Προσκυνηματική επίσκεψη στη Μονή Τιμίου Σταυρού των Ιεροσολύμων

Από την Ι.Μονή Τιμίου Σταυρού Ιεροσολύμων

ς

Share on facebookShare on twitterShare on emailShare on gmailMore Sharing Services

Την Τετάρτη 2 Απριλίου και ενόψει της Μεγάλης Εβδομάδας, το Jerusalem Press Club και η Ομάδα Διαθρησκευτικού-Διαπολιτισμικού Διαλόγου, κατόπιν πρωτοβουλίας της επικεφαλής της Δρ. Άνχελα Μαρία Αρμπελάεθ, συνδιοργάνωσαν επίσκεψη-περιήγηση των Ανταποκριτών Ξένου Τύπου και Ισραηλινών Μέσων Μαζικής Ενημέρωσης στην Ιερά Μονή του Τιμίου Σταυρού Ιεροσολύμων. Τους 38 εκλεκτούς προσκεκλημένους υποδέχθηκε ο Αρχιμανδρίτης Γέροντας Κλαύδιος Πέππας, Ηγούμενος της Ιεράς Μονής.

Συμμετείχαν οι συνεργάτες του Jerusalem Foundation, του China Radio International και Xinhua News Agency, του περιοδικού Israel Today και της IBA, IBA News και Kol Israel, του Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) καθώς και των USA Today, International Business Times, Deutsche Welle, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Frankfurter Rundschau, Agence France Press, Belgian National Radio κ.άλ.  Ανάμεσά τους ο διακεκριμένος καθηγητής και συνθέτης Menachem Zur,  ο Dani Wassner της Jewish Federations of North America και ο συγγραφέας του περίφημου λευκώματος “Holy Land” για τις Ιερές Μονές στην περιοχή, φωτογράφος Hanan Isachar.

Με μεγάλο ενθουσιασμό οι προσκεκλημένοι απήλαυσαν την αποκλειστική περιήγηση με οδηγό τον Πάτερ Κλαύδιο και την Δρ. Αρμπελάεθ, ιδιαίτερα κατατοπιστική, στο Ναό, το Μουσείο, τη Βιβλιοθήκη και το Καθολικό της Μονής. Είχαν επίσης την ευκαιρία να απευθύνουν ερωτήσεις προς τον Ηγούμενο, για να γνωρίσουν τη μακραίωνη ιστορία, να θαυμάσουν τους πολύτιμους θησαυρούς και να πληροφορηθούν τη μεγάλη σημασία της Μονής για την ορθοδοξία και τον ελληνισμό στο κράτος του Ισραήλ.

Ήταν μια πολύ σημαντική και μεγάλης σημασίας εκδήλωση με ευρύτατη απήχηση, για τη γνωριμία και διάδοση της μακράς παράδοσης και του ανεκτίμητου πολιτισμικού πλούτου του Πατριαρχείου Ιεροσολύμων.

ΛΕΖΑΝΤΕΣ

-Τους 38 εκλεκτούς προσκεκλημένους υποδέχθηκε ο Αρχιμανδρίτης Γέροντας Κλάουντιο Πέππας, Ηγούμενος της Ιεράς Μονής.

-Συμμετείχαν οι συνεργάτες της Jerusalem Foundation, του China Radio International και Xinhua News Agency, του περιοδικού Israel Today και της IBA, IBA News και Kol Israel, της Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) καθώς και των USA Today, International Business Times, Deutsche Welle, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Frankfurter Rundschau, Agence France Press, Belgian National Radio κ.άλ.  Ανάμεσά τους ο διακεκριμένος καθηγητής και συνθέτης Menachem Zur

-Ο Dani Wassner της Jewish Federations of North America

-Με μεγάλο ενθουσιασμό οι προσκεκλημένοι απήλαυσαν την αποκλειστική περιήγηση με οδηγό τον Πατερ Κλαύδιο και την Δρ. Αρμπελάεθ, ιδιαίτερα κατατοπιστική, στο Ναό, το Μουσείο, τη Βιβλιοθήκη και το Καθολικό της Μονής

FESTIVITIES AT THE PATRIARCHAL SCHOOL

March- April 2014 – Jerusalem Patriarchate 

At 5.00 pm of Tuesday the 12th/25th of March 2014, a school feast took place on the hill of St Sion School to commemorate the 25th of March 1821.

Attending the festivities was His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by the Patriarchal Commissioner, the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias; the President of the School Board and Elder Sacristan, His Eminence Isidoros, Archbishop of Hierapolis; the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina, and other Hagiotaphite Fathers.

Also attending the festivities was the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem with his honourable wife and associates of his; Greeks from the Jerusalemite parish, Arab-speaking members of the Greek Orthodox Community of Jerusalem; nuns and pilgrims staying at the Holy Monastery of St Gerasimus of Jordan.

The festive event included a speech by the Acting Principle, philologist and theologian, monk f. Nikolas Zervis, due to illness of Principle Photios. The panegyric of the day was delivered by philologist Mr Theodoros Zygouris. Patriotic songs were performed under the direction of philologist Mr Panayiotis Antoniades, poems recited under the guidance of philologist Mrs Eleni Oikonomou, and two short plays performed under the direction of philologist Mr Constantinos Komodikis.

Both the speeches and the audiovisual material prepared by professor Spyridon Mexis, the recitations, songs, and plays performed by the students – albeit few in number – spoke of the trials, suffering, extermination and finally the rising of our nation after four centuries of cruel and merciless Turkish slavery. The also praised the brave struggles of our Fathers, clerics and laymen alike – Kolokotronis, Karaiskakis, Nikitaras, Markos Botsaris, Makrygiannis, Papaflessas, Athanasios Diakos – as well as thousands of innocent victims piling up from the proclamation of the Revolution by Germanos, Bishop of Old Patras on the 25th of March, until the liberation of our nation and the recognition of an independent state in 1832.

Feelings of pride for the ancestors overwhelmed those attending the festivities, as well as thoughts and speculations on the responsibility of the rulers of our nation and of any Greek citizen to emulate the ethos and way of life of our fathers instead of the numerous dubious and obscure models of contemporary life which have led our country and humanity in general to financial crisis.

Both His Beatitude and the Consul-General congratulated teachers and students on the success of the feast and urged them to devote themselves to the values of our nation and the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood.

From the Secretariat-General

DOXOLOGY FOR THE 193RD ANNIVERSARY OF 25 MARCH 1821

March- April 2014 – Jerusalem Patriarchate 

In the morning of Tuesday, 12^th/25^th of March 2014, Doxology was held at the Katholikon of the All-holy Church of the Resurrection to commemorate the 193^rd anniversary of the 25^th of March 1821.

Leading the Doxology was His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch ofJerusalem, with co-officiating Hagiotaphite Fathers, Prelates, Priests, monks and deacons, in the presence of the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis and his honourable wife. Members of the Greek Parish, nuns, pilgrims and friends of Greece prayed with them.

Doxology was made in the form of supplication to God for the repose of the souls of those who fought for their faith and country and died during the battles after the 1821 Revolution; and in the form of praise to God for aiding the liberation of Greece after four centuries of bitter Turkish slavery.

Doxology was followed by progression to the Patriarchates.

There, His Beatitude addressed those present in Greek.

In response, the Consul-General read a Message from the Greek Foreign Minister, before inviting those gathered to a reception at the entrance of the hall. Acting Principle, f. Nikolaos Zervis, invited all to the festivities at the Patriarchal School of St Sion, scheduled to take place in the afternoon.

From the Secretariat-General

ISRAEL’S CIVIL ADMINISTRATION VISITS JERUSALEM PATRIARCHATE

March-April 2014 – Jerusalem Patriarchate 

On Thursday the 14^th/27^th of March 2014, the General  Military Commander of Israel’s Civil Administration in the occupied territories of Bethlehem, Jericho and Samaria, Mr David Menachem, visited the Patriarchate accompanied by the Military Commander of Bethlehem, Mr Yael, his assistant Mr Yazeed and the Director of the Christian Affairs Department, Mr Sesar Margie.

Mr Menachem inquired His Beatitude about the needs of the Patriarchate as regards the impending feast of Easter and facilitations for the faithful in terms of crossing the checkpoints from the occupied territories to Jerusalem.

His Beatitude thanked the Military Commander for his cooperation and asked that the significance of Easter to Christians residing in Jerusalem be taken into account in terms of facilitating the participation in the feast of Christians from the occupied territories as well as of pilgrims.

In the context of the visit, His Beatitude offered Mr Menachem a silver representation of the transfer of the cluster of grapes by Israeli spies having visited the city of Jericho.

From the Secretariat-General

THE FEAST OF THE VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS AT THE JERUSALEM PATRIARCHATE

March-April 2014

On Sunday the 10th/23rd of March 2014, the feast of the Veneration of the Holy Cross was celebrated by the Patriarchate.

Vespers

From Saturday evening, at 2:00 pm, the 9th Hour was read out at the monastic church of Sts Constantine and Helen, followed by official progression to the Church of the Resurrection.

Veneration at the Holy Sepulcher was followed by entry into the katholikon, where the head of the feast, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, rose to the throne, while their Holinesses the Members of the Synod venerated at the Golgotha and deacons performed the censing along the Holy Shrines. Upon conclusion of these, His Beatitude began reading the service of the Introductory Hymn whereas the Anoixantaria Hymns were chanted by cantors, the Head Cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, and the choir of the Holy Archbishopric of Athens School of Byzantine Music, under Archimandrite f. Irinaios.

The service of Vespers carried on with the breaking of the bread, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers, monks, nuns and pilgrims.

On the day of the feast

On the morning of the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross, at 7:00 am, began the official progression to the Church of the Resurrection.

The Divine Liturgy started at the Holy Sepulcher, led by His Beatitude. Co-officiating were the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias; their Eminences, Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina, Methodios of Tabor, Theodosios of Sebaste, Demetrios of Lydda; and Hagiotaphite Archimandrites and Hieromonks. The Head Cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, and the choir of the Holy Archbishopric of Athens School of Byzantine Music under Archimandrite f. Irinaios, chanted in the Byzantine style while a crowd of faithful, both locals and pilgrims, participated in piety.

After the Holy Communion and the conclusion of the service, began the procession of the Holy Cross, thrice around the Holy Sepulcher and along the Holy Shrines.

This concluded the feast in the Church, before the official progression to the Patriarchates. There, His Beatitude addressed all present in Greek.

From the Secretariat-General

HIS BEATITUDE THE PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM IN RAMALLAH

March-April 2014

On the evening of Friday the 15^th/28^th of March 2014, His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, led the service for the Fourth Stasis of the Salutations to Theotokos in the Holy Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour for the Rum Orthodox, Arab-speaking Community of Ramallah, of the Palestinian State.

In this big city of the Palestinian Autonomy, the Patriarchate maintains a Community numbering approximately seven thousand members. The head of the Community is Hagiotaphite Archimandrite f. Galaktion, aided by Steward f. Yacoub.

His Beatitude was warmly received by the Hegoumen, Archimandrite Galaktion, f. Yacoub, members of the Church Board and the faithful, before proceeding to lead the Salutations of the Fourth Stasis. Co-officiating were the Patriarchal Commissioner, the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias; the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina; Metropolitan Alexander of Pereyaslav-Khmeltnisky and Vishnevsky, visiting from Ukraine; the Very Reverend Archimandrite Ieronymos; Archdeacon Evlogios and deacon Dionysios.

The Canon of Joseph the Hymnographer “Let me open my mouth” was chanted by cantor f. Yusef Il-Far while a crowd of men and women accompanied him with piety.

Before the Apolysis, His Beatitude addressed the congregation in Arabic, see link:  http://www.jp-newsgate.net/ar/2014/04/28/4325

Subsequently, in honour of cantor Yusef Il-Far’s contribution and service to the Church, His Beatitude presented him with the Medal of the Holy Sepulcher.

During this pastoral visit, during which His Beatitude was informed of the problems facing the Ramallah Community, thanks were extended by Hegoumen Galaktion, Members of the Church Board and Mr Yusef Il-Far for the honour bestowed upon him.

On this occasion, His Beatitude offered the amount of ten thousand euro (€10.000) for the Community’s Students Fund.

From the Secretariat-General

CHRISTIAN COUNCIL OF SWEDEN VISITS JERUSALEM PATRIARCHATE

April 2014

In the morning of Saturday the 16^th/29^th of March 2014, a delegation of thirty representatives of Sweden’s Christian Churches visited the Patriarchate.

The delegation, numbering approximately thirty pilgrims, represents Christian Churches in Sweden, namely Orthodox, Roman-Catholics, Lutherans, Ante-Chalcidonians etc.

The group, which is representative of the Christian entity in Sweden, living in liberty, was received by H.B. Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Hagiotaphite Fathers.

To the members of this group, clerics and laymen alike, His Beatitude spoke about the Patriarchate as the Church of the Holy Land, assigned since the early days of Christianity with the spiritual guidance of Christians in the Holy Land, the safekeeping of the Holy Pilgrimage Sites, and management of the property which allows the preservation of Christians in the Holy Land.

The work of the Patriarchate also extends to philanthropy, as demonstrated in the case of the displaced from Syria, and to education, by maintaining its Schools.

At the end of the discussion, His Beatitude offered all members of the group Jerusalemite Hagiotaphiteeulogias, after which they went on to visit the Christian Communities in Jerusalem and the occupied areas.

From the Secretariat-General

HIS BEATITUDE THE PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM OFFICIATES IN TULKARM, SAMARIA

March April 2014

On Sunday, the 17^th/30^th of March 2014, the Sunday of St John Climacus, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, officiated at the Divine Liturgy in the Rum Orthodox, Arab-speaking Community of Tulkarm.

The town lies at half an hour’s drive from Jacob’s Well in Samaria.

Tulkarm numbers only two families, living amongst Muslim residents. Its church, dedicated to the name of St George, was built by the Greek Army during its progression through Palestine in 1943, during World War II.

The Divine Liturgy was led by His Beatitude. Co-officiating were the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina; and the master of ceremonies, Archimandrite Porphyrios; Archdeacon Evlogios and Hierodeacon Markos. The members of the two families, approximately twelve, attended the service.

To this pious and small flock, for which the Lord’s words – Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom (Luke 12, 32) –  would indeed apply, His Beatitude preached the Word of God in Arabic, as follows:  http://www.jp-newsgate.net/ar/2014/03/30/4321

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude was hosted to meatless lunch offered by the two families.

On the same day, the fourth Sunday of the Great Lent, namely the 17^th/30^th of March 2014, the Divine Liturgy was also held at the Holy Monastery of the Holy Cross, where Lot had planted the tree from which the Lord’s Cross was to be made, and where the Patriarchate’s Theological School used to run (1845-1909).

The feast of the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of the Great Lent at the Monastery of the Holy Cross, according to the aforementioned tradition.

The Divine Liturgy was officiated by the hegoumen of the Monastery, Archimandrite Claudius in the presence of nuns and Christians from the Old and New City of Jerusalem.

From the Secretariat-General

THE STATEMENT OF THE PILGRIMAGE COMMITTEE FOR THE SERVICE OF THE HOLY LIGHT

March-April 2014

On Tuesday, the 5^th/18^th of March 2014,  the Pilgrimage Committee of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, consisting of the Chief Dragoman, the Most Reverend Christodoulos, Metropolitan of Eleftheroupolis; the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina; the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, His Eminence Demetrios, Archbishop of Lydda; and the Assistant Dragoman, Archimandrite Athanasios, were received by Chief Superintendent Mr Avi Bitton at the Jaffa Gate Police Department, to whom they delivered the statement they had submitted to the Holy and Sacred Synod as regards the measures taken by the Israeli Police during the ceremony of the Holy Light on the Great Saturday of the year 2013.

His Beatitude
Our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem
Theophilos III
And His Holy and Sacred Synod
Jerusalem

———————–

Your Beatitude,

We, the undersigned members of the Status Quo Committee, the Chief Dragoman His Eminence Metropolitan of Eleftheropolis Christodoulos, the Chief Secretary His Eminence Archbishop of Constantina Aristarchos, the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod His Eminence Archbishop of Lydda Dimitrios and the Superior of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher His Eminence Archbishop of Ierapolis Isidoros, proceed in due respect to report to Your Beatitude and the Holy and Sacred Synod about the ceremony of the Holy Fire during the Great Saturday of the current year 2013.

Τo begin with, we would like to clarify that from the ritual point of view and the Status Quo order the ceremony was performed exactly without any lack or deviation.

Our cooperation in our capacity as members of the Status Quo Committee together with the representatives of the Israeli Police in Jerusalem, i.e. the Director of the Jaffa Gate Police Department Mr. Bareket, and his cooperators Mr. Avi, Mr. Johnny, Mr. Alex and Mr. Rafi, was very good, during the days before the great Saturday and also during the Holy Fire Ceremony. We don’t have any complaint about the above mentioned Police representatives.

In spite of the above positive elements which we report here, there were incidents of negative behaviour of the Policemen who were on duty at the blockages. This means for us that these policemen were not obeying the orders they had received.

We report these incidents not in order to criticize the Police but in order not to have them repeated next year.

First, we refer to the episode of the violation of the room of deacon Fr. Dionysios inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and his violent expulsion from it, and his keys confiscated and then returned to him. This happened immediately after the ceremony of Epitaphios on Good Friday. The Police apologized for this behaviour.

We refer also to the fact that several Greek female pilgrims, as they reported to us, were ousted from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at the same night of Holy Friday after the ceremony of the Epitaphios, and were brought to the area of Jaffa Gate and were left there closed, between the barriers, without water or even the possibility of bodily necessity until 4:00 pm of the Great Saturday, after the performance of the Holy Fire Ceremony.

Within the framework of the cooperation between the Chief Secretary’s Office and the Police, the Police was informed about the number and the place of dwelling of the Greek pilgrims and it was agreed that the Greek pilgrims would have the possibility of free movement at about 4:00 a.m. of the Holy Saturday in order to go and hear prayers and have Holy Communion in the Churches of St. Panteleimon near the “Gloria” Hotel, St. Theodoros near ‘Casa Nova” Hotel, Megali Panagia- Der –Il- Banat Monastery opposite the Coptic Khan and in the church of Virgin Mary “Saydanaya” opposite the “Hanque” Mosque.

Unfortunately, these arrangements were not kept. The Chief Secretary, going to the Church of “Saydanaya” for the liturgy at 4;00 a.m. of the Great Saturday, was prevented by a policewoman and could pass only after an intensive quarrel.

Also, in front of the door of the Church of St. Constantine and Helen, Police put a blockage without any reason and a policewoman prevented from entrance Metropolitan of Neapolis Amvrosios, Metropolitan of Thabor Methodios and Metropolitan of Vostra Timothy. Police closed pilgrims in this church and didn’t allow them to go out. With all this, we think that it is reasonable to ask why are we prevented from proceeding to the prayer on one of the holiest days of Christianity and inside our Convent itself.

In addition the Police didn’t also keep its promises to facilitate the collective proceeding of the Greek pilgrims to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. There were pilgrims who entered, being accompanied by a policeman, but the great majority of them were prevented and were enclosed on the terrace of our Central Convent. Greek pilgrims who were concentrated according to the instructions of the Police also outside the Convent of Megali Panagia- Der-Il-Banat remained there waiting until 11:00 a.m. or even until the hour when the Patriarch had already descended to the Holy Sepulchre and were not allowed to enter the Church. At the same time we are glad to say that Russian Pilgrims were entering from Muristan area speedily and without any obstacle.

The Chief Secretary, being accompanied by the policeman Johnny Kasabri, led after the Holy Liturgy on Holy Saturday in Saydanaya about 350 pilgrims through the Street of St. Francis and Hotel “Casa Nova” to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate’s Road. There a group of the Civil Police disagreed with the police and came and fell upon the pilgrims like upon a herd and divided them into two groups, prevented most of them from entering the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and left them there outside.

So far it concerns the VIP cards, granted by the Patriarchate, it was agreed with the Police that they would allow free access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for their bearers. They were signed by the Police. According to the Police demand they were printed with a special Logo of the Patriarchate so that nobody could forge them. Also according to the Police demand it was written on these cards that their bearers dwelling outside the OldCity should proceed through the New Gate. In spite of this, there were people, holding these cards, who were prevented to proceed to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. As an example of such a treatment concerning the cards, we refer to the fact that the Chief Secretary according to the suggestion of Mr. Avi Biton, asked the policeman Dani, responsible for the terrace area of St. Constantine, to allow to three pilgrims holding these cards to pass and he refused. Complaints about this treatment were made to His Beatitude the Patriarch Himself.

The headmaster of our school teacher and monk Fr. Fotios was descending from the road of the Hotel Casa Nova to the Patriarchate. He asked something of the Policeman on this street and he pushed him violently.

We are sorry to say that the policemen at the blockages were hostile to us and not helpful. On the contrary the Junior Policemen, whose names were mentioned at the beginning, were kind and helpful. It seems that there was no coordination between the leadership of the Police and their staff.

We report all these, objectively and without any prejudice, and we ask that our report be notified to the Police and be considered and used properly, so that next year we can have better treatment by the Police as in last year 2012. This way there will not be bitterness and complaints in the souls of the Greek pilgrims but relief and pleasure and they will proceed in the feast of Easter for the benefit of the Holy Shrines and of the State of Israel.

Having reported all this, we remain,
In Jerusalem, May 14th, 2013

With respect and love in the Lord,
The members of the Status Quo Committee,

CHRISTODOULOS
Metropolitan of Eleftheropolis, Chief Dragoman.

ARISTARCHOS
Archbishop of Constantina, Chief Secretary.

DIMITRIOS
Archbishop of Lydda, Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod.

ISIDOROS
Archbishop of Ierapolis, Superior of the Holy Sepulchre.

Αντιπρόσωποι της Φρεγάτας ''Σαλαμίς'' στο Πατριαρχείο Ιεροσολύμων

Τό Σάββατον, 23ην Μαρτίου/5ην Ἀπριλίου 2014, τριάκοντα ἀντιπρόσωποι ἐκ τῶν Κυβερνητῶν καί τοῦ Πληρώματος τῆς φρεγάτας «Σαλαμίς» τοῦ Ἑλληνικοῦ Πολεμικοῦ Ναυτικοῦ, συνοδευόμενοι ὑπό τοῦ Στρατιωτικοῦ Ἀκολούθου τῆς Ἑλληνικῆς Πρεσβείας εἰς Τέλ Ἀβίβ κ. Παναγιώτου ἐπεσκέφθησαν τό Πατριαρχεῖον εἰς τά πλαίσια ναυτικῆς ἀσκήσεως τοῦ πλοίου ἐν συνεργασίᾳ μετά τοῦ Ναυτικοῦ τοῦ Ἰσραήλ.

Ὁ Μακαριώτατος Πατήρ ἡμῶν καί Πατριάρχης Ἱεροσολύμων κ.κ. Θεόφιλος ἐδέχθη ἐνθέρμως αὐτούς καί ὡμίλησεν αὐτοῖς διά τήν μακραίωνα ἑλληνικήν παράδοσιν τήν ὑπάρχουσαν εἰς τούς Ἁγίους Τόπους, κατευώδευσε δέ αὐτούς ἐπιδίδων αὐτοῖς πολλάς Ἱεροσολυμιτικάς εὐλογίας.

Θεία Λειτουργία στο Τουλκάρεμ της Σαμάρειας (ΦΩΤΟ)

Τήν Κυριακήν, 17ην /30ήν Μαρτίου 2014, Κυριακήν τοῦ ἁγίου Ἰωάννου τῆς Κλίμακος ἡ Α.Θ.Μ. ὁ Πατήρ ἡμῶν καί Πατριάρχης Ἱεροσολύμων κ.κ. Θεόφιλος ἐτέλεσε τήν θ. Λειτουργίαν εἰς τήν Ἑλληνορθόδοξον (Rum Orthodox) Ἀραβόφωνον Κοινότητα τῆς πόλεως Τουλκάρεμ.

Ἡ κώμη αὐτή εὑρίσκεται εἰς ἀπόστασιν ἡμισείας ὥρας δι’ αὐτοκινήτου μετά τό Φρέαρ τοῦ Ἰακώβ εἰς Σαμάρειαν.

Ἡ ὡς ἄνω Κοινότης ἀριθμεῖ δύο μόνον οἰκογενείας, διαβιούσας ἐν μέσῳ Μουσουλμάνων κατοίκων.

Ὁ Ναός αὐτῆς ἐπ’ ὀνόματι τοῦ ἁγίου Γεωργίου ὡς φαίνεται καί ἐκ πινακίδος ἀνηρτημένης ὄπισθεν τοῦ εἰκονοστασίου τοῦ Ἱεροῦ Βήματος, ἀνηγέρθη ὑπό τοῦ Ἑλληνικοῦ Στρατοῦ κατά τήν διάβασιν αὐτοῦ ἐκ Παλαιστίνης κατά τόν δεύτερον Παγκόσμιον πόλεμον τό ἔτος 1943.

Τήν θείαν Λειτουργίαν ἐτέλεσεν ὁ Μακαριώτατος συλλειτουργοῦντος Αὐτῷ τοῦ Γέροντος Ἀρχιγραμματέως Σεβασμιωτάτου Ἀρχιεπισκόπου Κωνσταντίνης κ. Ἀριστάρχου τοῦ τελετάρχου Ἀρχιμανδρίτου π. Πορφυρίου, τοῦ Ἀρχιδιακόνου π. Εὐλογίου καί τοῦ Ἱεροδιακόνου π. Μάρκου, παρακολουθούντων τῶν μελῶν -δώδεκα περίπου- τῶν δύο ἐν λόγῳ οἰκογενειῶν, ἅμα δέ καί ψαλλόντων τά ἀναστάσιμα τροπάρια τοῦ βαρέος ἤχου καί τοῦ Τρῳδίου τοῦ ἁγίου Ἰωάννου τῆς Κλίμακος.

Μετά τήν θείαν Λειτουργίαν ὁ Μακαριώτατος παρεκάθισεν εἰς νηστήσιμον φιλόξενον τράπεζαν, τήν ὁποίαν παρέθεσαν Αὐτῷ αἱ δύο οἰκογένειαι.

Τήν ἰδίαν ἡμέραν, Κυριακήν Δ’ τῶν Νηστειῶν, 17ην/30ήν Μαρτίου 2014, ἐτελέσθη θεία Λειτουργία καί εἰς τήν Ἱεράν Μονήν τοῦ Τιμίου Σταυροῦ, εἰς τόν τόπον τῆς ὁποίας ἐφυτεύθη ὑπό τοῦ Λώτ τό ξύλον, ἐξ οὗ κατεσκευάσθη τό ξύλον τοῦ Σταυροῦ τοῦ Κυρίου καί εἰς τήν ὁποίαν ἐλειτούργει ἡ Θεολογική Σχολή τοῦ Τιμίου Σταυροῦ τοῦ Πατριαρχείου, (1845-1909).

Συμφώνως πρός τήν τάξιν τῆς Ἐκκλησίας Ἱεροσολύμων ἡ ἑορτή τῆς Κυριακῆς τῆς Σταυροπροσκυνήσεως ἑκάστου ἔτους ἑορτάζεται κατά μετάθεσιν τήν μετ’ αὐτήν Κυριακήν, ἤτοι Δ’ τῶν Νηστειῶν, εἰς τήν ἱεράν Μονήν τοῦ Τιμίου Σταυροῦ, λόγῳ τῆς ὡς ἄνω παραδόσεως τῆς φυτεύσεως τοῦ ξύλου τοῦ τιμίου Σταυροῦ.

Τήν θείαν λειτουργίαν ἐτέλεσεν ὁ ἡγούμενος τῆς ἱερᾶς Μονής, Ἀρχιμανδρίτης π. Κλαύδιος καί παρηκολούθησαν μονάζουσαι καί Χριστιανοί ἐκ τῆς Παλαιᾶς καί Νέας Πόλεως τῶν Ἱεροσολύμων.

Επίσκεψη της Κοινότητας Αμπού Σναν στο Πατριαρχείο Ιεροσολύμων

Τήν Πέμπτην 21ην Μαρτίου/3ην Ἀπριλίου 2014, 100 μέλη τῆς Κοινότητος τοῦ Πατριαρχείου εἰς Ἀμποῦ Σνάν τῆς περιοχῆς Ἄκκρης τοῦ βορείου Ἰσραήλ ἐπεσκέφθησαν τόν Μακαριώτατον Πατέρα ἡμῶν καί Πατριάρχην Ἱεροσολύμων κ.κ. Θεόφιλον, εὐχαριστοῦντες Αὐτόν διά τήν εἰς τήν Κοινότητα καί τήν ἐνορίαν αὐτῶν ἐπίσκεψιν Αὐτοῦ καί διά τήν νυκτερινήν θείαν Λειτουργίαν τῶν Προηγιασμένων εἰς τόν Ἱερόν Ναόν Ἁγίου Γεωργίου, εἰς τήν ὁποίαν προεξῆρξεν ὁ Μακαριώτατος τήν Τετάρτην 13ην /26ην Μαρτίου.