Holy Sepulcher, 2 February 2012
Your Grace, Dear Archbishop Rowan,
Your Eminences,
Dear Bishops,
Beloved Members of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre,
Reverend Fathers
“You who were lifted upon the Cross of your own will, Ο Christ our God, bestow your compassion upon all who are called by your Name”.
With these words from the Kontakion of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, we greet you, dear Archbishop Rowan. In this most sacred place, where “for us and for our salvation” Our Lord Jesus Christ gave up his life on the Cross, we welcome you on the occasion of this pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We greet you not as a stranger, but as a member of the Jerusalem Church family. For Jerusalem is our common spiritual home. (More…)
Holy City of Jerusalem, 24 January 2012
Your Excellency, Mr Mayor,
Honorable Members of the Municipal Authority,
Your Eminences,
Distinguished Guests,
We greet you with joy and hope as we begin this New Year. We are honored to be amongst our fellow Jerusalemites and on behalf of the Christian Churches, the communities of Jerusalem and all people of faith and good will, we express our best wishes to you, Mr Mayor, and to the members of the Municipal Authority for your important tasks serving our beloved Holy City. (More…)
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father”, says Saint John the Evangelist (John 1:14).
Your Beatitude, Your Eminences,
Members of the Brotherhood of Saint James:
It is precisely this very fact that “the Word became flesh” i.e. of the Mystery of the divine economy, that we celebrate in this festive Christmas and Epiphany season.
(More…)
Holy Jerusalem, January 17, 2012
Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of Srpska, Mr. Dodik:
It is a pleasure to have you with us in this festive season of Christmas, the New Year, and of course the Epiphany holy day.
The Patriarchate of Jerusalem remains a beacon of hope for the world and for the Christian Orthodox people and nations in particular. (More…)
Holy Jerusalem, 10 January 2012
Your Beatitudes,
Your Eminences,
Your Graces,
Dear Fathers,
Beloved Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Christ is born! Let us glorify him!
We welcome you to our Holy Patriarchate in celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and we thank you for your words of greeting. This is the great celebration of God’s self-emptying philanthropia – his supreme act of love towards humankind. In this great act of love God makes peace with us, and makes peace possible among us. (More…)
