Προσκυνηματική επίσκεψη στη Μονή Τιμίου Σταυρού των Ιεροσολύμων

Από την Ι.Μονή Τιμίου Σταυρού Ιεροσολύμων

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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