On Thursday evening, December 19, 2019, day of the commemoration of St. Nicholaos, the Rum Orthodox Arab-speaking Community of Fuheis, a town near Amman of Jordan, held a ceremony of the Christmas tree lighting.
This very well-organised ceremony by the Mayoralty of Fuheis and the Hegoumen Archimandrite Ieronymos with the Priests, commissioners and other associates of his, took place at the specially prepared courtyard of the City Hall.
Present at the ceremony were members of the Parliament of Jordan, while the Mayor of Fuheis Jamil Hatar and the member of Parliament Faouzi Dawud welcomed the Patriarch and underlined the importance of the Patriarchate’s mission to support Christianity in Jordan and its peaceful coexistence with its Muslim counterparts.
Patriarch Theophilos arrived from Jerusalem for this reason, escorted by Geronda Secretary-General Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, and was welcomed by a large crowd of people, motorcyclists and the Patriarchal Commissioner in Amman Archbishop Christophoros of Kyriakoupolis.
The Patriarch lit up the beautifully decorated Christmas tree, wishing a joyful period of the Twelve Days and a happy and peaceful New Year for the Royal Family, the Government of Jordan, the Community of the Patriarchate in Fuheis and all the Christian Communities and all the flock of Jordan, along with all other people of Jordan and also thanked for the donation to the Patriarchate of 10 acres of land for the construction of a new Holy Church.
The Mayoralty of Fuheis on this occasion offered the Patriarch honorary plaque. After this festive ceremony at the City Hall area, Theophilos visited the Holy Church of St. George of the Patriarchate, the Christian bazaar, lit up the Christmas tree of the Rum Orthodox Church and attended supper which was offered for many by the Rum Orthodox Military Doctor Abu-Omar-Mahamre.
Source: Jerusalem Patriarchate
