Hierarchal prayer, Jesus Christ prays to His God and Father for Himself, His Disciples the Apostles, and all those who will believe in Him, saying: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so, have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes, I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17,17-21).

Interpreting these words of the Lord, Saint Cyril of Alexandria says: “Christ seeks the bond of love, unity and peace, to gather those who believe in Him in the unity of the Holy Spirit”. And Zigavinos says: “Having as a starting point of reference love and unity, Christ concludes in this again, showing that love is God-pleasing and most significant”.

It is noteworthy that this is not referring to a unity of essence, as in the case of the Persons of the Holy Trinity, but of love. It is about the unity of the Spirit that will result from the fact that they will be “one body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling”, having “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Cf. Eph. 4,4-6), as Saint Paul preaches. And according to Saint John the Theologian, Jesus died “that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad” (John 11,52).

 During Christ’s Passion on the Cross, this love, the mother’s love, was primarily shown by His Mother, the Most Blessed Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, and secondly by the myrrh-bearing women. This love was expressed by Lazarus’ sisters, Martha and Mary when they received Christ in their house in Bethany, where Jesus took the opportunity to reprimand Martha with the words, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10,41-42).

Interpreting these words of the Lord, Theophylactos notes: “Great is the benefit of hospitality, which Martha showed, and it cannot be disregarded; however, it is of greater good to pay heed to the spiritual words”. And Zigavinos says: “Jesus said ‘the good part’, not meaning that the other part was evil, but He called ‘good’ the one which was superior. There are two good parts, but the one is better than the other”.

In other words, my beloved children in Christ, the serving of the two sisters Martha and Mary is distinguished in two parts; the care of the body, the daily needs, and the care of the soul, the care of the spiritual needs. Both types of serving by those who love the Church, the vineyard of the Lord, should aim at the glory of the Lord, according to each person’s calling. “Every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that” (1 Cor. 7,7).

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences in administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all” (1 Cor. 12,4-6), the wise Paul preaches.

This means that woman is nowhere less in the struggles of faith, as Saint Chrysostom teaches: “There is no male nor female sex for Christ, neither the nature of man, neither the infirmity of the body, neither age nor anything else of the like which would prevent those who walk in the path of reverence if there is a brave willingness and vigilant mindset and fervent and rooted fear of God in our souls”.

These words of Saint Chrysostom are confirmed by the multitude of the holy women, prophetesses, equal-to-the-apostles, righteous great martyrs and confessors, who are commemorated in the Old and New Testament of the Bible, as well as in the historical course of life of the earthly Church devoted to God. And again, Saint Chrysostom stresses the fact that as far as the struggle for God and the toils for the Church are concerned, it is the woman who engages in good efforts and labours more boldly than man.

It is made clear that the mission of the Christian woman today, “just like that of the holy women of old” (1 Peter 3,5), in the world of confusion, apostasy, lawlessness and “in the day of temptation in the wilderness” (cf. Hebrews 3,8), is more necessary than ever. Therefore, we are called to listen to the Apostle Peter saying: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for He careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5, 6-8).

Our Holy Church of Jerusalem, founded upon the Resurrected Christ’s Blood on the Cross, continues its redeeming mission, according to the Apostolic tradition and that of the Holy Fathers, fortified and encouraged by the Lord’s word: “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16,18).

Finally, we would like to thank all those who contributed to organizing this God-pleasing gathering of the Rum-Orthodox women’s unions, especially the Reverend Father Elias who took this initiative, as well as our dearest Fathers Boutros and Yusef.

May the Grace of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

From Secretariat-General

On Wednesday, July 6 / 19, 2023, the Community Council of Haifa visited H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos for issues related to this Community.

From Secretariat–General

On the morning of Tuesday, July 5 / 18, 2023, H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos accepted the assumed service as Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Israel, Mr Cornelios Corneliou, accompanied by Mrs Irene Trigidou.

His Beatitude informed the Ambassador about the Mission of the Patriarchate to the Holy Land and wished him the blessing of his high mission for the good of his beloved homeland Cyprus in its liberation from the Turkish occupation.

His Beatitude then received the Arabic-speaking Greek Orthodox cardiologist Mr Hisham Nasser with his recently married son Mr Amer Nasser, the former Bishop of the Anglican Church in Jerusalem Mr Suhel Dawani and the former Lutheran Bishop of Jerusalem Mr Munib Yunan.

Finally, His Beatitude received the President of the Community Council of Acre, Mr Fouad Brek, and the Representative of the Kufr Smea Community, Mr Abu Hanna, and discussed with them issues of their Community.

  From Secretariat-General

On Thursday, June 30 / July 13, 2023, the feast of the Synaxis of the Twelve Holy Apostles was celebrated by the Patriarchate.

By saying “Synaxis” the Church, means the gathering of the faithful in the Holy Churches, in order to commemorate the Twelve Holy Apostles, for the sake of the mission they accomplished, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, to preach Christ crucified and resurrected and they “enchanted the whole world”.

This feast was celebrated by the Patriarchate in the Holy Monastery of the Holy Apostles in the city of Tiberias with the Divine Liturgy in the morning, presided over by  His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, with the co-celebration of their Eminences, the Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth and the Archbishop of Aristarchos Constantina, Holy Sepulchre Hieromonks and Arabic-speaking Priests from the neighbouring regions of Galilee. The chanting was delivered by Archimandrite Artemios in Greek sail and by the choir of Acre in Arabic, in the presence of the Consul of Greece in Haifa Mr Constantinos Zenovios and believers of the Galilee region.

To these believers, His Beatitude proclaimed the divine word as follows:

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matt. 28,18-20).

Beloved Brethren in Christ,

Reverend Christians and pilgrims

 The grace of the Holy Spirit that has dwelled on the Holy Twelve Apostles has gathered us all today in this place where Jesus appeared after His resurrection, “by the Sea of Tiberias” (John 21,1), to honour their Synaxis.

The Holy Apostles are the foundation of the faithful members of the body of the Church, as Saint Paul says: “Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone” (Eph. 2,19-20).

And this because the Lord commanded them to first go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, secondly to teach the nations to observe what they had commanded them and thirdly to assure them that this Lord is with of them [the disciples] all the days until the end of the age, (Cf. Matt. 28, 18-20).

These three characteristics of the character of the apostles constitute the apostolic institution of the Church. We say this because the Apostles of Christ received the Grace of the Holy Spirit not morally but essentially. “And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit” (Acts, 13,52) during their sermon in Antioch of Pisidia, the Apostle Luke writes. And to the apostle Peter, the Lord says: “You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of heaven shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

“When the Splendour of the Spirit appeared to you in deed and verity, O wise Apostles, ye all took the fulness of it into yourselves, initiated into lofty teachings in the upper room; and now, as is meet, ye are counted blessed” (Matins, Canon of the twelve, Ode 9, Troparion 2) the hymnographer of the Church proclaims.

On the foundations of the group of the Holy Apostles, those chosen by our Savior Christ, the earthly Church in the world was built, having as its citizens the Christians, who are already according to Paul “fellow citizens of the saints and householders of God » (Eph. 2:19) and “on earth they live, but in heaven they rule” according to Diognitos; On the other hand, the rule of it [the Church] in the Holy Spirit was shown, since it is the way of life of piety but also the way of governing of this, based on the Synodical system, established by the Apostles in Jerusalem according to the testimony of the author of the “Acts of the Apostles” the Evangelist Luke, saying: “the Apostles and the Elders came together to see about the word…” (Acts 15,6).

On the other hand, the Apostles were appointed by the Lord as His successors, as the holy Pachomius also says: “God the Word, … ascending to heaven, preordained [=appointed in advance] His apostles as His successors”.

The importance and content of Apostolic Succession for the Church and its salvific work is formulated precisely by Hippolytus of Rome, saying: “The Holy Spirit delivered in the Church, the apostles transmitted to the righteous believers; we, as their successors benefiting from this grace, by participating in the priesthood and teaching and are considered to be guards of the Church”.

Indeed, my beloved brothers, the Holy Apostles are considered guardians of the Church, because its special component is “Apostolicity”. Let us also hear the Apostle Luke, saying in the Acts of the Apostles: “As they pass through the cities, they deliver to them to keep the doctrines that were appointed by the apostles and the elders in Jerusalem” (Acts 16,4). [And in more detail: as I was passing through the cities I delivered by oral teaching to the believers in them to keep the decisions, which had been definitively judged as the only correct ones by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem].

Notable in this regard is the admonition of the Apostle Paul to his disciple Timothy, saying: ” O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith”, (1 Tim. 6, 20-21), ” That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us”, (2 Tim. 1,14).

Indeed, the Holy Fathers of the Church, gathered in the Holy Spirit, commemorate the “apostolicity” of the Church in the Creed, proclaiming: “I believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church”. And this is because the Holy Apostles are those who sit in cities and ordain Elders and Bishops “shepherd the Church of the Lord and God” (Acts 20,28).

So this is why the Apostles are called by Saint Gregory of Palamas “arch-shepherds or even architects of the common piety and virtue”. This is again why the schism in the body of the One, Holy and Catholic Church is a great sin: because it endangers the stability of the Apostolic succession, whose genuine and authentic bearers are the normally ordained bishops of the local Churches.

We, my dear brethren, who honour the sacred commemoration of the holy and glorious Apostles, let us join the hymnographer in the prayer: “O Good Saviour, Who by nature art the Friend of man and great in compassion, by the divine supplications of Thine all-hymned Virgin Mother, and the intercessions of Thine Apostles Peter and Paul, send unto us from Heaven Thy mercies and succour” (Matins, Canon of the Chief Apostles, Ode 9, Theotokion). Amen. Many happy returns.”

The Divine Liturgy was followed by a reception and a banquet under the well-appointed priest of the Monastery Archimandrite  Parthenios.

From Secretariat-General

On Wednesday, June 29 / July 12, 2023, the feast of the Holy Glorious and Chiefs of the Apostles Peter and Paul was celebrated by the Patriarchate.

On this feast, the Church honours the Apostle Peter, remembering that he heard the call of the Lord at the Sea of Tiberias and followed Him after his brother Andrew and confessed Him saying: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16,16) and denied Him, but he repented and proclaimed Him to the gathered multitudes on the day of Pentecost and in Judea, Antioch and finally in Rome, where he died by death on the cross.

The Church also honours the apostle Paul, a former persecutor, but enlightened on his march to Damascus and called to the apostolic office and preaching Christ and labouring for all others through Christ and being able to say: ” I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal. 2:20) and wrote his 14 letters and ascended to the third heaven.

The feast of the honour of the two Chiefs of the Apostles was celebrated in the Holy Church in Capernaum by the sea, founded by the late Patriarch Damianos of Jerusalem in 1931.

The Divine Liturgy was officiated by His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, along with their Eminences, the Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, and the Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Archimandrite Sillas and Priests from the Galilee district, Archdeacon Mark and Hierodeacon Dositheos. The chanting was delivered by His Eminence Archbishop Aristovoulos of Madaba with the choir of Beer Sheva in Greek, Russian, Arabic and Romanian, and by the Acre Byzantine choir, without Fr Philotheos. The service was attended by many faithful Christians, Greeks, Russians from Galilee and others.

His Beatitude delivered the following Sermon to this congregation:

“Let us all praise with sacred hymns Peter and Paul the men of God, the foremost of the Apostles and the bright lights of the whole world; the preachers of the holy Faith, the trumpets of theology, revealers of divine decrees, the pillars of the august Church and the destroyers of error” (Matins, Exaposteilarion), the hymnographer of the Church proclaims.

Beloved brethren in Christ,

Reverend Christians and Pilgrims

The most sacred grace of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul has gathered us all in this holy place of the biblical seaside town of Capernaum to celebrate their commemoration.

The chiefs of the Apostles, Peter and Paul, are especially honoured by our Holy Church because they were called by the Lord; Peter of faith, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16,18), while Paul as a chosen vessel, “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9,15).

Both of them were full of the Holy Spirit and the Divine Grace, just like the rest of the Apostles, Peter, however, confessed the divinity and sonship of Jesus saying: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16,16). “Through the addition of the article [the Son], he confessed Him to be the genuine Son of God by nature”, Saint Chrysostom interprets. “He did not say this without the article, but with the article ‘the’ Son, therefore, He is the one and only….being born of the same essence of the Father”, Theophylaktos comments.

Paul received special gifts and revelations from God as he says: “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Cor. 12,2-4).

Peter’s correct proclamation of faith and confession of Jesus Christ served as the stone upon which the Church is built, as the Ark of salvation of our souls “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you” (1 Peter 1,9-10), Saint Peter preaches.

And Paul’s proclamation, “But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain” (1 Cor. 15,13-14), became the cornerstone upon which the faith of Christ crucified and risen from the dead was founded, as expressed, apostolically, theologically and in doctrine by the Holy God-bearing Fathers of the Church, through the Holy Spirit in the Ecumenical Councils, according to the precise “form of doctrine” (Romans 6,17), which is the rule of the Christian teaching, as Saint Paul says.

It is also noteworthy that the apostolic preaching and the Christian teaching of both Peter and Paul were not limited to the Jews only, but were extended especially towards the nations, namely the idolaters, following the Lord’s command, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matt. 28,19). Saint Paul, therefore, confesses that he was called by God, “that I might preach him among the heathen” (Gal. 1,16). Moreover, he says to the Christians of the nations, “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office” (Romans 11,13).

Indeed, my dear brethren, Saint Paul glorified, and honoured his ministry around the nations, preaching and proving at the same time that the Incarnate God the Word Who became man, the Son of God and our Lord Jesus Christ is “the light of the world” (John 8,12), “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14,6) and the freedom; “and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Cor. 3,17). That is why Paul preaches, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1 Cor. 3,19). Similarly, Peter says, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1,16).

Both Peter and Paul became eye-witnesses and seers of God’s glory and majesty, and they are an example of repentance for the sinners, as the hymnographer exclaims: “As example of conversion, Thou hast given to them that sin Thy two faithful Apostles, Lord: the one said he knew Thee not t Thy holy Passion, but again repented; the other fiercely strove against and persecuted the preachings of Thy Name; and both of them became the chiefest of the company of Thy friends, O my Jesus Almighty Lord, Thou divine Saviour of our souls” (Small Vespers, sticheron 3).

My dear brethren, as we honour today the chiefs of the Apostles and teachers of the universe, we are called to imitate their repentance, as Saint Gregory Palamas urges us, beseeching their intercessions, along with those of the Most Blessed Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, for the salvation of our souls. Amen. Many happy returns!”

After the Divine Liturgy the renovator of the Monastery Monk Eirinarchos hosted a reception and a festal meal with fish from Tiberias Sea.

From Secretariat-General

His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III received today, Friday July 8, a number of the Orthodox Community leaders and Church distinguished members from the city of Acre and its’ surrounding areas (Metropolitanate of Acre, Ba’neh, Jedaideh, Makr, Ebillein, Kufr Smai’, Kufr Yasif, Sakhnin, Rameh, Shafa’amer, Abu Snan).

During the meeting which was attended by their Eminences Metropolitan Benedictos of Bethlehem, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina (the Secretary General), and Archbishop Christophoros of Jordan, His Beatitude recalled late Archimandrite Philotheos, the Patriarchal Vicar in Acre, who played a monumental role and served his community with utmost dedication, asking the Lord to grant him a place in heaven.

In addition, His Beatitude listened carefully to the concerns and needs of the various communities of Acre, more specifically their ecclesiastical and pastoral requests, a region that the Patriarchate holds near and dear to its heart. His Beatitude affirmed the role of the Patriarchate in embracing all members of the Orthodox Church and Christians in the Holy Land, emphasizing that the demands of the communities of Acre and the Galilee are the demands of the Patriarchate, as they are inseparable entities, and these demands stem from the devotion to both the church and the region. Therfore, His Beatitude affirmed that these requests will be taken into consideration in the upcoming Holy Synod, which will be held soon.

Furthermore, Archbishop Christophoros expressed the spirit of love and unity among the attendees, emphasizing the importance of joint cooperation between the Patriarchate, led by His Beatitude Patriarch TheophilosIII of Jerusalem, all the spiritual leaders working with responsibility, and a shared clear vision aimed at the revitalization of the Church and the stability of its communities, recalling the achievements that have been accomplished to that effect in Jordan by the blessing of His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem. 

Towards the end of the meeting, His Beatitude blessed the attendees, calling upon the compassionate God to inspire the Holy Synod Fathers to make the appropriate decision that serves the interests of the Jerusalem Church community in the city of Acre and the towns and villages in its surroundings. In return, the attendees expressed their gratitude to His Beatitude for his love, concern, warm reception, and hospitality.

On Thursday, June 23rd / July 6th 2023, H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, accepted:

1. The Elder Treasurer Fr Daoud, Head of the parish of the county of Taibe near Ramallah for matters concerning this Community.
2. The Elder Treasurer, Fr Nikolaos, Head of the Acre-Ptolemais region of Northern Israel Greek Orthodox Arabic-speaking Community in Abu Snan with a group of fifty young people of the Catechetical School of this Community.3. The Elder Father Savvas, Head of the Greek-Orthodox Arabic-speaking Community of Northern Israel in Abelin for issues concerning this Community.From Secretariat-General

On Tuesday, June 21/July 4, 2023, H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos accepted:

1. 1. The former Mayor of Bejalla, Mr Nikolaos Hamis, followed by members of his family and the Priest of Bejalla, Father Youssef Hodali.
   2. A group of Israelis from Northern Israel near the border with Lebanon under Mr Sidi Zidkiyahu Simenhaus.

1. A twenty-member team of Police officers from various countries as shown in the attached list of the International Police Association, here: https://jerusalem-patriarchate.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2023_07_04_13_44_33.pdf

Receiving them, His Beatitude referred to the complexity of the work of the Police in Jerusalem, which is overcome through the Grace of Jesus Christ, whose redemptive Blood watered Jerusalem and the entire Holy Land.

From Secretariat-General