His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III (whose name in the world was Ilija Jannopoulos) was born in the village of Gargaliani in the Messinia region of Greece, in 1952.
In July 1964, he entered the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre.
That same year, he entered the Patriarchal School in Jerusalem, finishing in June 1970.
On June 28, 1970, he was tonsured a monk with the name of Theophilos by His Beatitude Benedict of Jerusalem.
On July 1, 1970 ordained deacon by Archbishop Basilios of Jordan.
In 1975, ordained to the Priesthood by Archbishop Diodoros of Ierapolis.
That same year, he was sent to study at the theological department of the University of Athens by the decision of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
After his return to Jerusalem, he worked in the General Secretariat of the Holy Synod, the Patriarchal School, and St. Charalampos's Monastery.
In 1978, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.
In 1981, he ws appointed member of the editorial board of the "New Sion" journal.
In December 1981, he was sent to England to complete his post-gratuate studies at Durham University.
After graduation in 1986, appointed secretary for foreign relations of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
In 1988 appointed representative of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the Central Committee of the WCC.
From 1991 to 1996, he was
hegumen of the Monastery of St. George the Trophy-Bearer in Cana of Galilee.
From 2001 to 2003 he was the representative of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem to the Moscow Patriarchate and rector of the Jerusalem representation church in Moscow.
In 2003 he was appointed Patriarchal
epitropos in Doha in the State of Qatar.
In 2004, he was appointed senior custodian of the Holy Sepulchre and elected to the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
On February 14, 2005 he was consecrated Archbishop of Mount Tabor.
On August 22, 2005 he was elected Patriarch of Jerusalem.
