The Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, awarded the Medal of the City of Athens to Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine.
This honour was granted in recognition of the Patriarch’s spiritual, peace-building, and charitable work.
Mayor Doukas stated: “Your presence in our city at this particular moment carries special symbolism, as it coincides with a period in which the Holy Lands are once again at the centre of international attention. In recent years, amid the turmoil of the war in Gaza, you have offered yet another lesson in humanity. You turned the historic Monastery of Saint Porphyrius into a refuge for civilians, providing protection, support, food, and essential supplies to those in need. However, your work is not limited to extraordinary wartime circumstances. Today, around 8,000 students attend the Patriarchate’s 20 schools in Jerusalem, Palestine, and Jordan. Just a few weeks ago, you opened the first Orthodox university in the Middle East in Jordan — a true investment in knowledge, dialogue, and future generations. At a time when fanaticism, intolerance, and division are threatening social cohesion, you have consistently promoted reconciliation, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence. You have helped build bridges between peoples, religions, and cultures, reminding us that understanding is always stronger than conflict. For all these reasons, it is my honour today to award you the Medal of the City of Athens.”
The Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine, Theophilos III, stated: “The Patriarchate of Jerusalem is the oldest ecclesiastical institution, and it was from here that the apostolic and evangelical preaching spread to the ends of the earth. To this day, it remains a living testimony to the encounter between Hellenic thought and the Christian faith.’ Throughout the centuries, the Church of Jerusalem, through its Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, has consistently protected the Holy Places where the Lord walked, was crucified, and rose again. This ministry is not only ecclesiastical, but also universal — a mission concerning all Christians worldwide, regardless of language, origin, or nationality.”
The Apostle Paul speaks of the “concern for all the Churches”. This is precisely the daily ministry of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem: caring for those who are suffering, such as the people of Gaza and those enduring the hardships of war; caring for the preservation of the Holy Sites and ensuring free access to them for all; and caring for the continuation of the Christian presence in the Holy Land and the broader Middle East.
For this reason, today’s honour moves us deeply. It is not being bestowed upon a single person, but upon the Church that we represent, and upon the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, which has served the Holy Places continuously for over seventeen centuries.”
The Municipality of Athens honoured Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine, in recognition of his outstanding spiritual, peace-building, and charitable work, which has made him a global beacon of solidarity and Christian love.
This recognition was awarded for:
- For his steadfast commitment to the universal values of justice and religious freedom in a fragile environment of regional conflicts;
- For his invaluable humanitarian contribution to Gaza and his tangible support for those affected by war;
- For his support of vulnerable groups, for providing medical care to sick children, and for his ongoing efforts to strengthen the educational institutions of the Patriarchate and its recently inaugurated university in Jordan.
- For his multifaceted efforts to safeguard the global Christian heritage and to preserve the historical Status Quo of the Holy Sites against geopolitical pressures
Visit of the Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine to the Athens City Hall
The visit of Patriarch Theophilos III to the Athens City Hall took place in an atmosphere of great honour and formality.
The Patriarch was welcomed at the main entrance by the Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, and the Athens Municipal Philharmonic Orchestra performed the customary honours. This was followed by a meeting in the mayor’s office attended by the patriarch’s accompanying delegation, including Metropolitan Hesychios of Capitolias, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Chief Secretary Archbishop Symeon of Sinai, Paran and Raithu, Archimandrite Ieronymos, exarch of the Holy Sepulchre, Archimandrite Christodoulos, secretary of the Holy Synod, Archdeacon Markos, and Bishop Barnabas of Christianoupolis, chief secretary of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens.
The Mayor of Athens presented the Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine, Theophilos III, with a gilded bronze replica of a 1676 Gospel cover dedicated to the Church of the Saviour in Adrianople. The cover depicts Christ as the Vine with the presence of Jesse, making it a work of particular historical and symbolic significance.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
