On Saturday, September 25th / October 8th 2011, two large groups of pilgrims from Serbia one with eighty members and another with forty members constituting the Church Choir Branko of Nis in Serbia and a forty-member group from Thessaloniki visited the Patriarchate.
These groups had itinerated the Holy Land during the previous days and sealing their pilgrimage theory arrived at the Patriarchate in order to be blessed by the Primate of Zion Church His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos. (More…)
On Friday, September 24th / October 7th 2011, the feast of St. Thekla the Protomartyr and Equal-to-the-Apostles was solemnly celebrated at the Patriarchate.
The feast was held at the chapel named after the Saint to Her honor inside the Central Monastery of the Fathers of the Holy Sepulcher to the west of the Monastic Church of St. Constantine and St. Helen. In the chapel for which we have testimonials since the 16th century, icons of great byzantine art are kept and protected.
In this chapel to honor St. Thekla Protomartyr and Equal-to-the-Apostles, disciple of the Apostle of the Nations Paul, the Holy Vespers was held in the previous evening according to the usual manner of the Fathers of the Holy Sepulcher, presided over by His Holy Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, Head Priest/ Typicaris of St. Constantine and St. Helen Archbishop f. Alexios, concelebrating with the rest of the abbots priests Fathers of the Holy Sepulcher and devout participants monks, nuns and laity gathered at the churchyard due to the limited space available inside the chapel, sufficient only for the Fathers of the Holy Sepulcher. (More…)
On Wednesday, September 22nd/October 5th 2011, the Minister of Culture and Tourism of Ukraine, Mr. Mykhailo Kulyniak, escorted by the Ambassador of Ukraine Mr. Hennadii Nadolenko, visited the Patriarchate.
His eminence the Minister was cordially welcomed by His Holy Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos.
According to the prearranged schedule of the visit, the Minister briefed His Beatitude concerning the efforts made by the state of Ukraine as for the peaceful cooperation of the conflicting Orthodox groups as well as the cooperation among various religions. (More…)
On Saturday, September 18th/ October 1st 2011, his Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, presided over the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross in the chapel of the Elevation of the Holy Cross located in the Patriarchate Land in Nazareth, known as “Kasr-Il-Moutran” / “The Tower of the Bishop”.
In the past, this estate owned by the Patriarchate was unfortunately bound by various agreements against the interests of the Patriarchate; however, it was recently disengaged in the days of his Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos after the completion of the previously achieved agreement supporting with amendments the interests of the Patriarchate and its community in Nazareth. The modified agreement allows the establishment of a Church, a school and residencies in this land.
In the middle of this estate there was a chapel constructed by the Father of the Holy Sepulcher and Metropolitan of Nazareth, owner of the land, which carries his name “Kasr-Il-Moutran” / “The Tower of the Bishop”. (More…)
The Feast of the Elevation of the Venerable and Life –giving Cross was celebrated at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem on Tuesday, 14th / 27th September, 2011 according to the centuries-old traditions of the Holy Lands.
The origins of this feast can be found in the year 326 A.D. when during the Consecration of the Church of the Resurrection, the construction of which lasted from 326 to 336 A.D. the then Archbishop of the Church of Jerusalem, Makarios elevated – along with St. Helen – the Holy Cross, so that not only the Lord’s people who were at close range but also the people who were congregating from afar would also be able to see it. (More…)
