Patriarch Porfirije visits the Patriarchate of Jerusalem
His Holiness Serbian Patriarch kyr Porfirije, accompanied by members of his sacred entourage, departed this evening for a visit to the Most Holy Patriarchate of Jerusalem and His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem kyr Theophilos III.
During his visit, His Holiness will venerate the greatest holy places of the Christian world: the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the Monastery of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where he will celebrate the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts together with His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III. Time has also been allocated for discussions between the Primates of the two Churches. Accompanying the Head of the Serbian Patriarchate are: His Grace Vicar Bishop of Toplica kyr Petar; Very Venerable Archimandrite Danilo, Director of the Patriarchal Administrative Office; Protodeacon Dr. Dragan Radić, Professor at the Faculty of Theology in Belgrade; and Deacon Vasilije Bursać, Director of the Pilgrimage Agency Dobročinstvo.
His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem kyr Theophilos III is the 140th successor to the throne of Saint James, the Brother of the Lord. He was born in Greece in 1952. He joined the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre in July 1964 and enrolled in the Jerusalem Patriarchal School the same year, graduating in 1970. His Beatitude Patriarch Benedict of Jerusalem tonsured him a monk on 28 June 1970. That same year, he was ordained a deacon, and in 1975, he was ordained a presbyter by the Archbishop of Hierapolis. After completing his theological studies at the University of Athens, he became the Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod in Jerusalem. In 1978, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. From 1991 to 1996, he served as the Hegumen of the Monastery of Saint George the Victory-Bearer in Cana of Galilee. From 2001 to 2003, he was the representative of the Patriarch of Jerusalem to the Russian Patriarchate. In 2003, he was appointed Patriarchal Representative in Qatar, and the following year, the Holy and Sacred Synod elected him as the Sceuophylax (Guardian of the Holy Sepulchre). He was consecrated Archbishop of Tabor on 14 February 2005, and on 22 August of the same year, he was elected Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Patriarch Theophilos is a sincere and steadfast friend of the Serbian Orthodox Church. He is deeply familiar with both the historical and present-day tragic situation of our Church, its faithful people, and its holy sites in Kosovo and Metohija, viewing their suffering in parallel with the persecution of Christians in the Middle East. He continually prays and advocates for peace in the Holy Land, Syria, and throughout the Middle East, expressing hope for a peace founded on dialogue among the Abrahamic peoples – Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Patriarch Theophilos frequently emphasizes with pride that the Jerusalem Church unites and brings together all of Orthodoxy.
During his visit, His Holiness will venerate the greatest holy places of the Christian world: the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the Monastery of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where he will celebrate the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts together with His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III. Time has also been allocated for discussions between the Primates of the two Churches. Accompanying the Head of the Serbian Patriarchate are: His Grace Vicar Bishop of Toplica kyr Petar; Very Venerable Archimandrite Danilo, Director of the Patriarchal Administrative Office; Protodeacon Dr. Dragan Radić, Professor at the Faculty of Theology in Belgrade; and Deacon Vasilije Bursać, Director of the Pilgrimage Agency Dobročinstvo.
His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem kyr Theophilos III is the 140th successor to the throne of Saint James, the Brother of the Lord. He was born in Greece in 1952. He joined the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre in July 1964 and enrolled in the Jerusalem Patriarchal School the same year, graduating in 1970. His Beatitude Patriarch Benedict of Jerusalem tonsured him a monk on 28 June 1970. That same year, he was ordained a deacon, and in 1975, he was ordained a presbyter by the Archbishop of Hierapolis. After completing his theological studies at the University of Athens, he became the Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod in Jerusalem. In 1978, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. From 1991 to 1996, he served as the Hegumen of the Monastery of Saint George the Victory-Bearer in Cana of Galilee. From 2001 to 2003, he was the representative of the Patriarch of Jerusalem to the Russian Patriarchate. In 2003, he was appointed Patriarchal Representative in Qatar, and the following year, the Holy and Sacred Synod elected him as the Sceuophylax (Guardian of the Holy Sepulchre). He was consecrated Archbishop of Tabor on 14 February 2005, and on 22 August of the same year, he was elected Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Patriarch Theophilos is a sincere and steadfast friend of the Serbian Orthodox Church. He is deeply familiar with both the historical and present-day tragic situation of our Church, its faithful people, and its holy sites in Kosovo and Metohija, viewing their suffering in parallel with the persecution of Christians in the Middle East. He continually prays and advocates for peace in the Holy Land, Syria, and throughout the Middle East, expressing hope for a peace founded on dialogue among the Abrahamic peoples – Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Patriarch Theophilos frequently emphasizes with pride that the Jerusalem Church unites and brings together all of Orthodoxy.
