At the conclusion of his visit to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria visited the Orthodox Church of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple in the Sweifieh district of Amman, Jordan. Together with Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, he was welcomed at the church, where a brief prayer service was held.
The two Primates then visited the St Ignatius the God-Bearer Theological Centre, where they were acquainted with the Centre’s work and the various initiatives undertaken there. The ecclesiastical delegation subsequently proceeded in procession to the Church of St Nectarios of Aegina, where they venerated relics of the saint preserved in the church.
The formal reception continued at the premises of the Archdiocese, where Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, Chief Adviser to King Abdullah II for Religious and Cultural Affairs, and Deputy Prime Minister Muhannad Shehadeh joined those in attendance.
Archbishop Christophoros of Kyriakoupolis, Patriarchal Vicar in Amman, welcomed Patriarch Daniel and Patriarch Theophilos and shared his reflections on the mission of the Church in the contemporary world. He spoke about the activities and initiatives of the Archdiocese, noting that Christians in Jordan enjoy freedom and are able to live their spiritual lives in peace.
Archbishop Christophoros placed particular emphasis on the preparations being undertaken by the country for the celebrations marking the second millennium of the Baptism of the Lord, which will be commemorated in 2030.
Patriarch Daniel expressed his joy at having had the opportunity to be among the brethren of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which had shown him genuine hospitality and love throughout his irenic visit. He prayed that God would grant Patriarch Theophilos and Archbishop Christophoros strength, health and grace to continue their ministry for the benefit of the Church and society.
The Patriarch also stressed that Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad demonstrates genuine love through his deeds, supporting the Church and promoting pilgrimage and cultural tourism in the country.
At the conclusion of the reception, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem thanked Patriarch Daniel for making his first irenic visit to the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, describing it as a historic occasion not only for the Bulgarian Patriarchate but also for the ancient Church of Jerusalem. He conveyed his greetings to the clergy and faithful of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and expressed the hope that encounters and concelebrations between the two Local Churches would become increasingly frequent.
The Patriarch also visited the Bulgarian Embassy in Amman, where he met with Ambassador Metin Kazak and members of the diplomatic mission. The Ambassador briefed the Patriarch on events organised by the Embassy, as well as on its various activities aimed at promoting the Bulgarian language and culture.
The Patriarch then celebrated a service for the blessing of water and prayed that God would assist and guide the Bulgarian diplomatic mission in Jordan in all its endeavours. At the conclusion of the service, he presented the Embassy with a copy of the wonderworking icon of St George from the Hadzhidimovo Monastery.
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Present-day Amman is the ancient city of Philadelphia, one of the cities of the Decapolis. It received this name during the Hellenistic period in honour of the Egyptian ruler Ptolemy II Philadelphus. During the Roman period, the city flourished as an important administrative and commercial centre.
In the Christian era, ancient Philadelphia became established as an important episcopal see in the Roman province of Arabia. Its bishop, Cyrion, took part in the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in 325, while during the Byzantine period the city was adorned with numerous Christian churches, particularly in the fifth and sixth centuries.
