Orthodox Churches

Theodoros II Meets with general Sisi

On 3^rd September 2013, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, accompanied by His Grace Nikodimos, Bishop of Nitria, Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo, was warmly welcomed at the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Egypt, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in the presence of high-ranking officers of the military hierarchy. Given the key role which the military played during the regime changes of last July, as well as the regulatory role which it is playing at present, setting the roadmap of the country’s transition to constitutional stability, the meeting was of exceptional importance for the promotion of the positions and the rights of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in the renascent political landscape of Egypt. 

Patriarch of Jerusalem visits the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus

On the morning of Saturday the 18^th/31^st of August, His Beatitude Theophilos, Our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop of Constantina, Mr Aristarchos, and Archdeacon f. Athanasios, arrived at Larnaca Airport on a Cyprus Airways flight.

There, His Beatitude was welcomed by the Most Reverend Christophoros, Metropolitan of Karpassia, on behalf of the Archbishop of Cyprus.

US Consul General visits Phanar

On September 3, 2013, the Honorable Scott Frederic Kilner visited the Phanar in order to bid farewell to His All-Holiness on the occasion of the conclusion of his tenure as United States Consul General in Istanbul. Mr. Kilner was a personal friend of His All-Holiness, a strong supporter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and a fervent advocate for its rights in Turkey.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill chairs a regular session of the Supreme Church Council

On 4 September 2013, the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church met for a regular session at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow. The session was chaired by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, who declared the session open and presented the agenda. He greeted the participants and said that the meeting might not be attractive to the press but is very important, as we ought to consider the implementation of decisions taken by the Bishops’ Council and of the Supreme Church Council, to have a thorough look at the process of the work being done, which tasks we have done and which we have failed to do.

Ethiopian Archbishop in Jerusalem visits Patriarchate

On Friday the 17th/30th of August 2013, the new Archbishop of the Ethiopian Church in Jerusalem, Mr Daniel Ilma, visited the Patriarchate upon assuming office after the election of his predecessor, Archbishop Aba Mattias, as Patriarch of Ethiopia.

The new Ethiopian Archbishop was received by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Fathers of the Holy Sepulcher.

Inauguration of Spritual centar at Bethelehem piligrimage site

On Tuesday the 16^th/29^th of August 2013, the Spiritual Center of the Bethlehem Pilgrimage was officially inaugurated.  

The Center is set up at a residence near the Basilica of the Nativity, and the Central Monastery of the Greek Orthodox located within. The residence was purchased and renovated by the Patriarchal Commissioner in Bethlehem, His Eminence Theophylaktos, Archbishop of Jordan.

The Center is intended to include various teaching and educational departments for the youth of the Arab-speaking congregation in Bethlehem (Rum Orthodox), i.e. courses on the History of the Holy Land, the Church of Jerusalem, the Holy Sites, Byzantine Music, computer literacy, foreign languages etc.