The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem had the great honour of enthroning its new Patriarch, Theophilos III, on Tuesday, November 9/22, the feast-day of St. Nektarios and of the Icon of “She Who is Quick to Hear”, in the Holy City of Jerusalem. Prior to his election as Patriarch, His Beatitude served the Church as Archbishop of Tabor, where our Lord was transfigured.

Archbishop Damaskinos of Jaffa, the Patriarchal Representative to the United States, and Archimandrite Maximos and Hierodeacon Parthenios, from our monastic brotherhood, were in attendance at this event, held at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the main temple or catholikon dedicated to the Resurrection of Christ.

The enthronement began with a procession of the Orthodox clergy, through the streets of the Old City, from the Patriarchate to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Having entered the Church and processed into the altar – probably as many as 70 clergymen, not counting those outside the altar – a short service of prayer was intoned, followed by the Patriarch’s official speech from the Patriarchal Throne, as the successor to St. James the Brother of our Lord and first bishop of Jerusalem.

Official representatives were in attendance from the numerous autocephalous Orthodox Churches from around the world, most notably from Greece, Alexandria (Egypt), Russia and Serbia, both hierarchs and other clergy. Also present were civil dignitaries from Orthodox countries and high-ranking representatives from numerous heterodox confessions which have a religious presence in the Holy Land.

Axios! Axios! Axios!