In Bethany, of the Late H. Siksel,Blessing of The

“FOUR HOMES OF MERCY” IN BETHANY, OF THE LATE H. SIKSEL On Thursday the 7th/20th of March 2014, Ms Randa Siksek and Ms Nadia George Karaa visited His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in order to extend their thanks over the fact that He led the funeral service for the late Henrietta Siksek, who passed away on Saturday the 2nd/15th of March 2014, at the age of 96. The late Henrietta Siksek was the founder of a very significant charitable project known as “Four Homes of Mercy” in Bethany. The foundation, of the Siksek family, provided shelter to thousands of elder people and children abandoned by their families, people suffering from incurable mental and other diseases. Today, the “Four Homes of Mercy” hosts approximately seventy residents. During His meeting with Ms Randa Siksek, a relative of the late Henrietta Siksek, and Ms Nadia George Karaa, current Director of the “Homes”, His Beatitude praised the selfless and extensive charitable work of the late H. Siksek. In order to contribute to the continuation of this work, His Beatitude offered the amount of €10.000 to be deposited into a special bank account, its savings intended for the education of children residing at the foundation. Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina contributed 10.000 USD$ for the same purpose. Extending her thanks, Ms Randa Simon Siksek offered His Beatitude a text from the Old and New Testaments published in three volumes by the Church of Russia in 1821. The volumes belonged to the late George Siksek, who translated the Great Horologion from Greek into Arabic. His Beatitude delivered the books to Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, who also serves as Librarian, for safekeeping. From the Secretariat-General httpv://youtu.be/Yq1-xMfQWD8 BLESSING OF THE WATERS IN THE JORDAN RIVER TO TAKE PLACE ON HOLY WEDNESDAY The Patriarchate of Jerusalem informs the Managers of Pilgrimage Agencies and all pilgrims that, this year, the venerating baptismal in the Jordan river will be performed on Holy Wednesday, namely the 3rd/16th of April 2014, at 11:00 am. All those interested are invited to arrange their pilgrimage schedule on the basis of this information. From the Secretariat-General THE FEAST OF ST GERASIMUS OF THE JORDAN (2014) On Monday, the 4th/17th of March 2014, the memory of St Gerasimus of the Jordan was celebrated by the Patriarchate at the Monastery founded by him in the desert of the West Bank of the river Jordan. The monastery was founded by Hosios Gerasimus in 451 AD, after he arrived to the Holy Land from his birthplace of Lycia in Asia Minor, and after having dwelt in Monasteries and hermitages of Palestine with Hosios Euthymius the Great and Hosios Kyriakos the Recluse. In this Monastery he brought together a crowd of monks and other recluses who approached him in quest of spiritual guidance. St Gerasimus was a proponent of the dogma of the Fourth Ecumenical Council in Chalcedon, which established the teaching of one hypostasis in two natures for our Lord Jesus Christ, and condemned the notion of one nature embraced to this day by the Churches of the Copts, Armenians, Syrians and Ethiopians. This particular Monastery, which has sustained a series of raids, hosts several inhabitants of Jericho, as well as pilgrims, in facilities founded by the Hegoumen, Archimandrite Chrysostomos. Here, on the morning of the aforementioned day, His Beatitude Theophilos arrived in the company of the Most Reverend Metropolitans Isychios of Kapitolias, and Kyriakos of Nazareth; the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina; the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Archbishop Demetrius of Lydda; Archimandrite Ieronymus and other Hagiotaphite Hieromonks; the Archdeacon, f. Evlogios, and Hierodeacon f. Dionysius. Following a warm welcome, His Beatitude led the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts with co-officiating priests and deacons, in the presence of a great crowd of pilgrims, hailing mostly of Cyprus, the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis and his esteemed wife. To this pious congregation His Beatitude preached the Word of God in Greek. After the divine Liturgy, a procession took place around the Monastery, followed by meatless lunch offered by Archimandrite Chrysostomos to the Patriarchal Retinue and the faithful. From the Secretariat-General httpv://youtu.be/5LCC5on5Ir8 NAME DAY OF HIS BEATITUDE THEOPHILOS III, PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM On Sunday the 3rd/16th of March 2014, Second Sunday of the Fasting Period, the Name Day of His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem was celebrated by postponement. The 9th of March commemorates St Theophilos, one of the Holy Forty who suffered a martyr’s death in the year 320 AD during the reign of King Licinius, at the Lake of Sebaste in Pontus. 1. In the afternoon The feast began at 2:00 pm with the reading of the Ninth Hour at the Monastic Church of Sts Constantine and Helen, followed by the progression of the Hagiotaphites to the All Holy Church of the Resurrection. Following the welcoming, censing and veneration at the Holy Apokathelosis, and veneration at the Holy Sepulcher, the head of the feast, His Beatitude Theophilos, proceeded into the katholikon and rose to the Throne, in order to read the Preamble Hymn. The Head Cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite f. Aristovoulos, chanted while Prelates and members of the Holy and Sacred Synod went on to venerate at the Holy Golgotha, with deacons performing the censing along the sites of pilgrimage. The service of Vespers followed, in the presence of pious nuns and pilgrims. 1. On the day of the feast On the morning of the feast, at 7:00 am, the Patriarchal Retinue proceeded from the Central Monastery to the All Holy Church of the Resurrection. Upon His entrance to the Church, the Patriarch venerated at the Holy Apokathelosis and the Holy Sepulcher before entering the Katholikon. Subsequently, His Beatitude, the Prelates and Priests put on their Prelatic and Hieratic garments in the Holy Bema. After each took their place in the nave, the Divine Liturgy began, led by His Beatitude from the Navel of the Earth. The festive Divine Liturgy of St Basil was officiated by His Beatitude Theophilos, with co-officiating Hagiotaphite Prelates: the Most Reverend Metropolitans of Nazareth and Kapitolias, Kyriakos and Isychios; their Eminences, Archbishop Theophanes of Gerasa, Damaskinos of Joppe, Dorotheos of Avila, Aristarchos of Constantina, Theophylaktos of Jordan, Theodosios of Sebaste, Demetrius of Lydda, Makarios of Qatar and Philoumenos of Pella. Alco co-officiating were four Bishops visiting from the Patriarchate of Moscow, namely: the Right Reverend Clement of Krasnoslobotsk; Diodorus of Melekes; Methodios of Almetievsk; and Nicephorus of Otrantni; and the Most Reverend Metropolitan Vincent of Ploiesti, visiting from the Patriarchate of Romania after the restoration of ecclesiastical communion. Also present were numerous Hieromonks visiting from the Orthodox Churches of Greece, Russia and Romania. The Head Cantor of the Church of the Resurrection chanted, whereas a great crowd of Orthodox faithful from Greece, Russia and Romania participated in piety. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Lord’s people proceeded to receive Communion. At the conclusion of the service, Doxology began in celebration of the Patriarch’s feast day, in the presence of the Greek Consul General to Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis. At the Patriarchate, the Elder Secretary-General addressed His Beatitude, followed by Mr Zacharoudiakis. Other addresses were made by the Prelates as well as by f. Farah Danbour on behalf of the Arab-speaking flock of St James Cathedral in Jerusalem; Professor Panayiotis Antoniades on behalf of the Patriarchal School of St Sion, and Mr Nicolaos Sarris on behalf of St Demetrius School. In His reply speech, His Beatitude extended thanks to all present. The spiritual joy of the feast was supplemented by tangible joy in the form of festive meatless lunch. From the Secretariat-General httpv://youtu.be/goBA_1__UvU httpv://youtu.be/PkK4edHShGM httpv://youtu.be/VO_w2r8kmzE httpv://youtu.be/LQk5encXJi0 ISRAELI MINISTER OF TOURISM VISITS PATRIARCHATE On Tuesday the 26th of February/11th of March 2014, the Israeli Minister of Tourism, Mr Landau Uzi, accompanied by associates of his, visited the Patriarchate. The Honourable Minister was received by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers. In the context of this visit, His Beatitude thanked the Minister for his Ministry’s approval of the request to supply water to the Monastery of Mount Tabor, and referred to the matter of the unhindered access of pilgrims to the Church of the Resurrection; to the Ceremony of the Holy Light on Easter Saturday; and to the anticipated visit of the Pope and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, next May. In his response, the Minister assured His Beatitude that the Ministry of Tourism proposes to unreservedly help and support the Patriarchate both as regards these and other issues. To commemorate the visit, gifts were exchanged between His Beatitude and the Minister. From the Secretariat-General httpv://youtu.be/17VF7lPSaOI SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY AT THE PHANAR On Sunday, the 24th of February/ 9th of March 2014, the Sunday of the Orthodoxy, a Joint Panegyrical Liturgy was held in the Church of St George at the Phanar, by participants in the Pan- Orthodox Synaxis. His Beatitude Irinej, Patriarch of Serbia, led the Matins, with His All Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, leading the Divine Liturgy. Concelebrating, were Prelates from the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Prelates accompanying the Primates, in the presence of a great crowd from Constantinople as well as pilgrims hailing from Greece, Russia, Romania and Georgia. During this Joint Liturgy, His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch delivered the following Message, issued by all Primates participating in the Pan-Orthodox Synod: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

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