On the First Sunday of Great Lent, February 24/ March 8, 2020, the Patriarchate celebrated as ‘Parresia’ at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre the commemoration of the restoration of the Holy Icons by the Empress Theodora and her son Michael in 842, during the Patriarchal Office of St. Methodios the Confessor.

Ever since, the Church celebrates the restoration of the icons as a triumph of Orthodoxy, namely of the truth that the holy icons witness the incarnate presence and image of our Lord Jesus Christ on earth.

On this Feast, Great Vespers was held in the afternoon with the welcoming, veneration at the Holy Deposition slate and the Holy Tomb, incense, Great Entrance and the Blessing of Bread, led by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos.

In the morning of the Feast, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Catholicon, officiated by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, with co-celebrants; his Eminence Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, their Eminences Archbishops; Theophanes of Gerassa, Theodosios of Sebastia, Demetrios of Lydda, Makarios of Qatar and Philoumenos of Pella, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks with first in rank Elder Kamarasis Archimandrite Nectarios, visiting Priests from other Churches, and Hierodeacons. The chanting was delivered by the Byzantine Choir Leader Hierodeacon Simeon on the right and Mr. Vasilios Gotsopoulos with Mr. Skordilis on the left. The service was attended by the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr. Christos Sophianopoulos and members of the Consulate, along with a congregation of local pilgrims.

The Divine Liturgy was followed by the Procession three times around the Holy Tomb and then around the shrines, with all faithful holding icons in their hands.

At the end of the Procession, His Beatitude read the Synodical Decision of Orthodoxy from the Triodion in front of the Holy Tomb.

Finally, bells tolling, the Patriarchal entourage returned to the Patriarchate Main Reception Hall, where His Beatitude addressed all present as follows;

 “As the prophtes saw, as the Apostles taught, as the Church has received…Likewise we believe, likewise we speak, likewise we preach Christ our true God, and honour His Saints by word, venerating in icon God as the Master, and respecting the genuine healers for the common Master, honouring and rendering the relevant veneration” (Synodical decisions of the seventh Ecumenical Synod).

Today our Holy Church celebrates in festivity the triumph of its healthy Orthodox faith, namely the restoration of the holy icons and the rendering of their relative veneration.

This event is a landmark in the history of the Church, which has been tested harshly and arduously by the enemies of the holy icons, who are known as “Iconoclasts”.

The iconoclasts were not against the icons, but against the veneration of the depicted face of the God-man Christ, our Saviour, as also against the saints of the Church.

In other words, the iconoclasts tried in a violent way to revive the known heresies of Arianism and especially of Nestorianism, which (heresies) distorted, and in essence denied, the great mystery of the incarnation of God the Word, our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Needless to say that the foundation of the Orthodox Christian faith is the “unity by hypostasis” of the divine with the human nature, according to Saint Cyril of Alexandria. And according to Saint Gregory the Theologian: “what has not been received is incurable; what however is united in God, this is which is saved”. And according to the hymn writer of the Church; “The uncircumscribed Word of the Father became circumscribed, taking flesh from thee, O Theotokos, and He has restored the sullied image to its ancient glory, filling it with the divine beauty. This our salvation we confess in deed and word, and we depict it in the holy icons” (Kontakion of Sunday of Orthodoxy Matins).

Righteously, therefore, the Church of Christ rejoices today and cries out: “The grace of truth has shone forth upon us; the mysteries darkly prefigured in the times of old have now been openly fulfilled. For behold, the Church is clothed in a beauty that surpasses all things earthly, through the icon of the incarnate Christ that was foreshadowed by the ark of testimony. This is the safeguard of the Orthodox faith; for if we hold fast to the icon of the Saviour whom we worship, we shall not go astray” (Glory of Vespers, Sunday of Orthodoxy). 

Rendering glory and thanksgiving to our Holy Trinitarian God, let us  pray to the unchangeable icon of God the Father of our Saviour Christ, so that by the intersessions of His Immaculate Mother, our Lady Theotokos Mary and of all the Saints, we may be granted the great mercy. Amen. Many happy returns and blessed Great Lent.”

On Sunday evening the Contrite Vespers was held at the Catholicon of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, with the participation of His Eminence Archbishop Theophanes of Gerassa, while Dragouman Archimandrite Mattheos delivered a Sermon to the congregation.

From Secretariat-General

On Friday evening of the First Week of Lent, the First Stasis of the Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos was read at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, as part of the Service of the Small Compline and the Canon of the Akathist.

This contrite service was officiated by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, who entered the Church of the Holy Sepulchre accompanied by Hagiotaphite Fathers. After the Contakion of the Akathist and the incense offering, according to the Typikon order, His Beatitude read the First Stasis of the Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos and before the end of the service delivered the following sermon to the congregation;

“When the bodiless one learned the secret command, in haste he came and stood before Joseph’s dwelling, and spake unto the Maiden who knew not wedlock: The One Who hath bowed the Heavens by His descent is held and contained unchanging wholly in thee. Seeing Him receiving the form of a servant in thy womb, I stand in awe and cry to thee: Rejoice, thou Bride unwedded”; our Holy Church narrates in melody.

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Noble Christians and pilgrims

Behold, “fasting has come, mother of chastity, accuser of sins, advocate of repentance, life of the angels and salvation of men” St. Theodore of the Studion says (Triodion, Monday of first week, Aposticha of Praises).

Indeed, the salvation of us people is inseparable to the bodily and spiritual fasting. And fasting is inseparable to the great mystery of the Divine Providence, namely God the Word and our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who received the form of a servant in the womb of the Ever-Virgin Mary the Mother of God.

For this reason, our Holy Church keeps the Service of the Akathist Hymn to our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary in a festive manner during the Great Lent. The content of the Akathist refers to the unspeakable mystery of the God’s condescension and of His Divine reconciliation (Romans 5:10), which means that it refers to the incarnation of Christ, God the Word, through the pure flesh of the Ever-Virgin Mary, as St. Andrew of Crete very clearly states: “We celebrate the union of God with men, the deification of the human nature, the reform of our humankind, our change for the better, our lifting up and our ascension to heaven”.

This is the purpose of the prayer and repentance during the fasting of the Great Lent, to “the deification of the form which we have received”, for which St. Gregory of Nazianzen writes: “For that which has not been received is incurable; but the one who is united with God, that can be saved”.

And we are wondering; what is that “which has been received”? It is no other, my dear ones, than our human nature which has fallen through sin and has been wounded, the human nature which “the Son and Word of God, Christ, has transformed in Himself, namely, has healed, rendering to it [our human nature] the first gift of “being according to the image”  which was the first honour that man lost by the carelessness of our ancestors, as St. Andrew of Crete says.

The mystery of the salvation of man is owed to the unspeakable and indescribable contribution of the Most Blessed Theotokos Mary and the gratitude of our Holy Church is addressed to her.

Let as hear therefore, the relative to this event interpretation of St. John Chrysostom, regarding the narrative of St. Luke the Evangelist about Virgin Mary: “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth…and the virgin’s name was Mary” (Luke 1:26-27), and he had received such orders from God: “Go to Virgin Mary. Go forth to the living city for which the prophet said: “Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God” (Ps. 87:3). Go to my logical paradise, go to the gate which is on the east (Ezekiel 40:6, 22:40), go to the worthy dwelling place of my Word (Ps. 32:14)…., go and greet Mary with the words “Rejoice thou who art full of grace” (Luke 1:28), so that I may have mercy upon Eve who has fallen”. Behold therefore, why the hymn writer of the Church exclaims: “Rejoice thou through whim joy shall shine forth; rejoice, thou through whom the curse shall be blotted out” and “Rejoice heavenly Ladder whereby God came down. Rejoice Bridge leading those of earth to Heaven”.

Our Holy Church my dear brothers and sisters is the Ark of our salvation, namely of the healing and the freedom in Christ. Christ’s Cross and His Passion on the Cross are the heavenly ladder through which God humbled Himself in Jesus Christ, becoming “obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8). Moreover, Christ’s Cross is the bridge through which we are carried from the death of the passions, of the corruption and sin of this world, to the immortal and eternal life, namely to the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Let us therefore entreat the Theotokos that with her intercessions we may be deemed worthy to complete the period of the Great Lent and conclude to the Glorious Resurrection of Christ, in Whom and through Whom we will also be resurrected. Amen.”

From Secretariat-General

On Sunday, February 3/16, 2020, the Patriarchate celebrated the commemoration of Saint Simeon the God-receiver at the Holy Monastery dedicated to him, which is in New Jerusalem, near the Holy Monastery of the Sacred Cross and of the Hebrew Knesset.

On this feat the Church commemorates Saint Simeon the God-receiver, who received in his arms the forty-days-old Lord and cried out, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,  Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;  A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2:29-32).

In this old Monstery, where St. Simeon’s Tomb lies, Vespers for the feast was held in the afternoon, by Archimandrites Mattheos and Ieronymos and the Divine Liturgy in the morning led by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, with co-celebrants their Eminences, Archbishop Methodios of Tabor, Metropolitan Panteleimon from Xanthi of the Church of Greece, and Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and Arab-speaking Priests. The chanting was delivered by Mr. Vasilios Gotsopoulos and the service was attended by a congregation of local Orthodox Christians and pilgrims from Greece, Russia and Romania, as well as members of the Greek Consulate in Jerusalem.

His Beatitude read the following Sermon to this Congregation.

“The Elder, having seen with his eyes the salvation that was to come to the peoples, cried aloud unto Thee: ‘O Christ that comest from God, Thou art my God”. (Lord, when the Elder Simeon saw with his own eyes the Saviour that had come for all peoples, he cried aloud to you: Christ You are my God, the One Who has been born from God the Father, the melodist of the Church St. Cosmas Bishop of Maiouma exclaims).

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Noble Christians and pilgrims

The grace of the Holy Spirit which overshadowed Saint Simeon the God-receiver has gathered us all in this Holy place, where the Tomb and the honoured Saint lies, in order to celebrate in Eucharist the Meeting of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple, when Righteous Simeon received Him in his arms.

This feast of the Meeting of the Lord is a projection of Christmas, and this is so because God the Word who became incarnate from the pure Ever-Virgin Theotokos Maria, and was made a perfect man, was also following the Law of the Old Testament to the letter, according to the custom of the time.

According to the Law of Moses, the Lord said; “Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast” (Exodus 13:2, 12-13). And with their entry to the Temple after the completion of forty days since their labour, the women who bore children had to offer “a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest” (Leviticus 12:6); or in case of being poor, “two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering” (Levit. 12:8).

Joseph and the Mother of Jesus, “when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him [Christ] to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord” in Solomon’s Temple , where the righteous Elder Simeon received Jesus as a baby in his arms according to the witness of Luke the Evangelist (Luke 2:22-35).

Today, the Holy Orthodox Church and especially the Church of Jerusalem honours and venerates the synaxis of the Holy and Righteous Simeon the God-receiver and of Anne the Prophetess; because the pious and righteous Simeon recognized the incarnate Son and Word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. “The same man (Simeon) was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” Luke the Evangelist narrates (Luke 2:25-26).

According to Saint Basil the Great, Elder Simeon and Prophetess Anna saw the divine power in Christ “like light through light bulbs through the human body”. In other words, just as we see the light inside the light bulbs, likewise those who are pure in heart see and distinguish the divine light through Christ’s body. And according to Saint Athanasius the Great, while appearing to be a normal man, righteous Simeon was however a man of a higher status in meaning. He had the earthly and visible Jerusalem as a home city, but his metropolis was the heavenly Jerusalem.

This is theologically depicted in the hymn of Saint Cosmas Euhaiton by; “Thy virtue, O Christ, hath covered the heavens, for proceeding forth from the Ark of Thy sanctification, from Thine undefiled Mother, Thou hast appeared in the temple of Thy glory as an infant in arms, and the whole world hath been filled with Thy praise”.

According to the hymn writer Cosmas, the Theotokos Maria, being a new tabernacle “with a soul and logic”, according to St. John Damascene, held within her as a fetus the “sanctification”, namely “the holy body of the Lord, which was sanctified and deified by the divinity it had before it was conceived”. Therefore, “having come forth” from his immaculate mother, Christ appeared as a baby “in the temple of glory” “being brought into their arms”. “For while being God”, said John Damascene says, “he becomes a man…and is being held in the arms of men as a baby”.

And the “earthly arms” are those of the Elder Simeon. St. Luke the Evangelist says that Simeon “then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2:28-32).

The gift of prophesy St. Simeon had enabled him to foresee that this baby, Christ, was to be the Saviour of the whole world, as Prophet Isaiah also said: “And all flesh shall see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:6). And according to the psalmist; “The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen” (98:2).

The apostolic reading of the main feast is related to the event of today’s feast. “And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better” (Hebrews 7:7), St. Paul preaches, referring to the meeting of Patriarch Abraham with Melchisedek, the King of Salem and priest of God (Genesis 14:18-20). This is precisely what happened with the meeting of the baby Christ by the Elder Simeon. The eternal and Great High Priest Jesus Christ as a forty-day-old child is met with Elder Simeon in the temple and just like Abraham was blessed by Melchisedek, likewise, Simeon is being blessed by the Lord as he received Him in his arms (Luke 2:28).

In other words, the pious Simeon realized that this divine child is above him, while he is below, and rejoicing he cried out “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace” (Luke 2:29).

If we want, my dear brothers and sisters, to become communicants of the blessing that the righteous Simeon received, we should have as a prototype the faith and the desire, along with the patience he had, when we approach the Lord of glory, namely our Lord Jesus Christ, in the mystery of the Holy Eucharist, where we become of one body and of one blood with our God and Saviour.

And along with the hymn writer let us say: “Come let us as well with songs inspired of God, go together to meet Christ; and receive Him Whose salvation Simeon hath now beheld. This is He Whom David proclaimed; this is He that in the Prophets hath spoken; Who is incarnate for our sakes, and Who speaketh in the Law. Let us worship Him” (Minaion 2 February, Great Vespers, Sticheron 3). Amen.”

After the Divine Liturgy the renovator of the Holy Monastery and the Church Elder Archimandrite Theodoritos offered a reception to the Patriarchal entourage at the Hegoumeneion and to the congregation at the courtyard of the Monastery.

From Secretariat-General

On Wednesday evening, January 31/ February 12, 2020, the Head of the Russian MISSIA Archimandrite Alexander celebrated his 60^th birthday.

First invited among other guests was His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, accompanied by Hagiotaphite Fathers, and He addressed Archimandrite Alexander as follows;

 “Dear Archimandrite Alexander,

Your Eminences,

Your Graces,

Dear Fathers,

Beloved Monastics,

Members of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission,

Respected Guests,

We are delighted to take this opportunity, dear Archimandrite Alexander, to offer you sincere greetings to you on this blessed occasion of your 60^th birthday.

We are grateful to you for gathering all of us together here at the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission, for this gathering reflects the multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious landscape that is at the heart of the true identity of this Holy City of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Indeed, the Russian Mission itself, which celebrated its 170^th anniversary two years ago, is a living testimony to this unique mosaic of cultures, ethnicities, and religious traditions.

We do not take this rich diversity for granted, and we would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to you and to all who work at the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission for your commitment to our common mission here. We are deeply aware of the pastoral care that you extend to the monasteries of the Mission, as well as the many thousands of pilgrims who come to the Holy Land from the Russian Orthodox Church, and we know how deeply the pious peoples of the Russian Church love and venerate the Holy Places, and most specifically the Holy Tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As the Psalmist says,

O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling (Psalm 42 [43]: 3).

So many follow the prompting of the spirit to come to this holy hill – to Jerusalem – which is the spiritual home of all humankind.

We wish you, dear Archimandrite Alexander, the happiest of birthdays, and we pray that God will grant you many years in the service of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as a worthy successor to your predecessors who served sacrificially and maintained the bond of the love of Christ and the harmonious relationship between the Christians of the Russian lands and the Christians of the Holy Land.

In token of our prayers and our Patriarchal blessing, we wish to present to you this pectoral cross.

Thank you”.

Ἐκ τῆς Ἀρχιγραμματείας

The annual New Year Reception for the New Year 2020, hosted by the Mayor of Jerusalem Mr. Moshe Lion, was held at the City Hall of Jerusalem on Tuesday evening, January 15/28, 2020.

For this reception, Geronda Secretary-General His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina delivered the address of H.H.B our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos before the Mayor and all the guests, Diplomats, representatives and Heads of the faith communities.

The following is the address:

“Mr. Mayor,

Esteemed Members of the Municipal Government,

Your Eminences,

Your Graces,

Dear Fathers,

Ladies and Gentlemen

WE greet you Mr. Mayor, with our best wishes for this New Year, as you take the reins of your important administrative task.

With your administration, we hope to embark on a relationship of understanding between the Municipality and the Churches. This is the time for a fresh direction and new frameworks for the well-being of all in our City. For as the Psalm says, “how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity”! (Psalm 133).

We are heartened by your vision that encompasses concern for the vitality of the historically rooted Christian presence in the Holy City, and the ability of the Christian community to live and thrive here. We also have a deep commitment to the many thousands of pilgrims who come to Jerusalem on a daily basis, who are nourished by the spiritual oasis that comprise the Holy Places of worship, and whose presence here ensures the human-divine encounter that yields mutual respect and peaceful symbiosis. For it is written, “Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God” (Matt. 5:9).

As we consider the well-being of the Churches and the Christian presence here, we are calling upon your wisdom and strong leadership, Mr. Mayor, to oppose those who would impose municipal taxes on the Churches and our properties, which are used for our ministry and service to the community, just as we would oppose such taxes on any other religious group. Such moves to impose these new and unprecedented taxes undermine the historic and sacred rights and privileges of the Churches that have been recognized by successive rulers and authorities in this region.

We are also confident that you will be steadfast and resolute in standing with us in our efforts to preserve the Christian character of the Christian Quarter of the Old City and to protect the “Pilgrim Route” to the Holy Sites, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The protection of access in the Christian Quarter is primarily protection against the relentless pressure, infringement of rights, and attempted takeovers by radical elements in our society who are threatening the multi-cultural and multi-religious fabric of our Holy City and its historic Christian presence. For as it is said in the Psalms, “he who loves unrighteousness hates his own soul” (Psalm 11:5).

By engaging the Churches and taking our concerns and sensitivities into consideration, you will not be diminishing the standing of the local authorities and other communities. On the contrary, such understanding of the mission of the Churches in this way only strengthens the unique and vibrant spiritual and religious character of Jerusalem.

So, as we look to the New Year and to your administration with hope and expectation, we wish to assure you, Mr. Mayor, of our renewed engagement with you and with the municipal authority, to ensure that the life of our City remains rooted in our historic, cultural and religious indentify, so that together we may all contribute to guarding Jerusalem as a beacon of co-existence, peace, and reconciliation, which will in turn ensure the flourishing of all our people, i.e. Jews, Christians and Muslims.

We wish you, your family and your administration a very happy, blessed and peaceful New Year.

Thank you.”

From Secretariat-General

At 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 11/24, 2020, His Royal Highness Prince Charles the Prince of Wales visited the Basilica of the Nativity, accompanied by a delegation including His Excellency Mr. Philip Hall, the British Consul General of Her Royal Highness Elizabeth, Queen of England and the Agnlican Archbishop in Jerusalem His Eminence Souheil Dawani.

Upon His arrival at the courtyard of the Basilica, His Royal Highness the Prince was welcomed by the representatives of the Hegoumens of Bethlehem, Archimandrite Polykarpos, on behalf of the Orthodox and was led to the Gate of the Basilica. There the Prince was welcomed by the Hegoumens of Bethlehem; the Orthodox Patriarchal Representative Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan, the Franciscan and the Armenian Hegoumens, who led the Prince inside the Basilica.

In the middle of the Basilica the first to greet the Prince was H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, followed by the Custos of the Holy Land Reverend Francesco Patton and the representative of the Armenian Patriarch His Eminence Archbishop Sevan.

From there, His Beatitude led the Prince at the Catholicon, before the Ikonostasion, and standing by the Main Gate, extended to him a symbolic gift being the star of the Nativity made of pearls and addressed His Royal Highness as follows;

“Your Royal Highness,   it is a great honour for us to welcome you here in Bethlehem the birthplace of our Lord Jesus Christ,   the place that brought peace and justice upon the whole world.

Bethlehem is indeed a symbol of peace here, for Christians and Muslims, who live as a family and a united community,   and the Church is also the place that is offering spiritual refreshment to thousands of pilgrims of all faiths and of all cultures and nationalities without any discrimination.

Your Highness’s presence here is highly appreciated and heartfelt for our region, which is facing many challenges,   and your pilgrimage here is a tangible sign of your commitment to promoting and advancing peace and justice in the very birthplace of peace.

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”

(Luke 2.14)

Please allow us to present to you on behalf of the church communities of the Holy Land this humble blessing.

Thank you.”

From this point and through St. Nikolaos’ chapel, His Beatitude guided the Prince to St. George’s chapel, which is adjacent to the Basilica on the southeast side. There the Patriarchal Representative of Bethlehem, His Eminence Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan read the Gospel narrative of the Nativity of Christ in Greek, as per the custom on each Christmas Eve according to the Gregorian calendar by the Anglican Church, the Prince read the narrative of the Beatitudes according to chapter 5 of St. Mathew’s Gospel, and each of the Heads of the Christian Churches, without litourgical vestments, read a prayer according to the printed schedule.

His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos addressed the Prince as per below;

“Your Royal Highness,

Your Eminences,

Your Graces,

Beloved Members of our Brotherhood,

Honoured Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Your Royal Highness, we welcome you warmly to Bethlehem and to the Church of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ,   and we are delighted that you are in the Holy Land.   Your presence among us is a great encouragement to the peoples of our region, and we are deeply grateful for the careful attention that you pay especially to the well-being of the Christian presence here.   Whether we are meeting in London or here in the holy City of Jerusalem, we are always heartened by your commitment.

As you are fully aware, the Christian presence here is an integral part of our social fabric and is crucial in maintaining the historic multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious landscape of Jerusalem and the Holy Land.   Without a thriving Christian community in the Holy Land, this region would lose its essential character, and no longer be the living land of the divine-human encounter to which the Christian presence here is a living witness;

“You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted?”

(Matthew 5:13)

The Church communities are no doubt facing challenges and the Heads of the Churches and Christian Communities are united in our firm opposition to this threat, and we have been supported in this by leaders locally and from around the world both in government and religion.   We have had particularly strong support from Her Majesty’s Government and other British political leaders, as well as from His Grace, our dear brother, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

While we emphasise these challenges, we must also say that all the local authorities of the Holy Land have been working with us positively to help in dealing with these threats and challenges, and we are very grateful to all those who have joined in this effort;

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God”

 (Matthew 5:9)

Together with the other Churches and Christian communities of the Holy Land, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem stand ready to partner with all governments and people of good will to ensure the well-being of all the peoples of our region; for this is our pastoral mission entrusted to us by the Divine Providence;

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind…Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”. 

(Matthew 22: 37-39)

One of the prominent achievements of the growing body of international support for the Christian community in the Holy Land is the recent establishment of the International Community of the Holy Sepulchre [ICoHS];

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy”. 

(Matthew 5:7)

While at the moment this society is drawing membership and support mostly from the United Kingdom and the United States, our hope is for a truly international representation in membership.   ICoHS is an intentionally ecumenical society, not bound to any one confession, with the active support of, among others, the Orthodox, the Roman Catholic, the Anglican and the Protestant communities.  

This is the first such ecumenical society of its kind to be established from the Holy Land, and it is our dearest hope that it will be a major source for good, both in bringing Christians from different communities together in common support of the Christian presence in the Holy Land, and in strengthening international attention to the life and witness of the Christian community here.

Needless to say, Your Royal Highness, that we are deeply aware of your personal commitment to the Holy Land and to the Churches, here which keep and guard the holy places not as mere monuments but as places of worship,   and we also understand that, in addition to your official and royal mission, you also come here as a pilgrim.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and the Sun of righteousness enlighten your mind and warm your heart.

Thank you.”

Once this ceremony was finished, led by His Beatitude, the Prince went down St. George’s chapel through the stairs of the Altar to St. Nikolaos’ chapel. From there the Prince went down into the Cave and therein, by the star and the manger, He was addressed by the Custos of the Holy Land the Reverend Father Francesco Patton.

Thereafter, the Prince went up through the north gate of the Cave to the chapel which is used by the Armenians, and was received by the Armenian His Eminence Sevan. From this chapel, the Prince marched through the courtyard of St. Catherine of the Franciscans, where  a group photograph of the visit was taken.

Finally, His Royal Highness offered a reception hosted by the British Consul General to Jerusalem His Excellency Mr. Hall,  at the Casa Nova the adjacent Guest House of the Fransciscans.

From Secretariat-General

Statement on the World Holocaust Forum, 23^rd of January 2020

His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem

“We mourn for those who suffered and died so terribly in Auschwitz-Birkenau, and throughout the Holocaust. We pray for comfort for all of those with family members no longer here because of these atrocities. All people must heed the lessons of history and never fail to stand alongside our neighbours of different culture, ethnicity and faith, to ensure their freedom and safety.”

“We thank God for those whose very lives today are a victory over the unimaginable evil of the Shoah. We thank God for those who risked torture and death to save their Jewish neighbours for no other reason than because it was the path of righteousness. We humbly ask God to give us eyes to see the seeds of injustice as they are sown, and the courage to act in righteousness as the best of us have before.”

“What must we learn from this? We must all remain vigilant against such evil, and teach the generations to come the deep truth, that God is reflected in every single human soul, that every human is precious. Yet there is more. We honour the memory of those who died for their neighbours by following their example of love and courage, of mercy and forgiveness. We bear witness to the world through the love we show to each other and to our neighbours. Our great responsibilities, given to us by God, require us to struggle for unity of the Body of Christ, and as one body to care for our neighbours as ourselves.”

“We must never forget the despicable acts of the past, but they do not and must not define our future. Every act of love and mercy, every act of kindness, every time a neighbour does not pursue a claim but shows forgiveness, each of these is another brick in the house that shelters all of humanity.”

“Our Lord Jesus Christ declared that God’s great blessings come to those who are peacemakers, those who show mercy, those who mourn, and those who are persecuted because of him. For those that share our faith whether they are leaders or the most humble congregant, each must make every effort according to their means in these holy tasks and will receive blessings accordingly. The merciful will be shown mercy. The peacemakers will be called children of God. Today as leaders of many faiths and cultures stand in sorrow and reflection for past evil we pray for a new wellspring of hope; for peace, for mutual understanding, for selflessness, and for mercy.”

“On this day, we also remember Ms Naama Issachar, and pray for her return to her family. Having personally met with His Excellency President Putin, we know him to be a true friend to the Jewish people across the globe, and to the people of Israel. On this day of remembrance, we are hopeful that he will grant Ms Issachar her freedom as a sign of the friendship and goodwill between the Russian and Israeli people. Amen.”

From Secretariat-General

On Wednesday morning, January 9/22, 2020, Her Excellency the President of Georgia Mrs. Salome Zourabishvili and her companions, the Ambassador Mr. Lasha and others from Georgia, along with their Ambassador in Israel visited the Patriarchate.

Her Excellency the President was warmly received by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos with Hagiotaphite Fathers, Archbishops and Hieromonks, and addressed her as follows;

“Your Excellency, Mrs. President, Salome Zourabichvili,

It is an honour to receive you today at Our Patriarchate, the Mother of all Churches, here in the Holy City of Jerusalem. It was from here where the Good News spread to every nation, including the great country of Georgia.

Our Patriarchate represents the entire Christian Community in the Holy Land, “gathered like chicks under her wing” (Luke 13:34), comprising both local Christians as well as millions of pilgrims from around the world who come to Jerusalem for spiritual refreshment.

Since the very inception of the Church, the presence of Our Patriarchate has remained unbreakable. In fact, it is the only institution in the Holy Land to have survived throughout the ages without interruption. This is not by accident. It is precisely due to the commitment of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre to Our spiritual mission that not only our Christian presence and sacred heritage has thrived, but also Jerusalem has been able to maintain her unique multi-cultural and multi-religious character. For a significant period, Jerusalem even served as a cultural and spiritual centre for Georgia. The Patriarchate is heartened by the fact that it facilitates so many various groups of people who come to seek proximity with the Divine.

Although the role of the Patriarchate is spiritual, fortunately We have not been limited by this in Our contribution to discourse across diplomatic and governmental spheres. In the wake of recent political challenges, the integrity of Our Patriarchate has served as a powerful testament to the benefits of nurturing mutual-understanding, acknowledging common life, and advocating for peace and reconciliation among all people. To this effect, We continue to be protected and even embraced by the local governments, i.e. Israel, the Palestinian State, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and of course supported by the major religious communities – Christian, Muslim, and Jewish as well.

Such support is critical to the vitality of the Patriarchate’s continued mission and work as the protector of physical and spiritual Christian heritage. After all, We do not represent ourselves here, but all of you – our Orthodox brothers and sisters – many of whom reside under the auspices of your leadership.

Mrs. President, again We extend Our warm welcome to you and your delegation, and We pray that your visit to Jerusalem be blessed and fruitful, and that the Divine Grace of the holy places sanctified by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, remain with you and your countrymen.”

His Beatitude also honoured the President with the Great Cross of the Order of the Cross Bearers of the Holy Sepulchre in recognition of her actions and offer to the nation and Church of Georgia and for the good relationship of Georgia with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Her Excellency the President thanked His Beatitude and said that on the basis of this relationship she will start a new page between the Patriarchate and her country, as it is dictated by the past of this relation.

At the end of the visit at the Patriarchate, the President of Georgia visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, escorted and guided by H.H.B. and the Hagiotaphite Fathers, and asked the blessing of the Holy Sepulchre for the success and good outcome of her mission for the prosperity of her nation.

From Secretariat-General

On Tuesday, January 8/21, 2020, the Patriarchate celebrated the commemoration of Saints Ioannis and George the Hozevites with an All-night Vigil at their Holy Monastery, located on the left bank of Brook Chorath, on its route to the Dead Sea, near the town of Jericho.

The Honoured Saints contributed a lot to the rebirth of the monastic life in this Monastery; Ioannis was a former Bishop of Palestine in the 4^th century and George came from Cyprus and renovated the Monastery from its ashes after the Persian raid in 614 A.D.

H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos honoured the Feast by officiating the Services, and the Hegoumen of the Monastery Archimandrite Constantine addressed Him as follows;

“Your Beatitude Father and Master with Your Reverend Entourage,

We celebrate today the Holy Owners of the historic Holy Lavra of Hozeva, who faithfully followed in their lives all things St. John Chrysostom refers to in the beginning of his speech on contrition and patience:

“I entreat you my brethren to believe in God’s providence not only from the present things, but also from those of the future. For the things of the present are fighting and striving and an arena; the future ones however, are prizes and crowns and awards. Just like the athlete in the track needs to fight the sweat and dust and the extreme heat along with the fatigue and discomfort, likewise the righteous in the present life needs to suffer a lot and suffer them all courageously, if he wants to ascend to heaven and receive the reward for his hard work.”

Through holy patience, for which Paul the Apostle of Nations says: “tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope” (Romans 5:3-4), the saints won the fight over the passions, accomplished purification and apathy, defeated the world and secularism!

Moreover, through love in Christ which they had in abundance they healed the “wounds” of their fellow men, ascetics, monks under their obedience, and of many pilgrims! The love for our Lord Jesus Christ, which was projected to the fellow men, served them without toil and comforted the people in need.

Once more we will celebrate with a holy All-night Vigil these heroes of patience, of the wondrous beyond words ascesis and – primarily – of love toward Christ and man.

Your Beatitude,

Welcome!”

The All-night Vigil was officiated by His Beatitude, with co-celebrants His Eminences Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, and Archbishop Philoumenos of Pella, along with Hagiotaphite Archimandrites and Priests from other Churches, as the chanting was delivered by Byzantine choir singers from Greece.

His Beatitude delivered the following Sermon to the present congregation;

“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27), St. Paul preaches.

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Holy Fathers and noble pilgrims

Today the Holy Monastery of Hozeva, being a part of the river Jordan district, has gathered us all in order to honour the commemoration of our Holy Father George the Hozevite in Doxology and Eucharist.

Today the Holy Monastery of Hozeva, along with its Righteous and Holy children  and especially our Holy Father George, is rejoicing in gleefulness because with the Divine Epiphany of our Saviour Jesus Christ by the river Jordan, the humankind “was redeemed from darkness and illumined by the light of Divine knowledge”.

Our Father George became a communicant and participant of this light of the Divine knowledge, namely of Christ, through his “firm and steadfast ascetical travails” in Hozeva desert, which is part of the wilderness of the river Jordan, where St. John the Baptist was preaching saying; “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:1-2). “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. But he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire” (Matthew 3:11).

And the One who “baptizes with the Holy Ghost and with fire” is no other than Christ, who – according to the witness of St. John the Evangelist –  “was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9). In other words, Christ is the natural light, while the Saints received the light by grace, as St. Cyril of Alexandria says: “[Christ] is by essence the Light, He did not partake of it by grace”. Our blessed Father George partook of this light by grace, as his hymn writer says: “Delivered from darkness, thou hast been taken up to the unwaning light, O glorious George; and thou standest before the Almighty and Three-Sun Light with the orders on high, O blessed man, and thou delightest in the splendour that issueth thence and shinest like a fiery beacon upon us who hymn thee”.

Our Holy Church, my dear Brothers and Sisters, honours and venerates the commemoration of its Saints, because they shine brilliantly and illumine with the Divine brightness they have been issued, all those who have been baptized in Christ and have put on Christ, “the Only-begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages; light of light, true God of true God, begotten not made, con-substantial with the Father by whom all things were made” (The Creed).

Indeed, my dear brothers and sisters, “God is wondrous in His saints” (Psalm 67:36) and “wondrous are his witnesses” (118, 129) as the psalmist exclaims. And this is so, because the clouds of the righteous and of the saints of our Church are the citizens who have received the vision of the glory of God in heavens along with the Holy Angels, as St. Paul preaches; “For our conversation is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20). Such a citizen, namely of the heavens, did our Holy Father George, whom we celebrate today, become, who cultivated the wilderness of the Jordan in Hozeva, transforming its stones into a holy spring of the Spirit, from which a multitude of saints, such as Ioannis, and Ioannis the New (from Romania) drank from its spiritual drink, as St. Paul says; “for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” (1 Cor. 10:4).

The Holy Ancestors of God Joachim and Anna did also drink from this “spiritual Rock that followed them” and bore the Most Blessed Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, from who our Lord Jesus Christ was born, who was baptized by St. John the Baptist in the river Jordan.

Through the intercessions of our righteous and God-bearing Hozevite Fathers, and especially of St. George, we are called to drink of that “spiritual drink”. And along with the hymn writer let us say; “Thou, Who art the Light that enlighteneth all mankind, shining of Thyself with all splendour, O my Jesus, wast baptized in the Jordan’s streams and shonest completely bright, as Thy Father’s con-substantial Light, whereby all creation is enlightened, O Christ, crying to Thee: Blessed art Thou Who hast appeared, our God, glory to Thee”.

The All-night Vigil was followed by a meal offered by the Hegoumen Archimandrite Constantine and his Monks.

From Secretariat-General

At 11:30 on Monday morning, January 7/20, 2020, at the Great Hall of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, there was a meeting with the Mayor of Jerusalem Mr. Moses Leoni and his associates with the Heads of the Christian Churches and their companions.

In this meeting His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theopohilos addressed the Mayor on behalf of all the Heads of Churches as follows;

“Your Excellency Mr. Mayor,

Distinguished Members of the Municipal Government

Your Eminences, Fathers,

Respected Leaders of our Civic Organizations

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We greet you today with the hope and joy that this season carries, and which so many of our brothers and sisters from around the world associate with this Holy City.

Indeed, Jerusalem is sought by all who “long for flowing streams” (Ps. 42:1) of spiritual refreshment. It is a place of renewal, where every soul seeking proximity to God can find Him through veneration of the holy places and contemplations of the heart. The vibrant mosaic of our common life here is a testament to this dynamic.

It is for this reason that the Churches, who represent the Christian Community of the Holy Land and more specifically of the Holy City of Jerusalem, continue to promote this common life, and remain steadfast in their ages-old mission to maintain the dignity of the holy places as places of worship for all people, and tend to the needs of our local Christian community, the community at large, and the several million pilgrims who visit Jerusalem each year.

This mission is well known by all who live here as an integral function to the well-being of this Holy City. Therefore, the ab antiquo rights of the Churches must be respected and continue to be taken into consideration. In the wake of challenges which we have faced in recent years, we are confident that the voices of the few who seek to destroy Jerusalem’s multi-religious and multi-cultural character have no place moving forward.

We are also confident in your conviction, Mr. Mayor, toward the preservation of Jerusalem’s unique character, as well as to the millions of people for which this Holy City is a light beckoning them toward peace and reconciliation, both here and beyond.

We pray that in this New Year 2020, through our respective religious and civic responsibilities, our common dedication to this Holy City of Jerusalem will lead us further down the path of mutual understanding and a peaceful, flourishing, co-existence. We also pray that 2020 be a year of blessings, peace, and prosperity for you, your families, and all people who call Jerusalem home, both physically and spiritually.”

From Secretariat-General