Between Wednesday, 126th March 2025 and Saturday, 29th March 2025, Patriarch John I of Antioch and All the East officially visited the Emirate of Qatar and the Archdiocese of Qatar. Patriarch John I arrived at Hamad International Airport in Doha at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 26th March 2025, where he was welcomed by Archbishop Makarios of Qatar.
On Thursday, 27th March 2025, Patriarch John I, accompanied by His entourage, including Metropolitan Athanasius of Laodicea, Archimandrite Porphyrios, and Deacon Hilarion, was received by His Highness Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani at the Lusail Palace.
During the meeting, Patriarch John I expressed his desire to His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, requesting that he visit the Holy Church of St. Isaac the Syriac, St. George the Trophy-bearer, and St. Makarios of Jerusalem.
Following this, Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine informed Archbishop Makarios of Qatar about this forthcoming visit of the Patriarch of Antioch, to defend and protect the suffering flock in Syria and his visit to the Cathedral of Doha.
On Friday, 28th March 2025, Patriarch John I and his entourage arrived at the area of the churches, where he was received by Archbishop Makarios and the clergy and people at the entrance of the Holy Church. This was followed by the Patriarchal Vespers and the service of the Fourth Stasis of the Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, with the prayerful participation of the congregation, and in the presence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus, Andreas Nikolaidis.
At the end of the service, Archbishop Makarios addressed His Beatitude, expressing the joy, love, and respect of both himself and the flock for this historic visit.
In turn, His Beatitude expressed his gratitude for this visit to the Cathedral of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem to His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, emphasizing the fraternal bond and path of the two ancient Churches of the Patriarchates of Jerusalem and Antioch, seeking prayers and support for the Christians of the Middle East during this difficult period.
sFollowing this, appropriate gifts were exchanged, with His Beatitude offering a pastoral staff to His Eminence and His Eminence presenting an icon of St. Isaac the Syrian to His Beatitude, as well as icons and souvenirs from the Holy Archdiocese of Qatar for the members of his entourage.
After the reception in the Reception Hall and the interaction between His Beatitude and the faithful, His Eminence hosted a dinner for Patriarch John I, his entourage, and representatives of the Orthodox Communities of the Archdiocese.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
