On Saturday, the 7^th/20^th of February 2016, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, visited the town of Abu Snan in the Accra-Ptolemais region of Northern Israel, home to an Arabic-speaking Rum Orthodox community of approximately 2500 members centered around a church dedicated to St George the Great Martyr.

Abu Snan is one of the twelve Communities that lie within the jurisdiction of the Accra-Ptolemais Bishopric, namely: Kafr Yasif, Kafr Smea, Sfa Amer, Jdeideh, Ambelin, Rame, Maker, Tarshiha, Sakhnin and Pkea.

After being officially welcomed to the town, His Beatitude went on to hold the divine Liturgy, with Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, Arabic-speaking Presbyters from the Accra-Ptolemais communities, deacons Markos and Anastasios co-officiating. Archimandrite Philotheos, hegumen in Accra-Ptolemais, sang in Arabic and Greek for the Orthodox congregation, in the presence of Professor Antonia Moropoulou of the NTUA.

To the pious congregation, Patriarch Theophilos preached the Word of God.

After Communion, His Beatitude offered an icon of St John the Chosebite for the restored church, as well as a fine candle holder, before distributing the antidoron and blessing icons to the faithful.

On the conclusion of the feast, a reception followed at an events hall adjacent to the church, where Patriarch Theophilos addressed attendants in Arabic, see link:  https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2016/02/20/19214

From the Secretariat-General

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On Friday the 8^th/19^th of February 2016, professor Antonia Moropoulou of the National Technical University of Athens presented the study on the conservation of the Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre that was built by the Orthodox Romans in 1810. The study was conducted under the scientific responsibility of professor Moropoulou and an interdisciplinary team made of Messrs. Korres, Georgopoulos and Spyrakos.

The study was presented to Patriarch Theophilos in the presence of Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Archbishop Isidoros of Hierapolis, other Hagiotaphite Fathers, the Franciscan Custodian in the Holy Land, father Pierre Batista Pizzaballa and f. Sergios, and to the representatives of the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem, Metropolitan Sevan, Hieromonk Asbet Valian and Hieromonk Samuel.

During the presentation, Ms Moropoulou explained that the problems facing the Aedicula call for technical interventions by means of compatible and sustainable materials for the enhancement and restoration of the holy Aedicula in order for it to remain an eternal testament to the Burial and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and a point of reference for Christians across the world.

Ms Moropoulou went on to thank Patriarch Theophilos for assigning this important project to the NTUA. Thanks were also extended to the representatives of the Franciscan Order and the Armenian Patriarchate for harmoniously collaborating with the NTUA for the duration of this innovative research.

Additionally, professor Moropoulou underlined that restoration works must begin at the soonest possible, before the Orthodox Easter, in the context of collaboration between Orthodox, Franciscans and Armenians, whilst respecting the rights of each Community.

The decision-making process, Ms Moropoulou said, must be based on the study conducted by the NTUA, under the supervision of the Interdisciplinary Team that will document and, if need be, readjust the study based on real data and in agreement with the Three Major Religious Communities.

The Heads of the three Major Communities, namely the Orthodox, Franciscans and Armenians, thanked Ms Moropoulou for delivering a thorough report and agreed to sign an agreement for the promotion and execution of this historical project for the praise of Christians and the glory of the Triadic God.

From the Secretariat-General

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On Tuesday, the 3^rd/16^th of February 2016, the feast of St Simeon the Righteous and Receiver of the Lord was observed at the Monastery dedicated to him in Katamonas, West Jerusalem, where during the 20^th century a Greek parish had flourished.

On this day, that follows the feast of the Hypapante, the Church commemorates St Simeon, who, on the 40^th day of the Lord’s birth in the flesh, had received Him at the Temple of Solomon, exclaiming “Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation, a Light to lighten the Gentiles, the Glory of Your people Israel”.

The feast was observed at the aforementioned Monastery, wherein lies the tomb of the saint and part of his relics, ceded years ago by the Roman Catholic Church of Croatia, on the request of the Patriarchate.

Vespers was led by Archimandrite Ananias, and the divine Liturgy by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem. Co-officiating were Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina, Methodios of Tabor and Theophylaktos of Jordan; Metropolitan Hilarion of Haisvinsky, visiting from the Church of Georgia; Hagiotaphite Hieromonks as Archimandrite Ananias, hegumen at the Monastery of St George in Beit Jala, Archimandrite Claudius, hegumen at the Monastery of the Holy Cross, Archimandrite Ignatius, hegumen at the Monastery of the Village of the Shepherds, and Archimandrite Dometian of the Russian MISSIA; priests visiting from other Orthodox countries, Archdeacon Evlogios and deacons Agapios and Anastasios. Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang in Greek, Arabic and Russian, aided by Mr Christos Pantelis from Cyprus. A great crowd of pilgrims from Greece, Russia and Romania, as well as the remaining members of the Greek parish and members of the Arabic-speaking flock attended the service.

The Patriarch preached the Word of God in Greek and in Arabic, see link: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2016/02/16/19081

After Communion, Patriarch Theophilos blessed the faithful and distributed the antidoron.

On the conclusion of the divine Liturgy, the hegumen of the Monastery, Archimandrite Theodoritos, hosted the Patriarchal Entourage and many among the faithful to a reception at the hegumeneion and in the forecourt of the Monastery.

From the Secretariat-General

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On the afternoon of Thursday the 29^th of January/11^th of February 2016, H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, the Most Reverend Joachim, Metropolitan of Zambia, Archimandrite Ieronymos, hegumen in Fhes, fr. Issa Mousleh, the Patriarchate’s liaison with Arabic-speaking media, and Archdeacon Evlogios, left for Jordan.

Crossing the bridge of the river Jordan, His Beatitude arrived at the Patriarchate’s Bishopric in Amman, where He was warmly welcomed by the Most Reverend Benedict, Metropolitan of Philadelphia.

On the next day, the 30^th of January/12^th of February 2016, Patriarch Theophilos left for the Holy Monastery of the Life-giving Spring in Dibin, located at an hour’s distance from Amman.

There, He was warmly welcomed in the forecourt by Archimandrite Christophoros, priests in sacerdotal vestments, nuns and a crowd of faithful, who accompanied the Patriarch to the entrance of the church that is decorated in the Byzantine style.

The Patriarch went on to begin with the Katabasia hymns of the Hypapante, and led Matins and the divine Liturgy. Co-officiating were Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina and Philoumen of Pella, Metropolitan Joachim of Zambia, Archimandrites Ieronymos, Christophoros and Athanasios, Arabic-speaking presbyters and the flock in Jordan, fr. Issa Mousleh, Archdeacon Evlogios and deacon Psara-Evangelos. The head cantor of the Metropolitan Church in Amman, Mr Fadi Far, sang in the Byzantine style in both Arabic and Greek, as several young people participated silently and in piety.

During Communion, the Patriarch preached the Word of God before offering the faithful the Holy Communion.

Before the apolysis, Patriarch Theophilos read the prayer for the inauguration of nun Irinea as Abbess, bestowing upon her the Abbess’ cross and an icon of Theotokos.

Similarly, His Beatitude inaugurated Archimandrite Christophoros as the Monastery’s spiritual father, offering him an icon of Christ as the True Vine.

In his reply speech, Archimandrite Christophoros said that the day was one of joy and bliss for the Monastery, as under the spiritual guidance of Abbess Irinea, the Monastery would remain a spiritual oasis in these difficult times we live in.

“This Monastery”, said Archimandrite Christophoros, “we dedicate to the Mother of Churches, my humble self and humble nuns, and we offer this icon that was painted at the Monastery of the Life-giving Spring in Dibin, for this day”. The icon depicted Hieromartyr Philoumenos, hegumen at Jacob’s Well, and St John the Chosebite, both canonized by the Mother of Churches.

Upon the crowd’s exclamation “Worthy she is…” for Abbess Irinea, the Patriarch distributed icons of St Philoumen and St John the new Chosebite.

After lunch, priests met with His Beatitude to discuss issues pertaining to their respective parishes.

From the Secretariat-General

On Sunday, the 18^th/31^st of January 2016, St John the Hosebite was placed in the Canon of Saints  during a panegyric Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of Sts John and George the Hozevites.

Hosios John, the new Hozevite, born in Romania, came to the Holy Land in the mid-20^th c. and received the monastic schema at the Monastery of St Savva the Sanctified, and the grace of priesthood at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. He had lived the greatest part of his life at the Monastery of Choseba, and excelled in virtue and holiness, hence why the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, by means of a Synodical Act, decided to place him in the Canon of Saints of the Church of Jerusalem and of the Church as a whole.

At the Monastery, His Beatitude was warmly welcomed by a crowd of faithful, before being addressed in Greek by the hegoumen, Archimandrite Constantine.

“The late John Jacob”, said Archimandrite Constantine, “from the saint-bearing land of Romania, had gone through the three stadia of monastic and ascetic life: namely catharsis, enlightening and theosis”.

“The Patriarchate of Jerusalem”, added the Archimandrite, “after collecting testaments and recording miracles beyond any doubt […] has decided to place the late Hieromonk John Jacob into the chorus of Saints”.

In His reply address, His Beatitude Theophilos referred to the words of the Apostle Paul –  “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles (or Romanians) slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1, Corinthians 12-13). From this one Holy Spirit, and of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ drank all the Saints of the Church, or rather, all those who became friends of Christ and communicants of the inaccessible light of His face”.

In Arabic, the Patriarch’s speech was read by His Eminence Theodosius, Archbishop of Sebasteia, see link: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2016/01/31/18595

The divine Liturgy, held for the entry in force of the Synodical decision, was led by Patriarch Theophilos. Co-officiating were Metropolitans Kyriakos of Nazareth and Isychios of Kapitolias, and the Exarch of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in Cyprus, Metropolitan Timotheos of Bostra; Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria and Hungary, Archbishop Timotheos, former representative of the Patriarchate of Romania in Jerusalem; Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina, Theodosios of Sebaste, Demetrios of Lydda, Philoumenos of Pella; Metropolitan Joachim of former Zambia, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, Archimandrite Hilarion, hegoumen at the Monastery of Mount Tabor; Archimandrite Ioustinos, hegoumen at the Monastery of Jacob’s Well, Archimandrite Chrysostomos, hegoumen at the Monastery of Abba Gerasimus, Archimandrite Christophoros, hegoumen at the Monastery of the Life-giving Spring; other Hagiotaphite Fathers and many priests of the Patriarchate of Romania, led by the Very Reverend Bishop Timotheos, former representative of the Patriarchate of Romania in Jerusalem. Father George Chardavellas, visiting from the Metropolis of Ileia of the Church of Greece, sang in the presence of the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr G. Zacharoudiakis, and Mr V. Koinis. A great congregation of monks, nuns and faithful, hailing mostly from Romania, participated in the service.

After the Prayer behind the Ambon, Patriarch Theophilos read the text of the Canonization, see link: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/gr/2016/01/31/32062

At the conclusion of the divine Liturgy and after a supplication with the icon of the saint, participants were hosted to monastic lunch, after which His Beatitude left for Jerusalem.

“Biography of Saint John the New Hozevite

Elias Iakov (passport name) was born in the village of Horondistea, in Botosani county, Romania, in 1913 to Maximus and Ekaterini. Due to the fact that he was orphaned by both parents, he was raised until the age of 11 by his pious grandmother Maria, who instilled in the child’s soul the Divine Teachings. After she slept in the Lord, he passed into the guardianship of an uncle and lived a hard childhood in the midst of contempt and deprivation, but with hope firmly oriented to the Lord Jesus, Whom he actually saw with his own eyes on Easter 1927, when he was crying inconsolably at the grave of his parents.  The Lord said to him in a sweet voice:

“Don’t cry my child and don’t be sad, because yes, I am with you. Christ is Risen!”

Studious and intelligent, after seven years of studies – in conditions of incredible poverty – in 1932 he graduated from the Lyceum with honours. Between the two options: continuing studies in Theology, or joining the Monastic order, the holy desire of Monasticism, following a Divine Prompting, prevailed. The Grace of God guided his steps in 1933 to Neamts Monastery, where he became a monk in 1936, and was given the name Ioannis. An ardent desire to worship the Holy and Life-giving Tomb, led him the same year to Jerusalem, where with the blessing of the blessed Patriarch of Jerusalem, Damianos, he served as a monk in the Lavra of Saint Savva for ten years. A model of a subordinate, he gave himself up to monastic striving and after a blessing, he lived for seven years (1947-1952) in the Romanian Hermitage of the Holy Forerunner in Jordan, under particularly adverse living conditions.

Based on his ordination letter preserved in the Archives of the Holy Monastery of Hozeva, his transfer to the river Jordan was preceded by his ordination as Deacon and Priest. Archimandrite Victorinos, head of the Romanian Representation in Jerusalem, had requested his ordination to the Romanian Patriarch Nikodimos. He, in turn, put the request to the Patriarch of Jerusalem Timotheus I, who accepted it. The first ordination was held on April 21, 1947, in the Holy and Life-giving Tomb of the Lord by His Eminence Archbishop Panteleimon of Naples and the second on April 28, 1947, by the His Eminence Archbishop Epiphanios of Philadelphia.

Expelled from the Romanian Monastery of the river Jordan, in 1952, as a nightingale that loves the desert, he settled with his co-ascetic Ioannikios (also of Romanian origin) in the Lavra of Hozeva for one year and six months. Then, seeking complete isolation to indulge in even higher spiritual struggles, he went alone to the hermitage of Saint Anne, which belongs to Hozeva. Only “the Lord saw” what he experienced and what experiences the Saint lived there, “alone with God only”. Every Sunday he went to the Coenobium to participate in the Divine Liturgy and to receive the absolutely necessary food, which the love of the Hozevite Fathers offered him. He himself diligently hid his ascetic struggles, choosing the way of life of the ancient Abbas, the “surreptitious living”. An excellent connoisseur of Greek, immersed in the Patristic texts, he translated a sufficient number of divinely inspired works into Romanian (they were published for the first time in 1968) and indeed the Salutations of the Most Holy Theotokos. Besides possessing a poetic talent, he left a rich collection of poems, of an exceptional height of meaning, the largest part of which has been translated into Greek.

On August 5, 1960, he slept in the Lord at the age of only 47 years, due to his failing health. His departure, which he had foreseen, was one befitting the righteous; Just a few minutes after the Holy Communion, as described by an eyewitness, the already blessed Father Basilios Vakras.

In October 1979, after miraculous signs, his relics was found incorrupt by the Hegoumen of the Hozeva Monastery, blessed Archimandrite Amfilochios. On the 28th of July 1980, with the holy Patriarchal blessing of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Benedictus, his incorrupt relics was transferred from the Skete to the Holy Monastery, where it is kept today in the Catholicon Church, as a precious treasure and the source of many miracles! Glory and wealth of the Hozevite Fathers, of the Hagiotaphite Fathers in general, but also of the entire Church in service!

On Sunday, January 18/31, 2016, his canonization was announced in a solemn Divine Liturgy, which was officiated by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III.

His commemoration is celebrated on July 28th/August 10th, the day of the translation of his holy relics”.

From the Secretariat-General

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On the afternoon of Friday, the 9^th/22^nd of January 2016, deliberations began at the Synaxis of the Primates of Orthodox Churches at the Stavropegic Church of St Paul in Chambesy. Deliberations began with a prayer, the introductory speech of the Chairman of the Synaxis, His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and speeches of the Primates in the order specified in the Diptychs.

His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, addressed participants in Greek. There follows an excerpt from His speech:

“The purpose of Our Synaxis is truly holy and sacred, the completion of the work that was commenced a long time ago by Our Fathers, namely the study, review and resolution of vital issues and problems facing Our flocks and Our fellow human beings across the world.

Therefore, Our Synaxis provides testament to Our unity in Christ “through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4, 3) and consolation to Christians, mercilessly persecuted today in the Middle East and other parts of the world, as well as moral strengthening for contemporary man, tested and tortured by political disunity and divisions, by the economic and moral crisis and by arbitrary and unprecedented hideous crimes against innocent souls.

Our Synaxis is similarly a manifestation not only of coexistence but also of Our affinity and correspondence as members of the same Body of Christ, the Church, bearing testament to the truth that “each member belongs to all the others” according to the Apostle of the Nations (Romans 12, 5); and not only that, but also that “we suffer for one another” as “when one part suffers, every part suffers with it” (1 Corinthians, 12, 26).

Therefore, placing Our trust in the education, construction and salvation of the souls of Our rational flocks, we have by the Lord Himself the authority, in the upcoming Great Pan-Orthodox Synaxis, arranged by the Synaxis of the Primates in Constantinople in March 2014, to rule on the issues that have been unanimously agreed upon and on those on which unanimity has not been reached, and assign these for further thorough study and resolution.

Thus, by order of the Lord “shepherd my lambs”, and the request of the Apostle of the Nations, “no one should seek their own good, but the good of others” (1, Corinthians 10, 24), let us exceed ourselves, let us put aside obstacles and adversities and let as be moored in the cloudless port of the Conference scheduled long ago […]

May the Grace of the Holy Spirit be with each and every one of Us”.

From the Secretariat-General

20 January 2016

Your Beatitude Patriarch Nourhan,

Your Eminences,

Beloved Members of our Respective Brotherhoods,

Dear Fathers,

We greet you today, Your Beatitude, with joyful words from the Liturgy of this Christmas season:

Today heaven and earth are united, for Christ is born.

Today God has come to earth, and man ascends to heaven.

Today God, who by nature cannot be seen,

Is seen in the flesh for our sake.

Let us glorify Him, crying:

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace!

Your coming has brought peace to us.

Glory to You, O our Savior!”

It is in this same spirit of the peace that the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ brings to the World that we wish you, the Brotherhood, and the Armenian community of the Holy Land, the blessings of this Christmas Feast. This is the peace that “passes all understanding.” and that is promised to the whole world.

This same peace must also exist in the heart of every Christian. Ours is a spiritual mission that is born of the Prince of Peace, and we are called to deepen this true ecumenical spirit of peace and goodwill among ourselves and among all those entrusted to our pastoral care.

Divine Providence has made us the guardians and the servants of the Holy Sites, and this places on our shoulders a tremendous responsibility. We are called to ensure that the Holy Places, which have been down the ages the guarantee of the Christian presence in the Holy Land, remain primarily places of worship that are open and accessible to all without distinction.  This is our common heritage.

As those to whom such a great privilege and responsibility has been entrusted, we must also be committed to solving any problems and disagreements that may arise from time to time in our common mission. This is our work to do between ourselves, without recourse to the civil authorities. The Status Quo, which has served our communities well in securing our rights and duties, remains sufficient to support us and to resolve any challenges that may from time to time arise.

In this time of war. violence, and persecution in our region of the Middle East, when the Christian community is under renewed pressure in many places, Jerusalem remains a beacon of hope, and we, to whom the pastoral mission of the Church has been entrusted, have a special obligation to keep our focus on our primary mission. Our unresolved differences only weaken us and the witness of the Holy Places, and this witness requires of us our most energetic attention.

May the peace which the Incarnate Logos brings to us this Christmas renew in all of us the true ecumenical spirit, so that together we may be a light to the world.

We wish you, Your Beatitude, your Brotherhood, and all the Armenian community of the Holy Land, a blessed and joyous Christmas Feast.

Thank you.

His Beatitude

THEOPHILOS III

Patriarch of Jerusalem

On Tuesday, the 6^th/19^th of January 2016, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of Theophany in commemoration of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ by John the Baptist, when a voice from heaven identified Him as the Beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove and anointed Him with oil.

This Despotic feast was celebrated on the Eve and on the very day of the feast.

A.The Eve of the feast

On the Eve of the feast, Monday the 5^th/18^th of January 2016, after Matins, the Hours of the feast were read, His Beatitude Theophilos officiating. The Hours were followed by Vespers, the divine Liturgy of St Basil and the service of the Small Blessing.

The Blessing was followed by return to the Patriarchates, where His Beatitude waited for blessed water from the divine Liturgy held at St James Cathedral, led by Archbishop Theodosios of Sebaste.

On the arrival of the officiating Primate, the priest at St James and the Church Board members, a supplication was made, after which His Beatitude blessed those present.

Then, accompanied by Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Metropolitan Joachim of Zambia, Archdeacon Evlogios, Hierodeacon Markos and members of the Inter-disciplinary Group of the Metsovion Technical University, working on the restoration of the Holy Aedicula, the Patriarch left for Jericho.

There, His Beatitude visited the Monastery of the Prophet Elisha, where he was welcomed by Archimandrite Philoumenos and the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem and members of the Greek Consulate. From there, Patriarch Theophilos went to the Town Hall of Jericho, where he met with the Mayor and the Prefect.

At the Town Hall, f. Issa Mousleh read His Beatitude’s address in Arabic, see link:

https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2016/01/18/18109

Patriarch Theophilos then left for the Monastery of John the Baptist on the banks of the Jordan, accompanied by men of the Israeli Army.

His Beatitude was warmly welcomed by Boy Scouts, Hieromonks, and Archimandrite Chrysostomos.

From there, the Patriarchal Entourage walked to the Site of the Lord’s Baptismal, accompanied by the Mayor, the Israeli Military Commander of Jericho and the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem.

There, Vespers was performed on a special platform, as the Patriarch went on to dip the Holy Cross thrice into the water, blessing the crowd of faithful that had gathered there for the sanctification of the waters.

On the opposite bank stood the Patriarchal Commissioner in Amman, Metropolitan Benedict of Philadelphia, and Archimandrite Ieronymos, hegoumen in Fhes, waiting to celebrate the feast of Theophany on the eastern bank of the river Jordan, next Friday.

On the conclusion of the ceremony, Archimandrite Chrysostomos hosted the Patriarch, the Primates and several pilgrims to meatless lunch.

From the Secretariat-General

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At 5:00 pm of Wednesday, the 31^st of December 2015/13^th of January 2016, New Year’s Eve according to the Julian Calendar, the traditional pie-cutting ceremony took place at the Patriarchate’s hall. In attendance at the ceremony were Hagiotaphite Primates, Hieromonks, monks and novices, nuns, the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem with his esteemed wife, as well as members of the Greek Consulate and of the Greek Parish of Jerusalem. The humble ceremony began with the troparion of the Circumcision of the Lord and of St Basil, and was followed by the Patriarch’s address in Greek.

In His speech, His Beatitude quote St Paul in saying “But you are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses” (Tim. 1, 6, 11-12). And: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6, 12).

The Patriarch went on to bless St Basil’s pie, wishing “a favourable and blessed New Year” for everyone before distributing the pie amongst the guests. Students of the Patriarchal School sang carols for the Nativity and the New Year whilst the choir of St James the Brother of God sang the Apolytikia in Arabic. Jerusalemite dentist, Mr Ioannis Tlil, got the piece with the lucky coin.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/jmJOaj07t7o

9 January 2016

Your Beatitude Patriarch Nourhan,

Your Eminences,

Beloved Members of our Respective Brotherhoods,

Dear Friends,

We welcome you today to the Rum Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and we thank you for your greetings to us on the occasion of the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One, and the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One. Angels with shepherds glorify him; the Wise Men journey with the star,

Since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little Child!

In this mystery of the Incarnate Logos made flesh for our salvation, the course of human history was changed and our human destiny to union with God was restored.

Our spiritual mission is to be a living witness to this truth, so that the world may be renewed in hope. Ours is the responsibility to do everything in our power to join forces, especially in the current for Christians and all others in our region who face persecution and violence, to exercise our ministry as spiritual leaders and as the guardians and servants of the Holy Places.

In this respect we wish to mention the preliminary report that we have all received on the restoration of the Edicule of the Tomb of Christ, and which is a project of the utmost importance. Our respectful and effective collaboration is crucial if we are to be worthy of the responsibility that Divine Providence has entrusted to us.

As servants and guardians of the Holy Places, we remember that one of our great responsibilities is to safeguard and help our congregations. Our people look to us for leadership, especially in times of crisis, and we always must recall that the enemies of Christ have never discriminated among our Churches and denominations.

Another of our great responsibilities is not simply to keep the expectations of the Status Quo, but also to maintain our independence in overseeing the Holy Places and not to allow third parties to interfere in matters that are proper to our jurisdiction. We share in the duty to see that our rights and privileges in, and sovereignty over, the Holy Places are not violated in any way by those who have no role in this respect.

In these ways we shall continue to be faithful to the charge that we have been given, and the Holy Places will continue to shine with the Divine Light of the Transcendent, Unapproachable One.

May God strengthen us all in this spiritual mission, and may God bless you, Your Beatitude, the members of your Brotherhood, and all the Armenian community of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, as you prepare in these next days to celebrate the Nativity in your own tradition.Thank you.

His Beatitude

THEOPHILOS  III

Patriarch of Jerusalem