Decisions of the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

The Holy Synod of Jerusalem was convened at the Patriarchate in Jerusalem on Monday, July 21, 2025 (West), in its session chaired by His Beatitude Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine and Jordan, in the presence of the honorable members of the Holy Synod. His Beatitude discussed with the members of the Holy Synod several issues pertaining to the Patriarchate’s administrative, ecclesiastical, and pastoral affairs, which serve the Patriarchate, its monasteries, shrines, churches, clergy, and people.

The Holy Synod also addressed the situation facing Saint Catherine’s Monastery in the Sinai Desert, which is directly under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and the recent issues surrounding its properties. Legal studies were presented regarding this issue, which aim to preserve the monastery’s historical significance as a spiritual treasure.

His Beatitude also briefed the members of the Holy Synod on his recent visit with His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista to the Gaza Strip following the recent renewed events there. They offered prayers for the martyrs in the Gaza Strip, among our sons and brothers, and offered divine comfort to their families.

His Beatitude also referred to the tragic situation the people of the Gaza Strip are suffering from, including killing, hunger, disease, and displacement. They also praised the important role played by His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios and Archimandrite Silas, amidst these difficult circumstances.

His Beatitude also presented the details of his visit, accompanied by the heads of the churches, to the town of Taybeh, where they emphasized their shared stance against the arson attack on the church belonging to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, perpetrated by Israeli settlers. His Beatitude, representing His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, read his letter condemning the incident.

His Beatitude also discussed his recent visit to the Vatican to attend the enthronement ceremony of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and his meeting with him. During the meeting, he praised the good relationship between the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Mother of Churches, and the Custody of the Holy Land, as well as His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista.

His Beatitude also referred to the letter of His Beatitude the Patriarch of Romania regarding the appointment of Father John as the representative of the Romanian Patriarchate in Jerusalem. His Beatitude and the dignitaries expressed their aspiration to strengthen the relationship and cooperation with the Romanian Patriarchate.

His Beatitude and the members of the Synod also welcomed the letter from His Beatitude the Patriarch of the Serbian Church, regarding the ecclesiastical recognition of the new Serbian holy martyrs within the church calendar and liturgy.

The Holy Synod made the following decisions:

1. The Holy Synod made some amendments to the church courts of the Patriarchate in several regions for the benefit of our faithful people and the development of institutional judicial work. These included:

*Promoting Archimandrite Meletios Bassal to the presiding judge of the Ecclesiastical Court in Jerusalem.

*Appointing His Eminence Metropolitan Makarios as President of the Ecclesiastical Court in Acre.

*Appointing Archimandrite Christoforos as President of the Ecclesiastical Court in Amman.

*Appointment of Archimandrite Efthimios Fawadleh as a judge in the Ecclesiastical Court Office in Irbid

*Appointment of Fr Romanos Samawi as a judge in the Court Office in Balqa-Fuheis

*Appointment of Father Zakaria Rizk as a judge in the Ecclesiastical Court in Amman.

2- Appointment of Archimandrite Venediktos Kayyal to the Private Office of the Metropolitan of Jordan.

3- Transfer and appointment of Fr Ioanicios al-Atrash as a priest in the town of al-Baqia in Acre.

4- Transfer and appointment of Fr Elias Awad as a priest in the town of Tur’an in Nazareth.

5- Appointment of Archimandrite Christodoulos as head of the Patriarchal Archives, assistant librarian and responsible for preparing the official church calendar issued by the Holy Synod.

6- Appointment of Monk Basilios as head of the Youth and Scout Committee.

7. The decision to ordain Murad Hazan, as a deacon and then a priest in Acre.

8. The appointment of Archimandrite Leontios and Archimandrite Artemios to serve the Russian community.

9. The appointment of Deacon Evlogios as head of the study hall in the library – Grafousa.

His Beatitude and the members of the Holy Synod also offered prayers for the recovery of His Holiness Archimandrite Akandios from his current health condition. His Beatitude praised and commended his important role in serving the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, his long-standing paternal care of the Church in the Madaba Governorate, and his management of the Patriarchal schools in Jordan.

At the conclusion of the Council’s work, His Beatitude and Their Eminences offered their prayers for world peace, wishing the children of the Holy Church in our Holy Land and all parts of the world peace and tranquility in light of the unknown and the fluctuations that the world is experiencing. May our God enlighten the minds of the world’s leaders and all officials with His divine light, so that through them peace and security may prevail throughout the world and in our holy country, which is in travail with sorrow, soothing the hearts of every sorrowful and broken person with His divine compassion and consolation.

This statement was originally publsihed on the Website of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.