NAZARETH’S CATECHISM SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY OF RENE VISIT THE PATRIARHATE On Saturday of Souls, the 21st of February/5th of March 2016, a group of fifty members of the Catechism School of the Metropolis of Nazareth, led by the Most Reverend Metropolitan Kyriakos, and a fifty-member group of their adjacent Arabic Community of Rene, visited Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem. At the meeting, the Patriarch advised all members of the two groups, both children and adults, to persevere in studying the salvaging traditions of the Church, to obey their Metropolitan and to read the Holy Bible, especially the New Testament, recently published by the Patriarchate in Arabic. The students then performed church hymns, whereas the Chairman of the Community and the President of the Association addressed His Beatitude (see video). Having received the Patriarch’s blessings, His spiritual children received a copy of the New Testament in Arabic and icons of Theotokos, before going on to venerate at the Lord’s Holy Sepulchre. From the Secretariat-General httpv://youtu.be/NC0EtbMP5qk H.B. THE PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM MAKES PASTORAL VISIT TO SDEIDE On the morning of Saturday, the 14th/27th of February 2016, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem left Jerusalem for the town of Sdeide in the Accra-Ptolemais region of Northern Israel, home to an Arabic-speaking Rum-Orthodox Community numbering approximately 700 members. The Community’s worship centre is a Church dedicated to St Patrick the Hieromartyr and Bishop of Proussa. His Beatitude was welcomed by priests from the town’s adjacent parishes and went on to bless the faithful and begin the Katabasias hymns, leading the Matins and divine Liturgy. Co- officiating were Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Metropolitan Joachim of Zambia, Archimandrite Chrysostomoss, hegumen in Fhes, Jordan, and Hierodeacons Markos and Anastasios. Archimandrite Philotheos sang with his choir for a pious congregation from Sdeide’s Arabic Orthodox residents. To the faithful, Patriarch Theophilos preached the Word of God in Greek, saying that the Holy Church is indeed the Body of the living God, a pillar and establishment of truth, whilst we, baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity, are members of its Body, of the Body of Christ. “Our Holy Church”, added the Patriarch, “being the arc of salvation, calls upon us today through the Apostle Paul, who says: “[pursue] righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses [1st Timothy 6, 11-12]”. In Arabic, the Patriarch’s speech may be reached here: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2016/02/27/19352 Addressing the Very Reverend f. Elias, the honorable President of the Community and the members of the town of Sdeide, Patriarch Theophilos extended thanks for the invitation to inaugurate the town’s new halls and expressed joy over the peaceful and harmonious coexistence of Orthodox Christians with fellow residents of other religions. Finally, the Patriarch expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and closed with words of the Apostle Paul: “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance” [2nd Thessalonians, 3, 5]. In Arabic, see link: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2016/02/27/19354 From the Secretariat-General httpv://youtu.be/ku6AfiW55wM httpv://youtu.be/l_l1nvDIFHE httpv://youtu.be/4Ur8O5oFdps THE FEAST OF ST CHARALAMBOS THE HIEROMARTYR AT THE PATRIARCHATE On Tuesday, the 10th/23rd of February 2016, the Patriarchate observed the memory of St Charalambos the Hieromartyr at the monastery dedicated to his name, to the north-east of the Church of the Resurrection. St Charalambos was a priest in Magnesia, Thessalia, who suffered a martyr’s death during the reign of Licinius, circa 180 AD. Vespers and the divine Liturgy were led by Archbishop Methodios of Tabor, having Hagiotaphite Hieromonks as concelebrants, e.g. Archimandrites Ieronymos, Ignatios, Makarios; f. Issa Touma, vicar at St James Cathedral, priests visiting from Russia, and deacon Anastasios. Elder Nun Mariam Skorda and Archimandrites Eusebius and Alexios sang during Vespers; during the divine Liturgy, Archimandrite Eusebius sang for a pious congregation of monks, nuns, Greek Orthodox members of the Greek parish, Arabic-speaking faithful and pilgrims from Greece, Russia and Romania. During the divine Liturgy, Patriarch Theophilos arrived at the church to venerate. The Patriarchal and Prelatic Entourage and the congregation were hosted to a reception by the hegumen, Archimandrite Kallistos. From the Secretariat-General httpv://youtu.be/jUJQh7MTYWw httpv://youtu.be/x3OHPW7hsa8 httpv://youtu.be/DAMsSQs2HV0 DECORATION OF THE METROPOLITAN OF YEKATERINBURG AND MR BORIS SOKOL In the context of a modest ceremony at the Patriarchate, on the morning of Tuesday, the 10th/23rd of February 2016, H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, bestowed the Medal of Supreme Taxiarch of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher to Metropolitan Kyrill of Yekaterinburg of the Patriarchate of Russia. Pious pilgrim, Mr Boris Sokol, was awarded the Crusader Medal. This honorary distinction was conferred upon Metropolitan Kyrill and Mr Sokol for their devout disposition and active participation in and contribution to the Holy Aedicula conservation and protection project, currently in progress. Both men thanked His Beatitude and pledged to carry on their noble efforts in the benefit of the Holy Sepulchre. On the conclusion of the ceremony, the Youth Choir of the Bishopric of Yekaterinburg sang the Patriarch’s Polychronion and St Nektarios’ poem to Theotokos in Russian and Greek. From the Secretariat-General httpv://youtu.be/wVvW4onXqvY THE PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM OFFICIATES IN THE RUM- ORTHODOX COMMUNITY OF ABU SNAN On Saturday, the 7th/20th 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 httpv://youtu.be/RCxSpahdEXw httpv://youtu.be/HPvMbOzMe4A httpv://youtu.be/x8je4NKc32M PROFESSOR MOROPOULOU PRESENTS CONSERVATION STUDY ON THE AEDICULA OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE On Friday the 8th/19th 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