The Name Day of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem

On Saturday, 16th/29th March 2025, the Name Day of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem was celebrated by transference with the feast of the Holy Forty Martyrs, who martyred in the lake of Sebasteia in Pontus, one of whom is Saint Theophilos.

1. VESPERS: In the evening of the feast, the Ninth Hour was read in the Monastic Church of Saints Constantine and Helen. Following this, and in line with the typical liturgical order, Great Vespers was celebrated in the Catholicon of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, with incense and the blessing of loaves. His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem presided over the service, joined in prayer by the bishops and in co-celebration by the Hieromonk of the Holy Sepulchre. The chanting was delivered by the chief cantor, Deacon Eustathios Tsoumanis, in the presence of the General Consul of Greece in Jerusalem, Mr Dimitrios Angelosopoulos, and members of the Greek Consulate, as well as a congregation of monks, locals, and many pilgrims.

1. THE DAY OF THE FEAST: On the morning of Saturday 16th/29th March 2025, the feast of the Holy Forty Martyrs and the Name Day of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem was celebrated with a Patriarchal and multi-archiepiscopal Divine Liturgy in the Catholicon of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. His Beatitude presided, and co-celebrating with him were their Eminences: Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, Metropolitan Hesychios of Capitolias, Metropolitan Timotheos of Vostra, the Most Reverend Archbishops: Theophanes of Gerash, Dorotheos of Avila, Damaskinos of Yaffo, Methodios of Tabor, Dimitrios of Lydda, Isidoros of Hierapolis, and Aristovoulos of Madaba. Other co-celebrants included the Hieromonk of the Holy Sepulchre, with the first being Archimandrite Matthaios, the representative of the Patriarchate of Moscow, Archimandrite Vassianos, and the representative of the Romanian Patriarchate, Archimandrite Theophilos. The chanting was delivered by the chief cantor, Deacon Eustathios Tsoumanis.

The service was attended by the General Consul of Greece in Jerusalem, Mr Dimitrios Angelosopoulos, members of the Greek Consulate, the Russian Ambassador to Israel, Mr Anatoly Viktorov, and distinguished guests of His Beatitude, including Professor Spyridon Tsitsingos, Mrs Zozonaki, Mr Onte Kavas, representatives from other churches, the Greek community of Jerusalem, and representatives from all areas of the Patriarchate’s jurisdiction, as well as many pilgrims from various countries.

After the Divine Liturgy, a Doxology was held, followed by the Patriarchal procession to the Patriarchate Reception Hall.

At the Patriarchate, there was an address to His Beatitude, first by the Elder Chief Secretary, His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, as follows:

“Your Beatitude, Father and Master,

As we ascend the steps of the Holy and Great Lent in our journey towards the Holy Pascha, today, the 9th of March, the Church presents to us as a spiritual feast the commemoration of the Forty Holy Martyrs, who martyred for Christ during the reign of the persecuting Emperor Licinius in AD 320 at the lake of Sebasteia in Pontus. These martyrs, exposed to the icy cold of the lake throughout the entire night, confessed Christ to the very end and were crowned in the morning with an imperishable crown of glory.

Today, the Holy Church of Jerusalem rightly celebrates their memory, particularly because the Primate of this Church, Your Most Holy Beatitude, honours the name of one of these glorious martyrs, Saint Theophilos.

Therefore, primarily in commemoration of him, but also of all the Forty Holy Martyrs, a Great Vespers service was celebrated at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, followed by a Patriarchal Divine Liturgy, in which all the bishops of the Patriarchate, both near and far, as well as other members of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre from the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate in Israel, Jordan, and Palestine, participated. During this service, thanksgiving and praise were offered to God, and prayers were raised for the health, stability, and long life of Your Beatitude.

Having fulfilled the liturgical obligations owed to Saint Theophilos and to Your Eminence in the Church, we are now gathered in this sacred “house” of the Patriarchate, to offer to You the just praise for all that You have contributed and continue to offer to the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, to the Patriarchate, and to the whole of the Orthodox Church, in Your efforts to renew dialogue and restore the unity of the Orthodox Churches in Christ, which You again emphasized during Your recent participation in the funeral service of the blessed Archbishop of Albania, His Eminence Anastasius.    

In the first place, regarding the area of our Pilgrimage Rights, a long-awaited solution has been achieved concerning the God-receiving Cave of Bethlehem. This resolution concerns the feast of our Epiphany, which coincides on Sunday or Monday with the Armenian Christmas. Through a letter from Your Beatitude, co-signed by the Custos of the Franciscan Order, Fr. Francesco Patton, the archival material of the Bethlehem Codex has been activated, and an order has been issued by the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Ramzi Khoury, President of the Palestinian Supreme Ecclesiastical Committee, stipulating that our Orthodox icon shall be placed on the altar above the star and the Armenian icon during our Vespers service of Epiphany. This decree, the first since 1936, was fulfilled with the presence of the Elder Dragoman, Archimandrite Matthaios, on the eve of our Epiphany this year, without disrupting the Status Quo.

Furthermore, the initiative of Your Beatitude for the conservation of the wood carvings of the Catholicon of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has continued with unwavering interest. These carvings are being sent to Greece through the Artis company, and they are expected to arrive soon to be installed in their proper place for the full decoration of the Catholicon.

Similarly, Your Beatitude’s initiative for the preservation and safeguarding of the treasures of the Patriarchate continues with the preparation of a museum in the house of the blessed Patriarch Diodoros, in the old Library, and in the newly constructed supplementary building above it, for the Archives. This building, like the old one, houses a rich and valuable collection of archival material from the period of the Ottoman Empire, which is being organised by the skilled icon and book conservator from Cyprus, Mr. Stavros Andreou, and experts from Russia. This work has generated interest and financial support, including the recently visiting Minister of Culture of Greece, Mrs Lina Mendoni, who also visited the Holy Monastery of the Holy Cross. She was impressed by the ongoing preservation work of the precious old manuscripts of the renowned library of the School of the Holy Cross and the preparations for the upcoming Theological Studies Centre.                     

From this Monastery’s grounds, the commencement will also take place, following the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, of the upcoming events in the Patriarchate’s Hall. These will include lectures by professors regarding the completion of 1700 years since the convening of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, and the significance of this Council in the Spirit-filled formulation of the Nicene Creed as the doctrinal backbone of the Church.

Among the many benefactions of Your Beatitude to the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre and our Patriarchate, worthy of remembrance is the initiative under Your patronage for the mobilisation of the local Christian Churches to collaborate in supporting and assisting the Christians of the Holy Land. In this context, a joint Message from the Churches is issued before each celebration of Christmas or Pascha, or in cases requiring support for the Christians of the Holy Land, to inform and mobilise diplomatic representatives of various nations. This is done so that, through their advocacy with the relevant governmental services or military authorities, the necessary access permits to Jerusalem, the holy city and cradle of Christianity, can be granted.

The most significant of these meetings recently took place at the Patriarchate, between the leaders of the Churches and diplomatic representatives of various countries. Following this meeting, a joint communiqué from the Church leaders was issued in support of the protection of Christians and all residents of Gaza, in the wake of the devastation, and the continuation of humanitarian efforts at the Sacred Monastery of Saint Porphyrios, as well as at other monastic and hospital institutions of the Latin and Anglican Christian Churches.           

Also worthy of mention are the efforts of Your Most Blessed Eminence towards the Ministry of the Interior of Israel, in obtaining residence visas for the Fathers of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, who serve in the Patriarchate’s representations abroad. These visas are granted in accordance with the number of years they have resided in Israel, as well as the granting of visas for the theology students of the Zion School. In these efforts, Your Beatitude was assisted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece and the Greek General Consulate here.

The aforementioned, Your Eminence, are but a few excerpts from the rich field of Your pastoral and Patriarchal activities, referred to in “the boasting in Christ” by us, the members of the Brotherhood and the faithful flock of the Patriarchate. These efforts contribute to the continuation of our Apostolic mission, a mission divinely entrusted to the Mother of the Churches of Zion, so that, in obedience to Christ, we might together strive for the accomplishment of good works, resulting in the praise of our Patriarchate and the glory of God.

In this spirit, I lift my glass in a toast, in the name of the Holy and Sacred Synod and the entire Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, praying for many more years of health and purity, a firm Patriarchal governance, guided by the heavenly enlightenment of the Holy Spirit for the edification of the Body of Christ, the Church, the praise of our blessed nation, and the glory of the Triune God. Amen.”

Then the General Consul’s address as follows:

“Your Beatitude,

It is with great honour and joy that I extend to you my heartfelt congratulations and warmest wishes on your Name Day on behalf of the Hellenic Republic and myself personally, wishing you good health, a long life, and success in your high mission. As we celebrate this day under challenging circumstances for the Holy Land and its broader region, we also express our appreciation and sincere gratitude for your tireless efforts in the pursuit of peace, dialogue, and moderation, which continue to serve as a guiding light in these dark times.

Please also accept my personal thanks for the always generous hospitality and reception you have shown, your counsel, and our cooperation for the mutual benefit of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Hellenic Republic, for which the preservation of the rights of the Church of Jerusalem and the Christian presence and heritage in the Holy Land remains a priority of historic proportions.

We are facing extremely serious challenges and dramatic developments, as the end of the conflict seems distant and the humanitarian crisis worsens. Its consequences are also affecting the vulnerable Christian communities of the Middle East. Greece deeply respects your pastoral work and your tireless efforts on behalf of your long-suffering flock, as well as for the benefit of other people. In particular, your unwavering care for the Christian community of Gaza and the Monastery of Saint Porphyrios, whose protection and support we will continue to assist with, is greatly recognised.

We also deeply respect the painstaking work of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in promoting unity and cooperation among the Christian Churches, as well as for the peaceful coexistence of the three monotheistic religions, against intolerance and fanaticism. Greece fully recognises the importance of this work and will continue to offer its support and rally its partners in this direction.

On the occasion of today’s feast, allow me also to express my admiration and appreciation, Your Beatitude, for the vital renovation work you have undertaken and continue to advance, despite the increased challenges and adversities.

For Greece, the preservation of the rights and legacy of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the strengthening of its prestige and influence, and the protection of the holy shrines in the Holy Land remain high priorities. The commitment of the Hellenic Government to this cause, as well as the trust it places in your work, is evidenced by the recent visits of the Minister of Culture, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, during which detailed and, I believe, very productive discussions were held on further enhancing and organising our cooperation and the practical support of the Hellenic Republic to the Patriarchate. Please accept our deepest appreciation for these. The progress being made, thanks to your tireless efforts, in the restoration of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the conservation of the manuscripts and relics of the Patriarchate, the creation of a higher studies centre at the Monastery of the Holy Cross, and in other areas, will continue to receive the full support of Greece.

Together with my colleagues at the Consulate General of Greece in Jerusalem, I wish you, Your Beatitude, many happy and blessed years.”

Others also spoke, as seen in the heartfelt reply of His Beatitude, as follows:

“Let all those that seek thee, O God, rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified” (Psalm 69:5, KJV). Thus speaks the Psalmist. 

          Your Excellency, General Consul of Greece, Mr. Dimitrios Angelosopoulos,

          Revered Holy Fathers and Brothers,

          Devout Christians and Pilgrims,

Today, as light shines forth in the dwelling place of God, in His holy city Jerusalem, the annual commemoration of the divine assembly of the Forty Holy Martyrs and their fellow martyr Theophilos is celebrated.

These holy martyrs, “being perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10, KJV), loved and sought “the salvation of God,” that is, the Lord and Saviour Christ, singing and saying, “Let the Lord be magnified” (Psalm 69:5). Therefore, St. Basil the Great, praising their martyrdom for the light of Christ, states: “It is not one person alone that we marvel at, nor merely two… but forty men, having one soul in separated bodies, possessing one and the same fervour and unanimity of faith, showing one and the same endurance in the face of suffering and the steadfast opposition for the truth.”

The Forty Martyrs became imitators of the First-Martyr Stephen, following the faithful and unwavering martyr (cf. Acts 3:14), Christ, whose cross and martyrdom established the Church: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32), as the Evangelist John testifies. The Church, being the “Body of Christ,” and the bodies of Christians being the members of Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:15), is called to offer the witness of blood for the salvation of mankind.

The very Lord Jesus Christ foretells to His three closest disciples that they will follow Him in His martyrdom (cf. Mark 10:39), and to all He reveals that “except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24).

“The blessed Forty Martyrs offer this abundant fruit to the Church of Christ through the blood of their martyrdom, thereby proclaiming the mystery of godliness, that is, the divine Providence, as the divine Paul proclaims, saying: ‘Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.’ (2 Timothy 3:12, KJV). And this is so because, according to the words of the Lord, ‘For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?’ (Mark 8:36, KJV).

Interpreting these words, the learned Origen says: “For the soul, created in the image of God, is more precious than all bodies. Only one can provide a ransom for the soul that was lost before, the One who bought us with His precious blood.” Similarly, Clement of Rome teaches, saying: “Through the blood of the Lord, redemption will be for all those who believe and hope in God.”

This redemption was attained by the holy martyrs, “kindled in the blood of God,” in the expression of Saint Ignatius, “because Christ once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18, KJV), as the Apostle Peter says. 

Commenting on this passage of Peter, the Ecumenical Teacher highlights the deeper meaning of martyrdom for the salvation of mankind, saying: “The divine Peter also shows the active and powerful effect of the suffering which Christ underwent once. For, as he says, such was the power of the suffering of Christ for humanity, that even though many of their sins were upon them, one single passion of the Lord was enough to overcome all the power of our own sins.”

“This very abatement (weakening) of the power of our sins is exemplified by our Holy Church through the festive remembrance of the renowned Forty Martyrs, whose hymnographer, Saint John of Damascus, sings the words of St. Basil the Great: ‘Boldly bearing the present hardships, rejoicing in the hoped-for rewards, the Holy Martyrs said to one another: For we are not stripping off a garment, but putting off the old man. Bitter is the winter, but sweet is the Paradise; painful is the freezing, but delightful is the enjoyment. Let us not therefore turn back, O fellow soldiers; let us endure a little, that we may take up the crowns of victory, which Christ our God and Saviour of our souls will give us.’

A particularly distinguishing characteristic of the Forty Holy Martyrs is that, on one hand, they received the “Christ-bearing calling,” and on the other hand, they were revealed as “ambassadors of the Church.” And this is so because “there are no words or speech, the voice of which is not heard; their sound went into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world” (Psalm 18:4-5, KJV), as the Psalmist says. According to St. Basil the Great, the holy martyrs, “with a free voice, boldly and courageously, having no fear of what they saw, nor overwhelmed by the threats, declared themselves Christians.”

The “free voice” declaration of the holy Forty Martyrs and their fellow martyr Theophilos that they were Christians holds particular significance, as it relates to the God-inspired scriptural spirit of the great Fathers and Teachers of the Church, which is grounded in the preaching of the divine Paul, who says: “For ye have been called unto liberty, brethren,” that is, Christians (cf. Galatians 5:13). Therefore, the divinely inspired Paul commands, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1, KJV).

“This most precious feast of the holy Forty Martyrs and especially of their fellow martyr Theophilos, whose venerable name is also borne by Our Mediocrity, constitutes, according to St. Athanasius the Great, ‘a type of the heavenly joy,’ that is, the heavenly joy of the Angels. And this is because those who loved Christ and became partakers of His salvific blood ‘have passed from death unto life’ (cf. 1 John 3:14), and this life is Christ, who said: ‘I am the resurrection and the life’ (John 11:25). To Him who has risen in faith, namely to Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith, the victorious Martyrs, beholding Him, followed His example, enduring His suffering. Let us listen, in this regard, to the martyr of Christ’s love, Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, saying: ‘Lord God… the Father of Your blessed Son, Jesus Christ… I bless You, because You have deemed me worthy of this day and hour, to take my part among the number of Your martyrs, in the cup of Christ, for the resurrection of eternal life, of both soul and body, in the incorruption of the Holy Spirit.’

The holy Church of Jerusalem, with joy and gladness, celebrates the sacred memory of the holy Forty Martyrs, performing in this very place of the redemptive blood, that is, in the place of the Crucifixion, the Three-Day Burial, and the Resurrection of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the mystical blessing, the divine, that is, Eucharistic and bloodless Sacrifice; with Our Mediocrity presiding and surrounded by the choir of the precious members of the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, together with us in prayer, along with the devout pilgrims and Christians of our suffering and pious flock.

Furthermore, we have offered a thanksgiving Doxology to the Holy Triune God for those named after the holy martyr Theophilos, in our venerable Name Days; and ‘we have blessed – according to the holy martyr Polycarp of Smyrna – our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of our souls and the governor of our bodies, and the Shepherd of the Catholic Church throughout the world.’

“We pray for the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Orthodox Church throughout the world, to the beloved Prelates and brothers in Christ of the local Churches, so that we may cooperate for the healing of the disturbed fellowship and unity of the Churches, following the exhortation of the wise Paul, ‘Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace’ (Eph. 4:3), and according to the divine example of the Holy Forty Martyrs, which is presented by the great Father of the Church, Basil, who says: ‘The human race is each different from one another, but the spiritual race is one in all. For their common Father is God, and all are brothers, not born of one man or one woman, but made sons through the adoption of the Spirit, united together in the harmony of love.’

And according to Saint James the Brother of the Lord, the first Hierarch of Jerusalem, whose successor we have become by the grace of God, ‘For where envy and strife are, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy’ (James 3:16-17).

Let us seek and pursue this peaceful, unprejudiced, and sincere wisdom of the Lord, particularly amid the self-control of the holy fast of the blessed and Great Lent, so that by the prayers of our Most Blessed Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, along with the supplications of the Holy Forty Martyrs and their fellow martyr Theophilos, and by the power of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, we may be found worthy to reach the bright Resurrection of our God and Saviour of our souls in repentance and peace.”

And in addition to these, we call upon all those who have prayed with us and honored this feast, the joyful celebration of the Holy Forty Martyrs and their fellow martyr Theophilos, to receive the power from on high, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the grace of the Holy Sepulchre, expressing our warm gratitude also to those who have addressed us: the Elder Chief Secretary, His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, , who has recently recovered, and spoken on behalf of the venerable members of the Holy and Sacred Synod and our Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood; to His Excellency the General Consul of Greece, Mr Dimitrios Angelosopoulos; to the Reverend Archimandrite Vassianos, representative of the sister Holy Church of Russia, who relayed to us the prayers of His Beatitude Patriarch Cyril of Moscow; to the Reverend Archimandrite Theophilos, representative of the sister Holy Church of Romania, who conveyed to us the prayers of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania; to His Eminence Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth,  who spoke on behalf of our faithful flock in Nazareth; to His Eminence Metropolitan Benedictos of Diocaesarea, who spoke on behalf of our faithful flock in Bethlehem; to His Eminence Archbishop Damaskinos of Yaffo, who spoke on behalf of our faithful flock in Yaffo; to  His Emince Archbishop Aristovoulos of Madaba, who spoke on behalf of the Beersheba Community and our Russian-speaking flock; to the Professor of the Theological School of the University of Athens, Mr. Spyridon Tsitsigos, to the Director of the Arabic-speaking Schools of the Patriarchate, Dr. Onte Kawaas; to the Venerable Archimandrite Raphael, who spoke on behalf of our faithful flock in Jordan; to the Honorable Fr. Farah Bandour, who spoke on behalf of the Cathedral of Saint James the Brother of the Lord; to the Reverend Archimandrite Ignatios, who spoke on behalf of the community of Beit Jala and all those who have participated in this celebration.

To the health of all of you!”

At noon, a festive Lenten monastic banquet took place.

From the Secretariat-General

Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem