24 May 2016

Your Eminences,
Your Graces,

Respected Government Officials,

Beloved Monastics,

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Christ is risen!

IIt is a great honour for us to return to this beautiful country of Hungary for this fraternal visit to our Christian brothers and sisters, and to the Orthodox Church in particular and to have this occasion to participate in this Festal Doxology with our concelebrants in the Lord from all the Orthodox communities here. The joy of this Paschal Feast has brought us together, the Feast of Feasts that has united earth and heaven, and divinity and humanity, in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The roots of Orthodoxy in Hungary go back many centuries, and the Orthodox Church has a long and significant history of contributing to the multi-cultural and mufti-ethic life of this region. In our own day Orthodox Christians from several different national Churches live together in this country, and we see today the strength that is ours as we live in the truth of our diversity in unity. Today we experience a true Pentecost as we worship together in many tongues and from many lands.

The Orthodox Church is a witness to the uncreated light of the resurrection. This light, which first shone on Mount Tabor, now shines from the Tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ, is a guide to the blind, and a beacon of hope to so many in our world who are plagued with fear, despair, and confusion. Our world is in such need of this spiritual mission, for we know the truth of the words that were spoken by our Lord when he was tempted:

“Man does not live by bread alone, hut by every word that comes from the mouth of God,”

(Matthew, 4:4)  

It is the mission of the Church, and therefore our mission, to offer to the world precisely this spiritual food, food for which every soul hungers, and which is the food of eternal life.

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Mother of all the Churches, places this spiritual mission at the heart of our life. In this regard we are glad to announce that the spirit of the celebration of the resurrection has indeed inspired the hearts of the three Communities i.e. of our Patriarchate, the Franciscans, and the Armenians, to join our efforts in the task of the renovation of the Sacred Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre. The Sacred Edicule is the holiest of Sites, and Divine Providence has given us the responsibility of ensuring that this site, and all the Holy Sites in the Holy Land, remain places of worship and sources of spiritual refreshment that are accessible to all without distinction. Thousands of people come to worship at these Holy Sites_, including many faithful Christians from Hungary. Here is the place of our common witness.

We cannot but give thanks to our Lord, who through the Holy Spirit has put it into our hearts to gather in the  upcoming Holy and Great Synod in Crete and we pray that He will guide us in his own way in order to glorify his Name.

We greet you ail, therefore, both the leaders of the Church, as well as the leaders of the

Government, who extended this gracious invitation, with deep gladness as the Church
continues to live in the light of the resurrection and the love of Christ. We thank
particularly His Excellency Mr. Geza, the Hungarian Representative in Ramallah, For his
kind assistance.

May God bless you all in your spiritual pastoral and Church Mission in this region, and may God bless  all the peoples of your beloved Hungary.

Christ is risen!

His Beatitude

THEOPHILOS III

Patriarch of Jerusalem

On Monday, the 10^th/23^rd of May 2016, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, launched His official visit to Hungary, upon invitation from the country’s government.

The Patriarch is accompanied by the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, and Archdeacon Evlogios.

His Beatitude arrived to Budapest at 9:15 am of the aforementioned day, flying with El-Al Israel Airlines.

At the airport He was warmly welcomed by the Most Reverend Arsenios, Metropolitan of Austria-Hungary of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, being the top Advisor of Hungary’s Cabinet Chief, Mr Zoltan Csallokozi; the Hungarian Ambassador to Ramallah, Mr Geza Mihailyi; the Greek Ambassador to Hungary, Mr Demetrios Yiannakakis; Consul Mr Loukas Tsokos, and other officials of the Hungarian Government, i.e. Mr Miklos Soltes, State Secretary for Civil and Church Affairs. At the airport, His Beatitude spoke of the importance of the Holy Shrines as a protective roof for Christians in the Holy Land and for Jerusalem’s religious and social status quo.

From the airport, the Patriarch was driven to Novotel Hotel.

After lunch, He visited Protopresbyter Josef Kaloti of the Bishopric of Austria-Hungary, at the Centre for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Patients with Serious Diseases in Budapest. During the visit, an interesting discussion took place on the hospital’s humanitarian work and the possibility of collaboration with the Patriarchate’s Four Homes of Mercy, in Bethany.

The Patriarch went on to lead Doxology at the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Chapel of St

Ierotheos and St Stephanos, first Christian king of Hungary. In attendance at the service were Metropolitan Arsenios, priests of the Bishopric, parishioners, Messrs. Yiannakakis, Tsokos, Mihailyi, the President of the Greek Community, Mr Georgios Koukoumtzis, and Counselor Marha Politidou.

In his address, Metropolitan Arsenios referred to the adversities facing the Greek Community in Budapest, and the Patriarch replied that the Church of the Holy Land, drenched with the blood of Christ, makes a supplication for overcoming such adversities by the example of Jesus Christ, the Resurrected from the Dead, who said “Do not fear, little flock” and taught patience. “Patience will save our souls and help us overcome difficulties”, said the Patriarch.

In the evening, the Patriarch, His Entourage and members of the Hungarian Government and the Greek Embassy were hosted to lunch at Actor Hotel, courtesy of Mr G. Koukoumtzis and Ms M. Politidou.

The dinner marked the conclusion of the first day of the Patriarch’s visit to Hungary.

From the Secretariat-General

On the 2^nd/15^th of May 2016, Sunday of the Myrophorae, the Patriarchate observed the memory of St Joseph of Arimathea and of the Myrophorae in the town of Remli, the ancient Arimathea.

Upon His arrival from Jerusalem, the Patriarch was courteously welcomed as Boy Scouts paraded.

The feast was led by Patriarch Theophilos, having as concelebrants: Archbishops Damascene of Joppa, Aristarchos of Constantina, Methodios of Tabor; Archimandrite Ieronymos, hegumen in Fhes, as leading Archimandrite; Archimandrite Claudius, hegumen at the Monastery of the Holy Cross, visiting clerics from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and Archdeacon Evlogios and deacon Markos. The Community Choir sang in Arabic and Greek in the presence of Messrs. Gennimatas and Boumas, representatives of the Greek Embassy to Israel, for the Orthodox people of Remli.

During Communion, His Beatitude delivered a sermon, pointing out that the feast commemorates the eighth day since the resurrection of Christ from the grave, when “the times reached their fulfilment, and brought unity to all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth” according to Paul (Eph. 1, 10) And, according to the Apostle Peter:  The Prophet David, seeing what was to come, spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it” (Acts 2, 31-32).

“So should we” said His Beatitude, “proclaim and confess the name of the Crucified and Resurrected Lord, with our entire soul and intellect. We should seek Christ with our hearts and mind, as instructed by the wise Paul: If you resurrect with Christ, seek for heaven above, there where Christ is seated on the right of God”.

After the Apolysis, the faithful received the antidoron and eulogias-icon from the hands of Patriarch Theophilos.

On the conclusion of the divine Liturgy, a reception followed at the hegumeneion, where Archimandrite Nephon, the Monastery’s renovator, extended thanks for the Patriarchate’s moral and material support. As a token of gratitude, he offered the Patriarch an icon of the Last Supper. Patriarch Theophilos praised the Chairwoman of the Community, Ms Frida, offering her an icon of St George.

At noon, Archimandrite Nephon and the Town Council hosted guests to lunch.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/MBZ3sZeTth0

httpv://youtu.be/lc4nTrJ_ZOk

On the evening of the 1^st/14^th of May 2016, the graduation ceremony took place at the Patriarchal School in Taybeh, near Ramallah.

Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, Patriarch Commissioner, represented the Patriarchate at the event. He was accompanied by the President of the Patriarchate’s Schools in Israel, Archimandrite Ieronymos, and the Patriarchate’s liaison with Arabic-speaking media, f. Issa Mousleh. The well-organized ceremony began with a prayer and the National Anthem of Palestine, and was followed by the entrance of 23 graduates.

The School’s Principal went on to address guests, praising the Patriarchate’s contribution to the establishment of the School – that includes a Nursery, Primary and High School and a Lyceum – which it goes on to support both financially and morally.

Representatives of the graduates then spoke in Arabic, English and Greek, extending thanks to the Patriarchate, the School and their parents.

The ceremony closed with the Patriarch’s address, read by f. Issa Mousleh, and the award of graduation degrees by the Patriarchal Commissioner, the Schools’ President and the School’s Principal, alongside wishes for success and professional progress.

From the Secretariat-General

On Saturday, the 1^st/14^th of May 2016, the Patriarchate observed the memory of St George the Trophy Bearer in Accra – ancient Ptolemais – at the Patriarchate’s homonymous church.

Accra, at the northernmost edge of Israel, is one of the most ancient Bishoprics of the Patriarchate, and includes twelve towns, namely the Arabic communities of Rame, Kufr Yasif, Sahnin, Kufr Smea, Sfaamer, Abelin, Makker, Zdeide, Tarseeha, Pkea and Abu Snan.

Upon the Patriarch’s arrival in Accra, He was warmly welcomed by the town’s Boy Scouts. His Beatitude went on to lead the divine Liturgy at the ancient church of St George, having as concelebrants: Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Metropolitan Joachim of Zambia, Hieromonks i.e. the hegumen in Tiberias, f. Dionysios, the Presbyters of the Arabic-speaking communities near Accra, in the presence of the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem. The Accra Choir sang under the Patriarchal Commissioner in Accra, Archimandrite Philotheos, for a crowd of Orthodox faithful.

To the pious congregation the Patriarch preached the Word of God, saying that the commemoration of St George verifies the global event of the Resurrection of Christ from the dead. “Let no one be afraid of death; for the Saviour’s death has liberated us”, proclaims St Chrysostom. And this because, according to Paul: “All of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6, 3-5). “It is precisely the Resurrection of Christ that the Church of Jerusalem proclaims”, His Beatitude added. “And this salvaging message it has preserved, pure and clean of every spoliation and besmearing. The message of the apostles, we are now called upon to protect if indeed we want to resist our contemporary Diocletians and Pilatuses”, said the Patriarch.

In Arabic, the Patriarch’s address may be reached here: en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2016/05/13/21624

A great crowd participated in Communion, whilst the faithful received the antidoron and eulogias from the Patriarch’s hands. After the divine Liturgy, a procession followed thrice around the church and in front of the tomb of St George of Cyprus the Neomartyr, who suffered a martyr’s death in Ptolemais in the 19^th c.

During the reception that followed at the hegumeneion, renovated by Archimandrite Philotheos, addresses were delivered by the President of the Accra Community, the Chief of Police in Accra, the Sheikh in Accra, the Sheikh in Baane, the representative of Bahai, the representative of the Youth, the representative of Judges, Ms Tanous, and Archimandrite Philotheos.

The reception closed with the Patriarch’s address (to be uploaded soon).

At noon, the Patriarchal Entourage were hosted to lunch hosted by Archimandrite Philotheos.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/FJx5iPdaHNk

httpv://youtu.be/4ZFTrvr5HcY

On the afternoon of Wednesday, the 28^th of April/11^th of May 2016, a graduation ceremony was held for 19 students of St Demetrios School. The ceremony took place at the Notre Dame Hotel’s Hall of Events, opposite the New Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem.

His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem honoured the event with His presence. He was accompanied by the Chairman of the Patriarchate’s Arabic-speaking Schools in Israel, Archimandrite Ieronymos; the Patriarchal Commissioner, Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias; the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina; and Presbyter f. Issa Mousleh, the Patriarchate’s liaison with Arabic-speaking media.

Also attending the ceremony were the representative of the Greek Consulate, Mr Vasileios Koinis, the Palestinian Ambassador to the Vatican, Mr Issa Kassisiye, the priests and board members of St James Cathedral, and f. Farah-Charalambos Bantour, as well as eminent members of the Arabic-speaking Community and the Greek Parish in Jerusalem.

From the Secretariat-General

On the afternoon of Monday, the 26^th of April/9^th of May 2016, the Graduation Ceremony of the Patriarchate’s Lyceum in the Village of the Shepherds took place at the School’s hall of events.

The ceremony was honoured by the presence of H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem. The Patriarch was accompanied by Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Archdeacon Evlogios and other Hagiotaphite Fathers, i.e. the Chairman of the Patriarchate’s Schools in Israel, Archimandrite Ieronymos, the Patriarchal Commissioner in Bethlehem, Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan, the representative of the Greek Consulate in Jerusalem, Mr Vasileios Koinis, and the hegumen at Beit Sahour Monastery, Archimandrite Ignatios.

The ceremony began with the parade of the Graduates, hymns, and the excerpt on the Resurrection from the Gospel according to John.

The School Principal, Mr George Saante, then addressed guests, praising the Patriarchate’s contribution to the School, that began with its establishment in 1990 and continues to this day. The School, which incorporates the teaching of the Greek language, includes a Nursery, a Primary School, a High School and a Lyceum. Mr Saante made special reference to the contribution of teachers and parents in providing graduates with the necessary skills to carry on their studies or their professional careers.

Three graduates then addressed guests in Greek, English and Arabic.

Traditional Palestinian dances and songs were performed during the event.

On the conclusion of the ceremony, f. Issa Mousleh, the Patriarchate’s liaison with Arabic-speaking media, and teacher at the School, read the Patriarch’s address.

From the Secretariat-General

On Monday, the 26^th of April/9^th of May 2016, the President of Israel, Mr Reuven Rivlin, visited the Patriarchate of the Armenians in Jerusalem in the presence of the Armenian Patriarchate, Mr Nourhan Manoukian, and the Heads of all Christian Churches in Jerusalem.

At the meeting, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem as well as the Armenian and Latin Patriarchs addressed the President of Israel.

In his reply speech, Mr Rivlin called the occasion a meeting of peace, reconciliation and exchange and a testament against the violence that plagues Jerusalem and other regions of the earth.

Patriarch Theophilos’ speech, in English, may be reached here: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2016/05/09/23533

From the Secretariat-General

9 May 2016

Your Excellency, Mr. President,

Your Beatitudes,

Your Eminences

Your Graces,

Esteemed Governmental Officials,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great honor for us to greet you, Your Excellency, during this holy season, in which we share in our celebrations of Pesach and Pascha. Once again, we are united in the reality of our common humanity and our common cultural heritage. This is a clear witness of our common Abrahamic roots in our beloved Holy Land, and this season is a source of joy and inspiration for us all.

We celebrate Jerusalem as the mother earth of our common religious, cultural, and spiritual traditions. The Abrahamic traditions bear witness to the sacred history, a history that gives meaning and purpose to every life. This message is of paramount importance, especially at a time in our present history, when in the world as a whole and in our region in particular humanity is experiencing confusion, fear, and violence. It is precisely in these circumstances that the witness of Jerusalem must deliver us from every prejudice.

We see evidence of our shared heritage in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, where Saint Peter quotes the words of the Prophet Joel.

In the last days it will be, God declares,

That I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

And your young men shall see vision,

And your old men shall dream dreams…

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved, (Acts 2: 17,21)

During this season of Pesach and Pascha, in the triumph of light over darkness, of freedom over slavery, of righteousness over evil, of truth over falsehood, Jerusalem calls on the name of the Lord and Saviour. Jerusalem embraces all humans and is the spiritual home of everyone who loves the God of love. Our shared joy at this time of the year comes from our passing over from the drought of the desert to the sweet waters of a green and pleasant land, from bondage to liberty, from the ashes of death to the fullness of life- a promise that the Prophet Joel declares that God offers to all who hope and firmly believe in him.

Recently ,we have celebrated this hope of renewed life in the agreement between the three Communities for the restoration of the Sacred Edicule of the Holy Tomb. This is a worthy project in itself, but it represents a deeper commitment to maintain the Holy Sites as meeting places between God and man where, in the spiritual renewal that they give us, we pass over from despair to hope, an experience that touches countless pilgrims from every nation and every religious and cultural expression.

Time and again, Your Excellency, we are deeply appreciative of your Presidency and your steadfastness in your public condemnation of all forms of prejudice, violence, and terrorism, from whatever quarter it comes. We also applaud your commitment to freedom of worship and religious expression for all the peoples of the Holy Land.

As we celebrate together this season of our common hope in God for a new future for the human family, we take this opportunity to wish you well in your ongoing service. It is our fervent prayer that during your time in office peace and reconciliation may come to prevail in our region.

Thank you.

His Beatitude

THEOPHILOS III

Patriarch of Jerusalem

On Sunday, the 25^th of April/8^th of May 2016, the Sunday of Thomas, the Lord’s miracle of turning water into wine and blessing the wedding in Kana, Galilee, was celebrated in the aforementioned town as the first sign of His miraculous power.

At the Holy Monastery of St George the Trophy-Bearer, Patriarch Theophilos led the divine Liturgy, having as concelebrants: Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Metropolitan Joachim of Zambia, the hegumen in Kana, Archimandrite Chrysostomos, the hegumen in Tabor, Archimandrite Hilarion, the head of the Ay Labun Community, Archimandrite Sophronios, the former hegumen in Tiberias, f. Timotheos, and the current hegumen, Archimandrite Dionysios, Arabic-speaking Presbyters from the adjacent towns, the overseer of the Monastery in Capernaum, Monk Irinaios, Archdeacon Evlogios and Hierodeacon Markos. The Kana Choir sang in Arabic and Greek for a pious Orthodox flock from Kana, Galilee.

During Communion, Patriarch Theophilos preached the Word of God, saying among other things that our Lord Jesus Christ offered His blood as ransom and through His death He annulled the devil and “freed those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Hebrews 2, 14_15). “Thomas”, the Patriarch said, “Christ’s disciple, believed in Him as his Lord and God. We too owe to believe in Christ, not as a man who became God, but as God who became a man, according to the words of the Evangelist John: “And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1, 14).

The divine Liturgy was followed by a procession thrice around St George Church, the blessing of Kana wine and the reading of the pericope from the gospel according to John for the turning of the water into wine.

A reception was then hosted in the forecourt, with a performance by the Catechizing Schools of Kana, and lunch at noon, courtesy of the hegumen.

On the conclusion of the feast, His Beatitude visited a family in Kana to offer His condolences on the death of one of their members. The Patriarch also visited the Director of the magazine “Light of Christ”, Mr Abu-Elias Ksheboun, and other families in Kana.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/UT-aisd1UBg

httpv://youtu.be/P4LS5sIpxXc