On Saturday, the 7^th/20^th of August 2016, a group consisting of 200 members of the Hellenic Navy, headed by the Defence Attaché of the Greek Embassy in Israel, Mr V. Broumas, visited the Patriarchate.

The group was welcomed by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers.

The Captain and crew of the Hellenic Navy delegation received His Beatitude’s blessings and invited Him to visit their frigate in Haifa, either in person or by proxy.

They went on to visit the Holy Sepulchre in order to receive the power of the Resurrected Christ for their patriotic service and to observe restoration works now underway on the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre.

From the Secretariat-General

On Friday the 6^th/19^th of August 2015, the Patriarchate celebrated the Transfiguration of the Saviour in commemoration of the event recounted by the Evangelists (Matthew 17, 1-8), namely that the Lord took with him Peter, James and John and led them up Mount Tabor where He was transfigured, His face shone like the sun, and a bright cloud covered the disciples and Moses and Elijah appeared before them and talked with Jesus, and the voice of the Father was heard saying from the cloud: “This is my Son whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” and Peter said “Lord, we will put up three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah and we will stay here” – so that by this sight, namely the revelation of His divine nature, the Lord showed the beauty of man before the fall and his ability to reach divinity by grace.

The event was celebrated:

A. On Mount Tabor where a Vigil was observed on the night of the feast before Matins and the divine Liturgy, led by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, having as concelebrants Metropolitans Isychios of Kapitolias, Panteleimon of the Bishopric of Veroia, Timotheos of Bostra, Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina, Methodios of Tabor, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks i.e. Archimandrite Chrysostomos, hegumen in Kana, and Archimandrite Paisios, Rum Orthodox Arabic-speaking Presbyters and approximately 100 visiting priests from Russia, Greece, Romania and Ukraine, Archdeacon Evlogios and deacon Markos. The Very Reverend Georgios of the Bishopric of Ilia and the Patriarchal Commissioner in Accra Ptolemais, Archimandrite Philotheos, sang in Arabic for a pious congregation of pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Romania as well as locals from Northern Israel.

To the faithful His Beatitude delivered a sermon in Greek, pointing out the significance of the day as, through His Transfiguration, Christ deified human nature that had been stained by sin, as He became the ruler of the dead and the living through His Resurrection. “Christ” said the Patriarch “by means of His redeeming Passion and Resurrection introduced our own humanity into the kingdom of His divine and brilliant glory”. It is precisely this brilliant divine glory that the Lord communicated to His disciples, said Patriarch Theophilos, soon before His Crucifixion. “In other words, Christ demonstrated to His disciples that not only is He a perfect man but He is also a perfect God, of the same substance as the Father and the Holy Spirit”.

After the sermon, a crowd of faithful participated in Holy Communion for atonement, blessing and eternal life. Before the apolysis, the Patriarch recited the prayer of the fruit. On the conclusion of mass, hegumen Hilarion hosted the Patriarchal Entourage to a reception at the hegumeneion.

On feast-day, the divine Liturgy was led by Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, having as concelebrants Arabic-speaking Presbyters and Archimandrite Hieronymos, for a pious congregation of Arabic-speaking from Northern Israel.

At noon, Archimandrite Hilarion hosted guests to lunch with fish.

B. In Gethsemane

In Gethsemane, at the Tomb of the Mother of God, the Transfiguration of the Lord was celebrated with a divine Liturgy led by Archbishop Theophanes of Gerassa, having as concelebrants Hagiotaphite Hieromonks headed by Archimandrite Sergios, for a pious congregation of locals and Greek pilgrims, hosted by the hegumen, Archimandrite Nektarios.

C. In Ramallah

At the Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ramallah, the feast was observed with a divine Liturgy led by Metropolitan Joachim of Zambia for a crowd of Rum Orthodox Arabic-speaking faithful from the city.

On the conclusion of mass, after the blessing of the fruit and the apolysis, Archimandrite Galaktion hosted the Primates to a reception followed by lunch at a town restaurant.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/1YuFGOxmUjo

httpv://youtu.be/OXl05z3H5cI

httpv://youtu.be/d5PlKQRZMB0

On the morning of Saturday, the 24^th of July/6^th of August 2016, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, commenced His already announced visit to the Agion Oros.

The Patriarch was accompanied by the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, the Secretary of the Holy Synod, Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda, Archbishop Nektarios of Anthedon, the Exarch in Athens, Archimandrite Damianos, Hierodeacon Markos, and Mr Theodoros Yiangou, Professor in the Faculty of Theology at the Aristotle University of Salonika.

In the early hours of the aforementioned day, His Beatitude left from Salonika for Ouranopolis and from there, at 9:30 am, He sailed for the port of Daphne. Upon His arrival, He was welcomed by the representatives of the Xeropotamos and Simonos Petras Monasteries, fathers Paul and Ieronymos respectively.

From Daphne the Patriarch left for Karies, where He was welcomed by the four representatives of the Holy Epistasia, the Executive Committee of Mount Athos. At the entrance to the church of the Dormition of Theotokos, Patriarch Theophilos was welcomed by representatives of all twenty monasteries on Mount Athos.

There, His Beatitude put on a mantle and venerated the Gospel, as cantors of the Monasteries of Vatopedi and Simonos Petras sang the “Axion Esti”.

After venerating the icon of Theotokos’ Axion Esti, the Patriarch led Doxology.

The President of the Community of Mount Athos, representative of the Vatopedi Monastery, f. Barnabas, then addressed Patriarch Theophilos, and was followed by the Patriarch’s reply speech.

In His address, the Patriarch spoke of the beneficial and salvaging work carried on by the Church of Jerusalem through the centuries. “With the help and protection of great emperors, e.g. St Constantine and his mother, St Helena, Theodosius the Great, Justinian and others, the Pan-Orthodox and Pan-Christian holy site, the fulcrum of our faith, the Church of the Resurrection and the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, was first built, followed by Monasteries, Cenobia and Lavrae”. In these sites of veneration, Patriarch Theophilos said, the Church of Jerusalem attests to this day, among heterodox and followers of other religions, to the synergy of Christ’s two natures, the divine and the human, in a single hypostasis, according to the Christological doctrine of the Fourth Ecumenical Synod in Chalcedon. In closing, His Beatitude asked for a renewal and strengthening of the spiritual ties between the Agion Oros and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, so that Fathers from Mount Athos may be informed of the Patriarchate’s work and that Hagiotaphite Fathers can visit Mount Athos and learn of the cenobitic and ascetic way of life.

After the exchange of gifts, His Beatitude was addressed by the hegumen of the Monastery of Stavronikitas, Hieromonk Nathaniel. In replying, the Patriarch spoke of the inextricable ties between the Mother of Churches and Mount Athos, expressed through the flow of history by monks of Jerusalem and Mount Athos, joined by their ascetic traditions. The ecumenical ascetic figures of the Holy Land, the Patriarch said, cultivated an infertile land with their virtues and stand to this day as role models for the Fathers of Mount Athos too. “The continuous immigration of monks between these two spiritual centres […] and above all the unparalleled contribution of both these sanctified and spiritual sites towards the formulation of Orthodox worship […] shortened distances and joined the spirits and hearts of Mount Athites and Jerusalemites”, the Patriarch remarked.

From Karies, the Patriarch returned to Daphne and from there He sailed for the Holy Skete of St Anna. There, He was warmly welcomed by Hieromonk Ioannis, hegumen of the cell of the Dormition of Theotokos, and others.

In the evening, the Patriarch walked to the katholikon of St Anna Skete, where He was addressed by the hegumen of the Monastery of the Great Lavra, Hieromonk Prodromos.

The Patriarch went on to lead the night-long vigil for the feast of the Dormition of St Anna, having as co-officiants Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina, Demetrios of Lydda, Nektarios of Anthedon and a plethora of Hieromonks, Mount Athites and the Exarch in Athens, Archbishop Damianos. Monks and pilgrims, numbering approximately 500, attended the vigil.

The divine Liturgy was indeed a communion of heaven and earth, a descent of heaven to earth and rise of the earth to heaven; rise of the congregation to the kingdom of God, that was given to earth through the Incarnate, Crucified and Resurrected Jesus Christ.

The divine Liturgy was followed by lunch, during which His Beatitude addressed the hegumen of the Great Lavra, commemorating the life of the barren St Anna who neither despaired nor stopped praying to God and was therefore rewarded with a great gift, the ever-Virgin Mary who would go on to bear the Incarnate Jesus Christ.  Likewise, the Patriarch said, we pray to God to allow us to bear the Orthodox testimony in the Holy Land and “to complete the already launched project for the restoration of the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre for the glory of God and the praise of the blessed race of the Rum Orthodox”.

From the Secretariat-General

AUGUST 3, 2016

Your Eminences,

Your Excellencies,

Your Graces,

Beloved Members of our Respective Brotherhoods,

We welcome you, dear Brothers, to our Patriarchate with love in Christ and with pastoral solicitude for the well-being of the Christian communities of the Holy City of Jerusalem.   On a previous occasion we have welcomed Your Eminence, Archbishop Bab Enbakom, to Jerusalem when you assumed your new duties here, and today we would like to congratulate Your Eminence, Metropolitan Anba Antonious, on your recent episcopal ordination and appointment to Jerusalem in succession to His late Eminence Dr Anba Abraham of blessed memory.   We welcome you to the Holy City and to the group of the Heads of the Churches, and we assure you of our prayers for your archpastoral ministry to the Coptic community of the Holy Land and to the Coptic pilgrims who come here every year.

As the oldest religious institution in continuous existence in the Holy Land, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem takes seriously our role of leadership and our responsibility for the well-being of the Holy Places and the spiritual mission that all the Churches and Christian Communities of the Holy Land share by virtue of our presence and life here.   We have been entrusted by Divine Providence with an awe-inspiring and life-giving mission, and this mission lays upon us all a serious responsibility.   Our spiritual mission and our responsibility for the life of the Christian communities of the Holy Land are paramount, and take precedence over every other concern.   There is no place in this spiritual mission for pride, self-interest, or conflict between communities.   Such things both weaken our mission and put our communities at risk.

In the present time especially, our Churches and our peoples are threatened.   We are experiencing heightened persecution, and the Christian presence on our region is under tremendous pressure.   As the Heads of the Churches of the Holy Land, we have a special responsibility before God and our people to ensure that nothing undermines the well-being of the Christian presence or the integrity of the Christian identity of the City of Jerusalem or the Holy Land.

In this regard, we take to heart the words of the First Letter of Saint John, who reminds us all:

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.   Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world.   There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.  We love because he first loved us.   Those who say, ‘I love God’, and hate their brothers, are liars; for those who do not love a brother whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.   The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers also, (1 John 4:16-21).

These words hold us all in judgment, and they are clear about our moral and Christian responsibility.   More than anything, the world looks to Jerusalem in hope, and to the Christian communities here, for inspiration and encouragement.   They must see in us the embodiment of these words of love for our brothers.

We serve the most important Holy Place in the world.   When pilgrims come here, they are thirsty for spiritual refreshment.   They are not edified when they see in-fighting and enmity between us, and when such things happen, we are not being faithful to our call to care for the Holy Places.

Now is the time for us to order our life according to right principles.   If we are to preserve the rights and privileges that are ours, and that have been sanctioned both by sacred history and international authority and support, we must stand on our own feet in the resolution of disagreements that arise between us, or we risk the intervention of third parties. This is neither helpful nor appropriate.

We have seen the three major Communities of the Patriarchate, the Franciscan Custody, and the Armenian Patriarchate, come together to agree in the project of the renovation of the holiest and most disputed of all Holy Sites, the Sacred Edicule.   This is a significant development in the relations of the Churches here, and it is a shining example to all of what is possible when we place our spiritual mission before our differences, and work to build a new relationship of collaboration between us.   We cannot leave the rest of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the balance.

As the Patriarch of Jerusalem, we take this initiative to be of assistance to you in the Coptic and Ethiopian communities in the resolution of your disagreements.   We are encouraged by your willingness to be here at this meeting, and we are also encouraged by the presence of members of the diplomatic missions of your respective countries.   While it is never easy to resolve conflict, we to whom the leadership of the Churches of the Holy Land has been entrusted have a special responsibility to do everything we can to heal our own wounds so that we may be the agents of God’s healing for others.   We are willing to do all in our power to help, but all must be willing to do this urgent work of reconciliation, and to break down the barriers that divide us.

We therefore plead with you to take the opportunity of your new leadership and the hope that this brings to overcome the differences that wound the Christian presence here in Jerusalem.   We know from harsh past experience that true and generous dialogue is the only path to lasting reconciliation, and we urge you to take this new path together, not just for the good of the Coptic and Ethiopian communities, but for the good of our common spiritual witness and mission to the world.

May God bless you in this necessary and urgent work, and may God give us all the grace to be faithful stewards of this Holy Land and all our peoples.

Thank you.

His Beatitude

THEOPHILOS III

Patriarch of Jerusalem

At noon of Wednesday, the 21^st of July/3^rd of August 2016, representatives of the Coptic and Ethiopian Churches in Jerusalem met at the Patriarchate.

The representations consisted of the Coptic Archbishop in Jerusalem, His Eminence Antonious, and the Head of the Ethiopian Church in Jerusalem, His Eminence Bab Enbakom and their Entourages – Primates from Egypt for the Copts and representatives of the Egyptian and Ethiopian Embassies in Tel Aviv.

The meeting took place on the initiative and invitation of H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, with an eye to launching a dialogue on the resolution of the long and very acute status quo problem between the Coptic and Ethiopian Monasteries. The Monasteries are adjacent to the Church of the Resurrection on the east side and to Abraham Monastery on the north side. At the meeting, His Beatitude addressed guests in English, see link: http://jp-newsgate.net/en/2016/08/03/25579

In His address, Patriarch Theophilos underlined the need to overcome psychological obstacles in order to bring down the walls of differences and allow the beginning of a dialogue for reconciliation and the resolution of the problem.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/KTVM4tgML4I

At noon of Tuesday, the 20^th of July/2^nd of August 2016, the Greek Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Demetrios Mardas, accompanied by the new Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Christos Sofianopoulos, Consul Vasileios Koinis, and associates of his, visited the Patriarchate.

Deputy Minister Mardas and his entourage were welcomed by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Patriarchal Commissioner, Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, the Elder Secretary-General, the Assistant Dragoman and other Hagiotaphite Fathers.

In the context of the visit, an interesting discussion took place on the Monastery of the Prophet Elias and the significance of the region where the Prophet’s memory was recently observed. Reference was also made to the importance of the Holy Sites of Veneration and the protection of Christians in the Holy Land.

The Patriarchate’s mediation for the resolution of veneration and intercommunal problems in Jerusalem was also pointed out.

On this occasion, Patriarch Theophilos informed the Deputy Minister of restoration works on the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre, now underway according to the study conducted by the Nationtal Technical University of Athens and coordinated by Professor A. Moropoulou.

As a token of remembrance, His Beatitude offered Mr Mardas an icon of the Nativity of Christ, and received a medal shaped after an “olkas” sail ship.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/VxvcHfRjfQU

30 July 2016

Your Paternity, dear Father Francesco,

Your Graces,

Beloved Members of our respective Brotherhoods,

We greet you with great joy in the name of Christ as you assume your new ministry as Custos of the Holy Land in succession to Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who has recently been appointed the Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate by His Holiness Pope Francis. We enjoyed a close and mutually supportive relationship with Father Pierbattista, and we look forward to deepening the relationship between our two Brotherhoods under your spiritual leadership of the Custody.

Our Brotherhoods have been called by Divine Providence to be the guardians and servants of the Holy City of Jerusalem and all the Holy Sites,  and to ensure that they remain places of worship and spiritual refreshment that are accessible to all without distinction. With respect to the City of Jerusalem, we work to ensure the integrity of her Christian character. The witness of the three Communities of the Patriarchate, the Custody, and the Armenian Patriarchate, as well as of the other Churches and Christian communities, to this spiritual mission is a sign of hope to a world in darkness, despair, and confusion. We are especially encouraged by the deepening collaboration of the  three Communities in our endeavor to restore the Sacred Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre, and we hope that this is a fresh beginning of the more extensive work of the general restoration of the Church of the Anastasis.

This project to restore the holiest of sites in the Christian world is of supreme importance not simply for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre itself and for our Communities, but for all people of good will everywhere, and especially for our troubled region. Here, where the great mystery of our faith, the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, occurred, where earth and heaven met, where death was at last trampled down, and where life is promised to all, thousands of pilgrims from every nation around the world come each year, “as the deer who longs for flowing streams” (Ps 41 [42]:1), to be renewed in hope and in faith. Here the uncreated Light shines out to every heart that is open to truth, and here people are able to drink of the deep water brooks of the soul.

Today, more than before, our pastoral mission is of primary importance. For we are called not only to guard and serve the undeniable testimony of our faith, that is, the Holy Places, but to guide and lead our flocks in a part of the world where Christians, together with other innocents, are threatened and where persecution still occurs. We who are the Christian leaders of this Holy Land continue to have a mission of promoting reconciliation and mutual respect between the different religious communities and political entities of our region.

As we congratulate you on your new responsibilities, we welcome you to this unique ministry and we assure you of our prayers for you personally and for your Fraternity. May God grant you the humble spirit and patient endurance of your patron, Saint Francis, and support you through many years of fruitful service.

Please accept this gift as a token of our appreciation and love in Christ.

Thank you.

His Beatitude

THEOPHILOS III

Patriarch of Jerusalem

On Saturday, the 17^th/30^th of July 2016, the Custos of the Holy Land, f. Francesco, accompanied by the Franciscan f. Serge, visited the Patriarchate. The new Custos was welcomed by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers.

In the context of the visit, f. Francesco thanked Patriarch Theophilos for their collaboration as regards the restoration of the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre and also for their meeting at the Patriarchate.

His Beatitude congratulated the Custos on his new duties and extended wishes that their collaboration be harmonious as the Patriarch’s relation with his predecessor, for the benefit of peaceful coexistence between Christian Communities in the Holy Shrines, especially in Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

His Beatitude’s address in English can be reached here:  https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2016/07/30/25503

The Custos thanked the Patriarch for the honour of meeting with him and for the present he received, an icon of Theotokos Jerusalemite, asking for Her mediation in pursuing a solid collaboration for the completion of restoration works on the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/obJZlMKbn2c

On Thursday, the 15^th/28^th of July 2016, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, visited the Acropolis of Lindos in Rhodes. Toured on the site, the Patriarch admired the ancient Temple dated to the Classical Period, and the Byzantine Church, both restored from the ruins, as well as the entire citadel, surrounded by a wall dated to the Venetian period. From the top of the site, His Beatitude enjoyed the serene, wonderful view to the South and the small port where Paul, the Apostle of the Nations, had anchored.

The site abounded with numerous visitors, either on foot or riding donkeys. At the foothills of the Acropolis, His Beatitude was keen to observe handiwork made by the residents of the local settlement. At the settlement, accompanied by Metropolitan Kyrillos of Rhodes, Patriarch Theophilos visited the small underground chapel of St George “Chostos” and the beautiful Church of the Dormition of Theotokos, dated to the 17^th c. The entire church is covered by wall-paintings. Adjacent to it is a museum of ecclesiastical items.

At noon of the same day, His Beatitude, accompanied by Metropolitan Kyrillos, left Rhodes for Athens by airplane. From Athens he boarded a flight of Aegean Airlines and arrived safely in Tel Aviv and from there to Jerusalem, praising God for His visit to Rhodes, which is expected to contribute to the promotion and success of the restoration of the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre, already underway.

From the Secretariat-General

On Wednesday, the 14^th/27^th of July 2016, H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Hierodeacon Markos, Professor A. Moropoulou of the NTUA, the former Ambassador of Greece to Jordan, and then to Lithuania, M. H. Asteriades, visited the island of Simi by ship.

There, the Patriarch visited the holy site of the Archangel-Panormites, where He was warmly welcomed by the clerics of the Bishopric of Simi and a crowd of pilgrims praying for the Archangel’s help and protection. After venerating, His Beatitude and Entourage prayed to the Archangel for the success of restoration works on the Holy Aedicula, now underway.

They then admired the wall-painting in 17^th c. Cretan style and the tokens of gratitude brought by those helped by the Archangel. They went on to visit the Ecclesiastical Museum, rich in ecclesiastical exhibits.

Around noon, the Patriarch visited the “Aigialos” beach, where he was courteously hosted to lunch by Professor Moropoulou, the Mayor and the hospitable inhabitants of Simi.

On the evening of the same day, His Beatitude sat at dinner hosted in His honour by the Rhodes Association of Hoteliers and their President, Mr Antonios Kambourakis.

From the Secretariat-General