On Wednesday, the 30^th of June/13^th of July 2016, the Patriarchate observed the feast of the Gathering of the Twelve Apostles at the Monastery dedicated to them in Tiberias, on the west coast of the Tiberian Sea.

By “Gathering of the Holy Apostles” we mean the gathering of the faithful in order to honour the twelve Apostles for the dissemination of the truth they revealed about the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

The divine Liturgy was led by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, having as concelebrants Metropolitans Kyriakos of Nazareth and Joachim of Zambia, Hagiotaphite Archimandrites, led by Archimandrite Ieronymos, Archimandrite Sophronios, Hieromonks and Arabic-speaking Presbyters, Archdeacon Evlogios and deacon Anastasios. Archimandrite Philotheos, hegumen in Accra, sang for a congregation from the parishes of Nazareth and Galilee, as well as for Greek-speaking and Russian-speaking pilgrims.

In His sermon, Patriarch Theophilos spoke of the joyful event of the appearance of Jesus to his disciples in the Tiberian sea. “The Church of Christ”, said the Patriarch, “bestows special honours on the Apostles, namely Christ’s disciples, because on the one hand they became eye and ear witnesses of the incarnation of the Logos of God, and on the other hand they received the Holy Spirit (John 20, 22) and were sent by the Lord Himself to all nations in order to preach the Gospel of the Light of the truth:  Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” [John 20, 21-23].

The divine Liturgy was followed by reception at the hegumeneion, and then lunch hosted by the hegumen, Archimandrite Dionysios.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/Tk22wzF4FdU

httpv://youtu.be/vpfE03-jrQg

httpv://youtu.be/-jnGG-Qml0g

On Sunday, the 20^th of June/3^rd of July 2016, a group of seventy pilgrims from the Holy Bishopric of Hierapytna and Sitia of the Church of Crete visited the Patriarchate. They were headed by the Most Reverend Metropolitan Evgenios. Clerics and pious pilgrims were warmly welcomed by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers. His Beatitude spoke of the Church as the Body of Christ where its members gather, and also of the Church of Jerusalem, the first “to receive atonement through the Resurrection”.

His Beatitude thanked the Most Reverend Evgenios, Metropolitan of Hierapytna, for leading the pilgrimage which benefits pilgrims and the Patriarchate alike.

Metropolitan Evgenios extended thanks for the divine Liturgy held the previous night at the Holy Sepulchre, a source of strength, light, bliss and salvation, and went on to underline His Beatitude’s contribution to the deliberations of the recently held Great Synod of Orthodoxy.

In the same context, the Patriarch referred to the Patriarchal School, preparing Hagiotaphite Fathers, and asked Metropolitan Evgenios to inform children of a higher calling from his Bishopric of the School’s mission.

Finally, the pilgrims asked for the Patriarch’s blessings and continued their pilgrimage.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/qx-_XBEmp00

On Saturday, the 12^th/25^th of June 2016, after the divine Liturgy held in Albanian by the Church of Albania at the Monastery of Gonia, the Holy and Great Synod, during a closed meeting, dealt with the completion of the text entitled “The relations of the Orthodox Church with the rest of the Christian world”, which it had also discussed on the previous day. After long deliberations, the Synod reached an agreement and submitted the text to the Secretariat for amendment and signing.

During the same meeting, the Synod ratified the text to serve as its “Circular” along with the “Brief Message”, after the contribution of His Beatitude Anastasios, Archbishop of Albania. The brief text will be read tomorrow during the Joint Patriarchal Liturgy at St Paul’s Church of the Bishopric of Kydonia and Apokoronos. On the evening of the same day, in the presence of King Simeon of Bulgaria and the Observers of the other Christian Churches and Organisations, the closing of the proceedings took place in the presence, of course, of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Heads of the Autocephalous Orthodox Churches and their accompanying Hierarchs and advisors.

On the evening, a cultural event was performed by the Order of St Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America, at the Nautical Museum of Chania.

 From the Secretariat-General

On the morning of Friday, the 11^th/24^th of June 2016, the Holy and Great Synod convened at a closed meeting to study, amend and finalize the Synod’s “Circular” and the text entitled “The relations of the Orthodox Church with the rest of the Christians”. The amendments of the two texts were then submitted to the Secretariat for recording and further discussion. On the conclusion of the proceedings of the Synod, the Orthodox Academy of Crete, founded by the late Metropolitan Irineos Galanakis of Kissamos and Selinos, presided over for several years by Mr Papaderos, and now headed by Metropolitan Amphilochios and presided over by Mr Zorbas, bestowed upon the Heads of Autocephalous Orthodox Churches the honorary titles of “partners”, with the exception of the Heads already honoured with the said distinction.

The distinction for His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, had been approved from as far back as 2006, but was held in abeyance. Based on the then decision of the Board of Directors, a diploma and a golden emblem were conferred on His Beatitude, Who went on to extend thanks, pointing out that the honour is reflected upon the entire Hagiotaphite Brotherhood, the spoken long ago Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the rest of the Holy Shrines.

On the conclusion of the event, the Orthodox Academy of Crete hosted to dinner the Heads of Churches and their Entourages as well as all participants in the proceedings of the Great Synod of Orthodoxy.

From the Secretariat-General

On Wednesday, the 22^nd of June 2016, the Minister of Education of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Constantinos Kadis, visited the Patriarchate. He was accompanied by the Ambassador of Cyprus to Israel, Ms Thessalia Shambou, and Secretary Louisa Varaklas.

The Minister was warmly welcomed by the Patriarchal Commissioner, the Most Reverend Icyshios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers. After extending condolences to the people of Cyprus for the recent fire destruction on the island, Metropolitan Isychios talked of the Patriarchate’s position and work in the Holy Land amongst the other Monotheistic religions.

The Most Reverend went on to offer the Minister an icon of Panagia Jerusalemite as well as blessings for the difficult mission he has undertook, before accompanying him to the Most holy and Life-giving Sepulchre of the Lord.

From the Secretariat-General

 httpv://youtu.be/G28bvjJEv94

On Wednesday, the 22^nd of June 2016, the Patriarchal Commissioner, Icyshios of Kapitolias, welcomed the Most Reverend Ioustinos, Metropolitan of Nea Krini and Kalamaria, at the Patriarchal hall.

Metropolitan Ioustinos, accompanied by a group of pilgrims, was warmly welcomed by the Most Reverend Isychios, who extended the Patriarch’s wishes – at the time in Crete for the Holy and Great Synod of Orthodoxy – before pointing out the importance of their Pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

The Most Reverend Ioustinos then spoke briefly, thanking Metropolitan Isychios for his love and declaring his own and the pilgrims’ love for the Holy Shrines and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

The Patriarchal Commissioner went on to offer Metropolitan Ioustinos a prelatic engolpion on the occasion of the anniversary of His enthronement. Jerusalemite eulogias were also offered to the pilgrims.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/9UQaglnRZEQ

At the Orthodox Academy of Crete, on the 22th of June 2016

 His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein

King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

In Amman

Your Majesty,

The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church would like to express its deepest sympathies and convey its warmest prayers to the beloved Jordanian people, having been informed of the horrifying violence that took place on Tuesday, the 21^st of June, near the al-Rukban refugee settlement.

It is with deepest sorrow that we the Hierarchs, who have come together at this present Holy and Great Council under our Chairmanship, express our wholehearted condolences for this inhumane terrorist attack. The violence wrought upon these already overwhelmed people, who have been driven from their homes and were seeking asylum and protection, constitutes an offense before the loving and merciful God as well as before the very dignity of human beings.

May God grant rest to the souls of the innocent victims and may He strengthen and heal those wounded, as well as grant comfort from above to their loved ones.

We pray that the Lord and God of mercy will erase the plague of terrorism and violence from the face of the earth and grant to humanity peace, justice and reconciliation.

BARTHOLOMEW of Constantinople

Chairman of the Holy and Great Council

On Monday, the 7^th/20^th of June 2016, Monday of the Holy Spirit, the divine Liturgy was performed at the Church of Dormition of Theotokos, led by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, with Hagiotaphite Archimandrites Christophoros and Ieronymos co-officiating. The Most Reverend Primates, Priests and laymen of the Delegation of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and of other Churches participating in the Synod concelebrated.

After the service, the opening Session of the Holy and Great Synod of Orthodoxy began in the events hall of the Orthodox Academy of Crete, in the presence of the former king of Bulgaria, Simeon, and observers from other Christian Churches.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew first addressed the Session, followed by reply-addresses from the Heads of Churches, who pointed out the necessity of this particular Synod for communication between the Orthodox Churches and for sending out a strong Christian testament to their flocks and the world.

In His address, Patriarch Theophilos remarked on the fact that participants in the deliberations of the Holy and Great Synod overcame distances, obstacles and differences in order to seal their synodic collaboration for the support and salvation of their congregations and for attesting to peace, conciliation and unity in a world tormented by economic crisis, the immigration problem and crimes of unprecedented and harsh violence, a world in need of life, namely Christ the Lord.

“The Church of Jerusalem” went on Patriarch Theophilos, “has unwaveringly been in favour of the Synod, participating with representatives in all stages of the long preparation that included Pan-Orthodox Conventions, Inter-Orthodox Committees, Pre-Synodic Conventions and Gatherings of the Heads of Churches. So does it participate here today through Our Mediocrity and Entourage, bringing its fraternal embrace from the Holy Cave, the Horrendous Golgotha, the Most Holy Sepulchre and the Pentecost Cenacle, together with the agony of Christians in the Holy Land and the Middle East, who are guarded by the Most Holy Shrines”.

Patriarch Theophilos also referred to the absolutely necessary and important work of conservation, protection and restoration of the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre, in collaboration with the Franciscans and the Patriarchate of the Armenians in Jerusalem, on the basis of a project conducted by the NTUA. “Costs have been estimated to more than four million euros and are expected to be met by donations from Churches, States, Organizations and private citizens”, Patriarch Theophilos pointed out and went on to extend wishes for the fruition of the Synod’s deliberations.

At noon, the Heads of Churches and their Entourages were hosted to lunch by the Orthodox Academy of Crete, whilst in the afternoon the Synod discussed the text entitled “The Mission of the Church in the contemporary world”.

From the Secretariat-General

On the afternoon of Tuesday the 1^st/14^th of June 2016, the former Defence Minister of the Republic of Cyprus, now Presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian Issues, accompanied by his associate, Mr Alexandros Kais and the Ambassadress of Cyprus to Tel Aviv, Ms Thessalia Shambou, as well as the Secretary of the Cypriot Embassy, Ms Louisa Varaklas, visited the Patriarchate.

The Minister and his entourage were warmly welcomed by His Beatitude Theophilos and Hagiotaphite Fathers. In the context of the meeting, an interesting discussion took place on ways of collaboration between the Greek and Jewish Diaspora for the safeguarding of their identity – against the ongoing Turkish occupation for Greek-speaking Cypriots, and antisemitism for Jews in specific countries.

Reference was also made to the Ottoman Empire, especially in the Middle East, that has left its traces both in the Arabic world and on the status quo of the Holy Land. It was correctly pointed out that the precursor to the Ottoman Empire in the Holy Land was the covenant agreed by Umar Khattab and Patriarch Sophronios, the so-called Achtiname, which constitutes the framework of coexistence between Christians and Muslims since the 7^th century. On the ground of this particular covenant are the relations between the Patriarchate and the three governments of the Holy Land, Israel, Palestine and Jordan maintained to this day, protecting the status quo of the Holy Shrines.

This interesting and constructive meeting was followed by exchange of gifts and Mr Photiou’s departure for veneration at the Holy Sepulchre.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/CYNOL32dZvU

On Saturday, the 29th of May/11th of June, a group of Georgian pilgrims visited the Patriarchate.

Among them was iconographer Teymouraz Jamarije and the donator, Teymouraz Kambolava, who offered the Patriarchate an icon of St Nina, St Nikolas and St George the Trophy-Bearer.

His Beatitude thanked them for the donation and reciprocated with an icon of Theotokos Jerusalemite, extending wishes for the grace of the Resurrected and Ascended Lord during their pilgrimage.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/f9QxMlM86Eo