Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem has begun an official visit to Greece, where he is scheduled to meet leaders of the Church of Greece and senior Greek government officials to discuss church affairs, regional challenges, and cooperation in preserving Christian heritage in the Holy Land.

The Patriarch arrived in Athens accompanied by an official delegation from the Jerusalem Patriarchate and members of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre.

On the first day of his visit, Theophilos III celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Metochion of the Holy Sepulchre in Athens, one of the oldest ecclesiastical centers of the Jerusalem Patriarchate in the Greek capital, dating back to the 18th century. The church is traditionally among the first locations in Greece to receive the Holy Fire from Jerusalem during Orthodox Easter celebrations.

Following the service, the Patriarch spoke about the challenges currently facing the Jerusalem Orthodox Church amid ongoing instability in the Middle East.

“Today, the Church of Jerusalem finds itself, more than ever before, in a place marked by unrest, anxiety, and upheaval,” Theophilos said. Despite the difficult circumstances, he stressed that the Jerusalem Patriarchate remains committed to safeguarding Christian holy sites and sustaining spiritual life in the Holy Land.

The Patriarch also highlighted the unique role of the Jerusalem Church within the Orthodox world. Unlike other autocephalous Orthodox churches founded through the missionary work of the apostles, he noted, the Church of Jerusalem is directly connected to the site of Christ’s Resurrection and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

On Monday, Theophilos met with Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece. The two church leaders discussed issues of mutual concern, including pastoral ministry and the further development of inter-church cooperation.

During his stay, the Patriarch is expected to hold talks with Greek President Konstantinos Tasoulas, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Foreign Minister Georgios Gerapetritis, and officials responsible for education, religious affairs, sports, and culture.

According to the Jerusalem Patriarchate, the upcoming meetings will focus on the Patriarchate’s mission in the Holy Land, the protection and preservation of Christian sacred sites, support for Christian communities in the region, and the expansion of cultural, educational, and spiritual cooperation between the Jerusalem Church and Greece.

Church officials said the visit reflects the historically close relationship between the Jerusalem Patriarchate, the Church of Greece, and the Greek state. The trip is intended to strengthen collaboration in preserving Christian heritage, supporting the Christian presence in the Middle East, and promoting Orthodox witness in the contemporary world.

Following the conclusion of his Greek visit, Patriarch Theophilos III is expected to continue his international tour with a visit to Russia.

Photo: eeod.gr