The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem met in Jerusalem, on Thursday, December 30, 2021, presided by Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem. Following are the decisions:
After raising the prayer and calling for the Holy Spirit, the Patriarch and the members of the Holy Synod expressed their thanks and gratitude to His Hashemite Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein for bestowing the Order of the State Centennial on Dec. 21, 2021, to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, represented by Patriarch Theophilos III, in recognition for the important historical and religious role of the Patriarchate in preserving the holy places, guarding coexistence, serving the Christian presence, and embodying the Hashemite Custodianship in Jerusalem.
In addition, the Synod expressed their gratitude to His Majesty for bestowing the same decoration on the Council of Church Leaders in Jordan, in appreciation for the important spiritual and social role that the members of the Council are doing in embodying the unity of the position of the Kingdom’s churches as well as representing the interests of the Kingdom and their communities, whereby the Order of the State Centennial was received by Archbishop Christophoros on behalf the members of the Council.
In addition, the members of Holy Synod recalled the Order of the State Centennial that was granted on May 25, 2021, to the late Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem Venedictos I, for the establishment of the modern procedures of the Patriarchate and its courts, to govern and rule in accordance with the 1958 Jordanian law of all denominations and churches, which is still valid until today.
The Patriarch also discussed with the members of the Synod several cases concerning the administration, ecclesiastical and congregation affairs, and took the following decisions:
The Appointment of Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias as General Patriarchal Deputy.
Approval of the following ordinations:
1- In Jerusalem:
The ordination of the monk Dositheos, as Deacon
2- In Jordan:
The ordination of the monk Porphyrios Barham, as Deacon
The ordination of the spiritual son Osama Salman Salim Marji, as Deacon
The ordination of the spiritual son Tariq Freih Ilyas Swiess, as Deacon
At the end of the Synod meeting, the Patriarch and the members of the Holy Synod extended the heartfelt greetings, at this holy and blessed season, to all the clergymen and to the children in the congregations and the Patriarchal see and to all the world.
Raising their prayers to the Ιncarnate Lord born in the manger in Bethlehem and appearing in the river Jordan, for the peace of the world and to preserve us from all distress and troubles, dispelling the scourge of the epidemic, wishing everyone a new year full of goodness and blessings, through the intercessions of the Most Holy Virgin Mary and by the grace of the Life-giving Holy Sepulchre and all the Saints.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
