THEOPHILOS III

By the grace of God, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem

and of all Palestine

to the cοngregation of the Church, grace and mercy and peace

from the Holy and Life-giving Sepulchre of the Risen Christ.

Come ye receive light from the unwaning light and glorify Christ who is risen from the dead            

“It was very early at dawn on that day, the first of the Sabbaths” after the Crucifixion and burial of our Lord Jesus Christ. The women who followed Jesus from Galilee went into the city and “had bought sweet spices, that they might come to anoint the body of the Lord Jesus” (Mark 16, 1). When they arrived at the door of the sepulchre, the bright angel sitting on it said, “Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him” (Mark 16, 6 – 7).

The statements issued by the Israeli police, yesterday and today, in regards to the Holy Light Ceremony, are incorrect. They are a complete misrepresentation of the facts and of our clearly stated position.

Attributing the restrictions, imposed by the Police on the Holy Light Ceremony, to the advice of a so-called church-affiliated safety engineer is categorically misguided and false. This engineer was not commissioned or authorised to produce any report on this matter.

In his visit after the devastating earthquake that struck the region, with his accompanying delegation, to the Antiochene parishes in Alexandretta, Antioch, and Mersin. On Friday, April 14, 2023, His Beatitude John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and MECC President for the Orthodox Family, celebrated the Vespers of the Unnailing of the Lord in the Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Mersin. You can watch the prayer in the following video.

April 13, 2023

His Beatitude John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and MECC President for the Orthodox Family, and the accompanying delegation arrived at Adana International Airport. He was received successively by our Fathers and brethren from the respective parishes:

- Antioch

Fadi Khorigil, President of the Association in Antioch - Father Dimitri Doğom, Parish Priest of Antioch - Father Jean Dellollar, Parish Priest of Antioch - Jessica Kocamakhoul - Hana Ardolouakhlou - Mikhael Saotağlu

- Mersin

Jan Arab, President of the Association in Mersin

- Father Esper Timur, Parish Priest of Mersin - Jean Yazerlioğlu, Responsible for the Youth - Elias Timur and his wife - Mounir Yazerlioğlu and his wife - Cam Altonish, Former President of the Association in Mersin (former) and his wife - Iskandar Arab and his wife - Issa Shangul and his wife

- Alexandretta

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, prayed the Liturgy of Covenant Thursday (Great Thursday) on the morning of April 13, 2023 at the Monastery of St.Mina in Mariout, in Alexandria, with the participation of H.G. Bishop Kyrillos Ava Mina, the Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery and the monks of the Monastery.
The prayers started by Thursday Day prayers, which includes Offering of Morning Incense then the prayers of the hours, followed by Lakan and Liturgy and ended by the 11th hour of Thursday.

His Holiness delivered the sermon under the title “Make Me a Partaker of the Grace of Your Life-Giving Mysteries,” during which H.H. pointed out that “Covenant Thursday” is one of the Lord’s feasts, which was filled with many events during the time of Christ, as He washed the feet, established the Sacrament of the Eucharist, and prayed the farewell prayer.

Beirut, April 13, 2023

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and MECC President for the Orthodox Family, left the Beirut International Airport for his paternal visit to enquire after the parishes in Antioch, Alexandretta and Mersin, following the devastating earthquake which struck the region.

His Beatitude is accompanied by Their Eminences Bishops Constantine Kayyal (Abbot of the Patriarchal Monastery of Saint Elias Shwayya and Arsenios Dahdal, Abbot of St. George Al Homeyra Patriarchal Monastery, Reverend Archimandrites Fr. George Yacoub, Economos of Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery, Fr. Jack Khalil, Dean of the Institute of Theology at the University of Balamand, Consul Mark Gharib, Dr. Walid Dagher, Mr. Ghassan Karam, and theology students Elias Kochoglu and Selim Polatoglu, as well as the media and production teams.

On April 13, 2021, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, celebrated the Holy Qurobo on Maundy Thursday at St. George Church in Hay El-Seryan in Aleppo.

Their Eminences Archbishops Mor Boutros Kassis, Archbishop of Aleppo and Environs, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, attended the Holy Qurobo.

After the Earthquake Which Hit the North of the Middle East

Prior to his departure with the accompanying delegation to the Antiochian parishes in Alexandretta, Antioch, and Mersin. His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and MECC President for the Orthodox Family, delivered a statement live from Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery in Lebanon on Thursday 13 February 2023. You can listen to it in the following video.

On Thursday 13 April 2023, The Service of the Twelve Passion Gospels on the eve of Holy Great Thursday was celebrated on the eve of the Holy Unction in Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery in Lebanon. You can watch the service in the following video published on the Facebook Page of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East.

On April 13, 2023, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, celebrated the service of the washing of the feet at St. George Church in Aleppo.

During this service, His Holiness called twelve children, representing the twelve Apostles and washed their feet following the example of the Lord Jesus Christ Who washed the feet of His disciples. It is a lesson in humility where we learn how serving others is greater than being served.

On Wednesday 12 April 2023, His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and MECC President for the Orthodox Family, celebrated the Service of the Holy Unction in Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery in Lebanon. You can watch the service in the following video.

His Eminence Archbishop Hosam E. Naoum, Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, and the Head of the Church for the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, joined some of the Heads of Churches in Jerusalem and some clergy in exchanging Easter greetings on Tuesday Morning, April 11th, 2023, at the Latin Patriarchate. Bishop Naoum was accompanied by Rev’d Canon Don Binder, Rev’d Nael Abu Rahmoun, Mr. Saba Kerry, and Mr.Khalid Dalleh both Postulants. They were welcomed by the Catholic Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa and some Patriarchate clergy.

Each of the Heads of Churches gave an Easter Message. Bishop Naoum talked about the living hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, as St. Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1: 3. Patriarch Pizzaballa welcomed all who gathered, and shared his hope-filled Easter Message. Easter Hymns were sung in different languages and from the different traditions present, both Eastern and Western.

In the following, you can find the Status Quo Committee Of The Churches In Regards To Unreasonable Restrictions By Israeli Police For The Holy Light Ceremony.

On Holy Wednesday afternoon, March 30/ April 12, 2023, at the Holy Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, after the service of the Small Compline, the sacrament of the Holy Unction was officiated by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, with the participation of six High Priests according to the Typikon.  

The service ended with the blessing of all present with the Holy Unction.

As the Church celebrates the most joyous day of the liturgical year, His Holiness Pope Francis presides over Mass on Easter Sunday in St. Peter’s Square to mark the Resurrection of Christ.

By Devin Watkins

Over 45,000 pilgrims filled a sunny St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday morning.

The Catholic faithful were joined by tens of thousands of flowers from the Netherlands, which adorned the steps leading up to the Vatican Basilica and continued an annual tradition begun in 1985.

His Holiness Pope Francis presided over the Mass on the Solemnity of the Resurrection of the Lord, better known as Easter Sunday.

Your Excellencies,
Dear Consuls General,
Dearest brothers and sisters,
May the Lord give you peace!

Today, like the women of the Gospel and the disciples Peter and John, we have returned here, before the empty Tomb of Christ, to pray, to contemplate, to once again proclaim our faith.

The Gospel of today is a passage that resonates in this basilica almost daily. It is a Gospel full of momentum and life. It speaks of night and darkness that no longer frighten, for they are about to yield to the light of the coming morning. It speaks of a mighty stone that was overturned, and no longer closes anything; of disciples running; of cloths – signs of death – that no longer bind anyone; of eyes that see; of hearts that believe; and of Scriptures that are revealed to full understanding. For us, those signs have a clear meaning of joy, of life, of hope.

You can find the Pastoral Letter from His Eminence Archbishop Hosam E. Naoum, Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, and the Head of the Church for the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, on the occasion of Easter 2023.

Following the Easter Sunday Mass, His Holiness Pope Francis delivers his Easter message and blessing "To the City and the World", underscoring the joyous hope that Christ's resurrection brings and encouraging Christians to rediscover the joy of serving God, working for peace, and helping our brothers and sisters in a world marked by so much suffering.

By Thaddeus Jones

His Holiness Pope Francis gave his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" Easter message on Sunday 9 April 2023, appearing from the central loggia of Saint Peter's Basilica overlooking the Square below where he had just presided over the Easter morning Mass.

On April 9, 2023, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, celebrated the Service of Nahire (the Feast of Lights), at St. Georges Patriarchal Cathedral in Bab Touma, Damascus, Syria.

‎‏This service was attended by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Cyril Babi, Patriarchal Vicar for the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Damascus, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant.

On Palm Sunday evening, March 27/ April 10, 2023, the First Service of the Bridegroom, which is the Matins of Holy Monday, was held at the Catholicon of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

On this service, the faithful Christians are prepared through the contrite Troparia of this day to unite their souls with the Lord as the Bridegroom of the souls, and to experience the Passion of the Lord and His Resurrection.