Patriarch Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and all Palestine and Jordan, presided over a celebratory service and a Doxology marking 80 years of independence of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, amidst a solemn military presence and wide faithful participation.
The service was attended by a number of bishops and priests, as well as a contingent of members of the Jordanian Armed Forces and Public Security Directorate, including Brigadier General Dr. Issa Ghanma, representing the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Brigadier General Dr. Jamal Al-Jazi, representing the Director of Public Security.
In addition, Patriarch Theophilos III, participated in the Orthodox Church’s celebration of the 80th anniversary of the independence of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The event included a performance by the Orthodox Scout Band of the Kingdom and the active participation of members of the General Secretariat of Orthodox Youth. The grand national operetta “Jordan, Home of Love,” produced by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem as a gift to the beloved homeland.
The launching ceremony, which followed a grand celebratory prayer, was attended by Their Eminences the Metropolitans, distinguished guests, and military and official figures.
This artistic work is considered one of the largest national church productions in the Kingdom’s history. More than 300 volunteers participated in its creation, alongside a select group of Jordanian artists and musicians, blending in a visual and musical epic the national spirit with the historical and spiritual dimensions of Jordan as a land of peace and coexistence.
The operetta, produced under the direct supervision of Metropolitan Christophoros, featured lyrics and music by Professor Musa Al-Naber, musical arrangement by Maestro Murad Demirjian, and direction by Father Sophronius Hanna. Production management was handled by Issa Khoury, lighting and cinematography by Anas Al-Saqqa, and execution by the Orthodox Station in collaboration with the Jordan Youth Drama Association.
The operetta unfolded through several artistic tableaux, narrating significant moments from Jordan’s history and the heritage of its holy land. Among the most prominent of these is the painting “In the Glory of the Hashemites,” which embodied the highest meanings of pride in the historical Hashemite custodianship of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, within an integrated visual and musical vision that carried a message of love and belonging to Jordan, its leadership and its people.
Source: Patriarchate of Jeursalem
