29 December 2016

Your Excellency, Father Francesco,

Your Eminences,

Your Graces,

Beloved Members of our Respective Fraternities

Dear Fathers,

We greet you, Your Excellency, dear Father Francesco, with the joyful words of the much-loved Christmas hymn,  Adeste fideles;

Ο come, all ye faithful,

joyful and triumphant,

Ο come ye, Ο come ye to Bethlehem;

come and behold him, born the King οf angels.

As the eyes of the world are turned to Bethlehem at this holy season, as you celebrate your first Christmas as Custos, may you be encouraged in your ministry by the Light of the Incarnate Logos that shines from the Holy Cave,

We take this opportunity once again to congratulate you on your election, and to assert the good relations and co-operation that exist between our two Fraternities Your predecessor, His Excellency Archbishop Pizzaballa, was instrumental in shaping our common work and witness, and we look forward to continuing this legacy – a legacy that is crucial for the well-being not only of our respective Fraternities and communities, but of the Holy Land, and especially of Jerusalem.

It is precisely this mutual respect and understanding, and our ability to work together, that shows the world that we are worthy of the diakonia of the Holy Places with which Divine Providence has entrusted us.

We rejoice in particular at the good work that we are doing together for the restoration of the Sacred Edicule of the Holy Sepulcher. Our unity of purpose in the restoration of this, the most holy site in the world, is a wonderful witness to our common faith in the Incarnation and the Resurrection, and it shows that we can indeed overcome a long history of suspicion and difficulty for the sake of our spiritual mission. As you yourself have so rightly said in your Christmas message, it is our religious duty to move from the sentiment of the season to action for the sake of those who need the ministry that it is our responsibility to provide.

We look forward to continuing the good work on the Church of the Holy Sepulcher with you, as we move on from the restoration of the Sacred Edicule to the crucial repair and renovation of the underground water and drainage systems beneath the Rotunda.

The Holy Places are not simply stones, or even monuments of historical interest. They are the undeniable, living martyria of sacred history that we acknowledge and proclaim to the world.

As we celebrate this great Feast of the Nativity in our beloved Holy Land, may God strengthen us all to be faithful witnesses, jubilant in the news of the Birth of the Incarnate Logos and Son of God, who brings healing in his wake, and joy to the world.

May God bless you, Your Excellency, and all the members of your Fraternity, and we wish you all a very happy and holy Christmas, that the peace that passes all understanding may prevail.

Thank you.

Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year!

His Beatitude

THEOPHILOS III

Patriarch of Jerusalem.

29 December 2016

Your Excellency, Archbishop Pizzaballa,

Your Eminences,

Your Graces,

Dear Fathers

We greet you, Your Excellency on this joyful Feast

with the beautiful words of the ancient hymn

Creator of the stars of night.

When this old world drew toward night,  you came; but not in splendor bright not as a monarch, but the child of Mary, blameless mother mild

(Conditor alme siderum)

In this mystery of God’s kenosis, of the miracle of the Creator of the Universe who consented to be born in our human flesh, we share in the humility of God, and give thanks together for the incarnation of the Divine Logos, Who is Himself the source of our grace and the hope of our glory.

We are glad to be greeting you at this Feast in your capacity as Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate, and we are pleased that His Holiness Pope Francis recognizes in you the experience and wisdom that you have gained in your many years of life and service in the Holy Land.
The continuity of your ministry and presence among us helps greatly in the ongoing strengthening of our close co-operation, in the building up of which you have played a crucial role as Custos of the Franciscan Fraternity. Together our common work on the restoration of the Sacred Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre is a sign of great hope to a world in which there is so much despair.

But more than this, our co-operation in the diakonia of the Holy Places is a sign of something much deeper, for our co-operation also strengthens the effect of our pastoral mission.   At a time when our region and our communities are suffering terribly by a range of dangers and untold difficulties, this pastoral mission is always at the forefront of our common concern and efforts.

As primates we are charged primarily with the spiritual care and nurture of the children of God entrusted to us, and they rightly look to us for this ministry. May we together always be an encouragement to all our peoples and communities in Jerusalem and throughout our beloved Holy Land,

Creator of the stars of night, your

people’s everlasting light,

Ο Christ, Redeemer of us all,

we pray you hear us when we call.

May Christ our true God, who’s born in a cave in  Bethlehem, hear our prayers and give you strength Your Excellency, in your pastoral ministry.   And may God bless the members

of your community throughout the Holy Land. And may the peace of our Lord prevail.

Thank you.

Merry Christmas and blessed the New Year!

His Beatitude

THEOPHILOS III

Patriarch of Jerusalem

27 December 2016

Your Excellency, Mr. President, Reuven Rivlin,

Minister of Internal Affairs Arye Machluf Deri

Fellow Leaders of the Faith Communities,

Your Excellencies,

Your Eminences,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We greet you, Mr. President, in this season of light and hope for all our peoples with words from the Scriptures:

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you,  that God is Light and in Him there is no darkness at all,

– (John I:5)

At this time of the year, the eyes of the world are turned toward Bethlehem and the Holy Land, where for millennia the divine-human encounter has been made manifest, and even today we are living witnesses to sacred history.

We take this opportunity of this holiday gathering to express our gratitude to you for the firmness with which you defend the freedoms that lie at the heart of this democracy, especially the freedom of worship. And we are always encouraged by your commitment to the sacredness of life and your condemnation of all forms of terrorism, as you articulated most recently during your visit to Germany. These fundamental commitments are the basis of any society that understands that we share a common human destiny.

The State of Israel takes pride in the fact that this State was founded on democratic principles in the Middle East and that it guarantees full freedom of worship; and we are confident, Mr. President, that you will continue to resist any restrictions on religious practices.

For generations in this region we have lived by the rights, privileges, and traditions accorded by age-long custom and sanctioned by sacred history, and we who are the spiritual leaders of the faith communities of the Holy Land, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim, remain bound and committed to this foundation of our common life together. These rights, privileges, and traditions are part of the fabric of our region, and we trust that you will ensure that they are never abrogated or restricted.

We are keenly aware at this season of the unspeakable experiences of those who suffer around the world, and especially those who suffer in the countries around us. So many are suffering for the mere fact of their religious allegiance, and as those who serve the moral values of our respective religious traditions, we are deeply concerned. We appeal to all people of good will for an end to violence and for all peoples to have their own legitimate rights of self-determination and freedom.

Needless to say, the long and unbroken presence of the Jerusalem Church in the Holy Land has safe-guarded the religious and cultural qualities that have shaped our landscape. For our Abrahamic faith has been a beacon of light and this light must never be extinguished.

As we celebrate this holy season, Mr. President, we assure you of our prayers for you and for your family and we wish you a peaceful New Year. May God bless all the peoples of our beloved Holy Land.

Hag Hannukah sammeach.

Thank you.

His Beatitude

THEOPHILOS III

Patriarch of Jerusalem

On Sunday, the 12^th/25^th of December 2016, the memory of the Forefathers of Christ, especially Abraham the Patriarch, was celebrated in the Village of the Shepherds where the shepherds had heard the angelic hymn “Glory be to God in the highest heaven” and were urged to go to Bethlehem, present-day Beit Sahour.

At the Church of the Rum Orthodox Arabic-speaking Community, numbering approximately 7,000 members, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem was welcomed on the morning of the aforementioned day by Boy Scouts, the Patriarchal Commissioner in Bethlehem, Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan, the town priests, and a crowd of faithful. Patriarch Theophilos went on to lead Matins and the divine Liturgy, having as concelebrants Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, and Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan. Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, the Hegumen, Archimandrite Ignatios, and Hierodeacon Markos prayed with the church priests, Presbyters Savvas, Issah and Ioannis. In attendance was Mr Vassilis Koinis, representative of the Greek Consulate-General.

His Beatitude delivered the sermon in Greek, saying that we honour the Holy Forefathers because through them was the “mystery hidden for long ages past” revealed (Romans 16, 25). According to St Paul: “Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 3, 8-10).

In this very town, the Shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch of their flock, became eye witnesses of this revealed mystery, says the Apostle Luke. “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.” (Luke 2, 8-11, 13, 14).

The Nativity of Christ, said His Beatitude, is about our own rebirth, but also about the progress of God’s perfect knowledge through works of justice. This is precisely what the wise Paul tells us in today’s excerpt from the Apostles: “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator”. (Col. 3, 8-10).

After the divine Liturgy, a reception was hosted at the events hall next to the Church, where the Patriarch addressed the Community and extended wishes for Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

At noon, the Community hosted His Beatitude to lunch at Saint Gabriel, owned by Rum Orthodox, Mr Athanasios Abu Aepa.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/AiC3EcplPTg

On the afternoon of Wednesday, the 8^th/21^st of December 2016, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, visited the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in order to inspect restoration works carried out there, particularly on the northern side of the Narthex where, at the expenses of the Hieron Koinon, the Office and reception hall have been restored. His Beatitude was welcomed by the Patriarchal Commissioner in Bethlehem, Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan, and the city’s Police Director, Muhammad Abu Rub. His Beatitude was accompanied by Archbishop Theophylaktos along the restored sites, then addressed by the Chief of Palestinian Police, Hazim Atallah and Bethlehem’s Administrator, Ala Salabi. The Chief thanked the Patriarch for helping the police and pointed out their harmonious collaboration with Archbishop Theophylaktos for the good of the City, praising the work the latter carries out in Bethlehem with the Patriarch’s blessings.

Patriarch Theophilos, on His turn, thanked Mr Atallah and Mr Salabi for their collaboration with the Patriarchate and especially for the help they provide to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. He then praised the Archbishop of Jordan for his initiative to restore the site and wished that the Police continue to work earnestly for the safety of the Church and the service of the pilgrims but above all for safeguarding the rights amongst the three Communities.

Finally, His Beatitude expressed satisfaction for the installation of an absorbent candelabrum at St Nicholas Church, intended to keep the Church clean from candle smoke.

From the Secretariat-General

On Tuesday, the 7^th/20^th of December 2016, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, bestowed upon Mr Alexandros-Andreas Gennimatas, Consul at the Greek Embassy in Tel Aviv, the honorary distinction of Crusader of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, in recognition of his contribution to the rights and interests of the Patriarchate in the Holy Land.

Mr Gennimatas thanked His Beatitude for the honour conferred upon him and for His valuable suggestions and instructions on the relations between Greece and the Patriarchate during his diplomatic tenure. He also pledged to remain a herald for the Patriarchate’s pastoral, peacemaking and cultural work.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/_uVTvCCTpP4

It was the good pleasure of the Father:

The Word is made flesh.

The Virgin gives birth to God made man.

A star announces the glad tidings.

Shepherds are amazed, and Wise Men worship

And creation is filled with mighty joy.

(Troparion of Christmas Praises)

The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ jubilantly celebrates today “a strange and most wonderful mystery” (Katavasiae of Nativity), evangelizing it “in great joy” across the world. The Church celebrates the supernatural and magnificent event that God the Father, Creator and Ruler of the universe, acting on extreme love and compassion, recreated, revived, and redeemed the corrupt by sin man in the face of the Only-begotten Son and pre-eternal Word (Logos). The Church received by revelation that God’s promise to the Prophets had been fulfilled. That “when the fullness of the time was come” (Galatians 4:4), during the reign of Cesar Octavian August (Luke 2:1), the incarnate God-made-man Son and Word of God was born in flesh of Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit in Bethlehem of Judea (Luke 1:34). Jesus Christ “being in the form of God…made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6-7), “made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4), “to become the sons of God” (John 4:4).

Such was God’s providence for the amelioration of mankind. According to the church hymn writer “How can a womb contain Him whom nothing can contain? How can he remain in His Father’s bosom, yet rest in His Mother’s arms”? According to the God-bearer Church Father Athanasius the Great, “the incorporeal and imperishable Word of God came down to us and became incarnate so that we may be deified, He revealed Himself in flesh so that we may partake of the invisible substance of the Father, and He endured the human mockery so that we may inherit eternity”. Similarly, according to the God-bearer Father St Cyril of Alexandria, “The Only-Begotten Word of God appeared to us, to Whom the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary gave birth, the life-giving offspring, the God-made-man, the free man in the form of a servant, the One who became incarnate for us – not man – but flesh, that means human, not repudiating his form of God, but even if He took on the human flesh, He remained as He was” (Homily II in Ephesus PG77, 988C-989A), “having taken the logical soul on his one (out of two) Hypostasis of the incarnate Word” (To Nestorius, Epistle XVII, PG.77, 116C).

As the sole beneficiary to this revealed divine mystery, humanity is called as witness, participant and accomplice. Unstudied Shepherds in the fields are called by a legion of angels singing in the sky of Bethlehem “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). They are called to see in their familiar manger of the irrational animals the new-born Christ. But also servants of science, the Persian wise kings are called according to the hymn writer “by a star from heaven and are offered as the beginning of the Church of nations to the Infant laying in a manger, and they were neither astonished by the scepters nor thrones, but by infinite humility, as there is nothing poorer than a cave, nothing more humble than the swaddling clothes through which the wealth of His Divinity shone forth”.

The incarnation and birth in flesh, kenosis (emptiness) humility and likeness in all things to the humans except sin, did the Lord take upon Him during His life on earth. He identified Himself with all human infirmity, even until death. He escaped the danger of Herod’s authoritarian fury neither by his Divine power, nor by the use of violence, but by taking upon Him the power of human infirmity, migrating from Bethlehem to Egypt and from there under an Angel’s command to Nazareth, from which He received the name Nazarene and from which having come to adulthood and baptized by John in the river Jordan, He proclaimed the era of God. He marked an new radical inflection in human life and history, that is the new period of grace of the New Testament, when He relieved and healed the sick, resurrected the dead, and offered His human body on the cross to the Father, he was risen from the dead, in order to give rise from the dead to those who believe in Him.

After ascending in Heaven, through the power of the Holy Spirit the Lord assigned His disciples – His body, the Church – with the work of His peace, forgiveness, reconciliation, justice, sanctification and salvation. Throughout the ages the Church consists the revelation of the Kingdom of God, introduced to the world by the Lord of peace, the Incarnate Jesus Christ. The Church beautifies the morals of men, proclaims – just as it has been taught by its founder – peace for all people near and far, love for one’s neighbor but also for one’s enemies, for the transformation of the fallen world into paradise, the return of the deceived man to his original likeness to the Father and his participation in the glory of Christ by God.

The Mother of Churches Jerusalem testifies and serves the sacrament of the angelic hymn “peace on earth and good will towards men” to the very lands this was revealed. On this day of the feast of Christ’s birth in flesh, the Church experiences this event in this modest and God-receiving Cave, and in this built by Constantine and Justinian Basilica, which consists a blessing and protection for all inhabitants of the Holy Land and especially those in Bethlehem.

From this sacred Church monument we denounce every act of terrorism as well as war violence, every act of conquest or usurpation of foreign territory, disrespect to the sacred beliefs of religions, torturing of men and exploiting captives, especially non- combatant women and children and we make an appeal in favor of the Christians of the Holy Land, so that they remain in their ancestral residences in the Middle East. To our pious Christian flock in the Holy Land, and to devout pilgrims from all corners of the earth, we wish the grace, strength, peace and blessing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who became incarnate for our sakes through the Ever Virgin Mary.

In the Holy City of Bethlehem, CHRISTMAS 2016

Fervent Supplicant of all before God

THEOPHILOS III

Patriarch of Jerusalem

A. In the town of Beit Jala

On Monday, the 6^th/19^th of December 2016, the Patriarchate observed the memory of St Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, Lycia, at St Nicholas Church of the Rum Orthodox, Arabic-speaking Community of the town of Beit Jala, adjacent to Bethlehem.

St Nicholas had lived in the 4^th c. AD. He was imprisoned by Diocletian and Maximinus, tortured and liberated when Constantine the Great, with the Edict of Milan in 312 AD, proclaimed that Christianity would be treated benevolently. He was one of the great Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, in 324 AD, who fervently supported the doctrine of the homoousion, the same essence between the Son and the Father.

The divine Liturgy was led by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, who had as concelebrants Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina and Methodios of Tabor, and Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis; Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, the Arabic-speaking priests of the Church, presbyters Sahuan, Paul Alame and Joseph Hondali, and Archdeacon Markos. The Parish Choir sang for a crowd of Orthodox. To the congregation, His Beatitude delivered a sermon in Greek.

“The canon of faith, the image of meekness, St Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, Lycia, gathered all of us here”, said the Patriarch, “in order to observe his sacred memory on a day that coincides with preparations of the celebration of Christ’s incarnation in Bethlehem”.

St Nicholas, the Patriarch added, is recognized as a teacher of moderation, in other words a pedagogue of the faithful in the salvation of their souls. This means that Christians must excel in virtue, according to the Apostle Peter, who says: For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. (2, Peter 1, 5-7).

St Nicholas, the most fervent protector of the Church of Christ, His Beatitude added, “invites us to celebrate the great mystery of the Nativity of Christ with spirituality and not in social, secular and cultural terms. Christmas, Patriarch Theophilos said, is not a cultural event but one that pertains to the fall of sin and the restoration of the salvation of the human kind.

After the divine Liturgy, His Beatitude, accompanied by the town’s Boy Scouts, visited the Community Office before joining lunch hosted by Archimandrite Narcissus and the Community.

B. In the Old City of Jerusalem 

The memory of St Nicholas was also observed with Vespers and Divine Liturgy on the morning of the same day, at the homonymous Monastery in the Old City of Jerusalem, led by Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, who had as concelebrants Archimandrite Leontios and Hierodeacon Agapios.

On the conclusion of the liturgy, Archimandrite Aristovoulos distributed blessings among the pilgrims and hosted Primates to a festive reception.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/81NBR7sNMWY

18 December 2016

Your Majesty.

Your Royal Highnesses,

Esteemed Members of the Government,

Your Eminences,

Your Graces,

Reverend Fathers,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In this season, as we prepare for the great Feast of the Nativity, we gather here under the auspices of Your Majesty to mark this holy occasion for so many of us and to stand united in our efforts to bring hope to the neediest in our midst. The words of the prophet Isaiah speak clearly to us:

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness -on them light has shined. (Isaiah 9:2)

The Christmas Feast is a significant celebration for the Holy Land and indeed for the entire region of the Middle East. Far here the events of our sacred history unfolded; here the divine-human encounter was made manifest in our life: here we have been the witnesses of this sacred history for millennia.

This Feast is significant also for our many peoples who live in the diaspora, and whose hearts turn to this, their homeland, at this season especially. As we express our Christmas greetings to you, Your Majesty, we express them also to all our peoples, at home and abroad, that we may always remember that we are united in the rich heritage that is our common possession here in Jordan and throughout our region.

In this time of joy, let us not forget those who are displaced in our midst from Syria, Iraq, and other countries around us, who have been living and walking in darkness for some time now, to so many of whom the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has given a place of refuge, and who look to God for the hope that the Light of the Incarnate Logos brings to the world. They look also to all of us to be agents of that same hope, and for the very practical assistance that they need to overcome the horrors of war, persecution, violence, and exile from their ancestral homes.

Let us dedicate this time that we are together here at this celebration as a prayer and a commitment, that God may, with our co-operation, bestow upon all those who are suffering, as well as upon us, his bountiful love, mercy, and deliverance.

We all bear testimony to the significant labours and efforts that, under Your Majesty’s careful guidance and wisdom, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is expending as we cope with this anguished situation, and we thank you for your vision that, time and again, is showing to the world that the Kingdom is a shining beacon of tolerance and true symbiosis – true co-existence. A tangible example is your Majesty’s contribution for the restoration of the Holy Sepulcher.

We also express our gratitude to you, Your Majesty, for this celebration, which builds on your Hashemite heritage and your keen understanding of the natural fabric of our common humanity and our shared society. Please allow us to say again what we have often said, that the Patriarchate of Jerusalem is proud to exercise our service under your gracious Custodianship, as are all those who serve the Holy Places, whether they be Christian or Muslim.

As we keep this festive season, we assure you, Your Majesty, of our prayers for you and all the Royal Family, for the well-being and flourishing of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and we ask God to bless all the peoples of our beloved Holy Land.

Thank you.

His Beatitude

THEOPHILOS III

Patriarch of Jerusalem

13 December 2016

Your Excellency, Mr. levin,

Your Excellency, Mr. Halevi,

Respected Members of the Ministry of Tourism,

Fellow Heads of Churches and Religious Leaders,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Once again, as we approach this rich and evocative season of religious observances, the eyes of the world are focused on the Holy Land. And we are reminded that Jerusalem holds a unique place in the hearts of millions of believers around the globe.

It is the dream of a lifetime for thousands of people to be able to come to this Holy City and to this Holy Land on pilgrimage at least once in their life, and so many come more than once. For so many the chief object of their journey is the Holy Tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we see their eagerness, their deep desire for spiritual nourishment. As the Psalmist says, so we experience:

As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, Ο God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When shall I come and behold the face of God?

(Ps. 42:1)

Countless pilgrims come here driven by this very basic spiritual longing, and pilgrimage has increased as we have been giving attention to the restoration of our most sacred site, the Sacred Edicule of the Holy Tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ – a destination not just for Christian pilgrims, but for pilgrims of other religious traditions as well, who are prompted by the yearnings of their hearts to venerate this most sacred spot.

So we to whom Divine Providence has entrusted the role of servant and guardian of the Holy Places understand the meaning of pilgrimage not in terms of ordinary tourism, but in terms of something more enduring, something more fundamental to our human life and community.

For pilgrimage has to do with the soul of the people, both of the indigenous community of faith as well as of those who journey here from other lands. Pilgrimages give to individuals and to communities a dimension that is not visible to the eye, but is only perceivable by the heart.

The culture of pilgrimage promotes and deepens many aspects of our common human experience that are good in themselves; for example, unity, peace, reconciliation, and mutual understanding. When people from different countries and cultures gather at a Holy Place in prayer and devotion, every difference between them falls away, and they are united in a divine-human encounter that reveals to them that they share a common humanity and that they share a common destiny.

We must, therefore, not simply promote pilgrimage and do all in our power to make it as easy as possible for the faithful to have access to the Holy Places, especially at the time of the Great Feasts. We must not simply count numbers. We must not simply look to the bottom fine.

More than anything we must create an atmosphere that positively values pilgrimage and pilgrims, and understands the role that pilgrims play in deepening all those aspects of our common life to which we are all committed.

Ordinary tourists simply come to look, but pilgrims come to open their hearts and souls

to the Divine. When pilgrims come to the Holy Land, they embrace the land and its
peoples without distinction.   They understand the integrity and unity of the Holy Land and its complementary cultures and religious traditions. They sense the importance of the historic significance that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam give to the full identity of the Holy Land. Pilgrimage therefore is the great witness of the sacred history of our Holy Land.

So pilgrimage helps diverse peoples from many lands near and far understand each other at a deeper level. And we know the testimony of so many pilgrims, who have been changed as they come from their own countries and cultures to a place where all countries and cultures gather, mingle, worship together, and understand the spiritual mission of Jerusalem as the city that gathers the nations in its embrace.

Pilgrims bring great hope when they come here, hope for an encounter with the living God, hope for a deeper spiritual life, hope for eternal meaning in a world of fleeting superficialities.   They bring hope to us.

In their turn, pilgrims take away from the Holy Places a fresh energy when they return to their homes. This has been so from the beginning, when the earliest pilgrims would come to the Holy Land, participate in worship here, and then return to their own communities to bring our customs and religious observances to those who would never have the chance to come here.

We are therefore always vigilant to keep the Holy Places as places of spiritual encounter.

The Holy Places are a tangible sign of hope for our world, precisely because they are the focus of this divine-human encounter, and therefore of the infinite possibility that peace, mutual respect, and reconciliation give to the human community. The Rum Orthodox Patriarchate, along with our sisters and brothers of the other Christian communities of the Holy Land, continues to facilitate the spiritual journeys of all who come here in the humility and longing of pilgrimage.

We wish to express our gratitude to you, Your Excellencies, and to all those in government, who display the necessary sensitivity to the true nature of the Holy Places that is rightly theirs.

We value and appreciate this initiative that gives us the opportunity to be together and share our common concerns and commitments so that together we can improve the accessibility of the Holy Places to all who come here. So far our co-operation and mutual understanding between the Ministry and our Churches has been proved to be extremely conducive to the encouragement of pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and for this we are appreciative. And we look forward to a deeper co-operation So that pilgrims have the basic services which they would normally expect to have, as they do in the area around the Sea of Galilee, including Kafer Nahum.

We wish you peace and happiness in this holiday Season.

Thank you.

His Beatitude

THEOPHILOS III

Patriarch of Jerusalem