Patriarch Theophilos III Name Day Celebrated Amidst Holy Land Conflict – 2026

Jerusalem – The Name Day of His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem, was celebrated on Saturday, March 21, 2026, after being moved one day earlier due to the commemoration of the Holy Forty Martyrs on March 22nd. The observance honored Saint Theophilos, one of the forty martyrs who perished in Lake Sebasteia in Pontus under the Roman Emperor Licinius.

Due to the ongoing conflict, the traditional celebration within the Church of the Resurrection was not possible. Instead, the commemoration took place in the Patriarchal and Monastic Church of Saints Constantine and Helen. Vespers were held the preceding evening, presided over by His Beatitude, with the participation of Holy Sepulchre Hierarchs and Fathers. The Divine Liturgy followed on Saturday morning, again led by Theophilos III and concelebrated by Metropolitans Kyriakos of Nazareth and Hesychios of Capitolias, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, and Archmandrites Alexios, Symeon, and Ioan, representing the Patriarchates of Romania and Russia, along with Archdeacon Mark and Hierodeacon Prodromos.

The service was attended by a limited number of faithful, including Greek Consul General in Jerusalem, Dimitrios Angelosopoulos, and Consul Mantika, who were able to overcome the challenges posed by the current war conditions. Following the Divine Liturgy, a Doxology was offered in honor of the Patriarch’s Name Day.

A procession then moved to the Patriarchate Great Hall, where congratulatory addresses were delivered. Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, speaking on behalf of the Holy Synod and the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood, highlighted the continued function of conservation and structural reinforcement within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, including the preservation of its historic gate and the ongoing restoration of the Grotto of Bethlehem, adhering to the established Status Quo of the Holy Places. He likewise noted structural work at the Cathedral Church of Saint James the Brother of the Lord and the recent construction of a vaulted covering for the chapel of the Myrrh-bearing Women.

Archbishop Aristarchos further detailed renovations to the former Girls’ School of the Patriarchate, now a kindergarten, and the former Seminary School of Saint Demetrios, which operates as a secondary school and lyceum, supported financially by the Patriarchate. He also emphasized the ongoing cataloging and classification of the Patriarchate’s archival documents and treasures, overseen by Cypriot conservator Stavros Andreou. The Archbishop acknowledged the Patriarchate’s continued efforts to receive and spiritually guide pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, and other Orthodox countries, and to support the local Christian community during the war.

Consul General Angelosopoulos affirmed the Hellenic Republic’s steadfast commitment to supporting the Patriarchate and the Brotherhood in their guardianship of the holy sites, citing recent visits by Greek officials and cooperation in restoration projects, including work at the Catholicon of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Grotto of the Nativity. He also acknowledged the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict and praised the Patriarchate’s role in promoting reason, compassion, and peace.

In his address, His Beatitude Theophilos III referenced the example of the Forty Martyrs, emphasizing their courage and steadfast endurance as a source of strength during the current crisis. He acknowledged the limitations imposed by the war, particularly the inability to celebrate in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and expressed gratitude for the prayers and support of the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood, hierarchs, clergy, and faithful. He also thanked those who offered congratulatory addresses, including Archbishop Aristarchos, Consul General Angelosopoulos, and representatives from the Russian and Romanian Orthodox Churches, as well as local dignitaries and organizations.