Theophilos III (known in the world as Elias Giannopoulos, his parents, Panagiotes-Triseugenia) was born in Gargalianes of the County of Triphylia-Messinia, in 1952.
He arrived in Jerusalem in July 1964 and enrolled at the School of the Patriarchate, graduating in 1970. On June 28, 1970 he was tonsured a monk, receiving the name Theophilos, by Benedictos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the Great Hall of the Patriarchate.
On the 1st of July 1970, according to the Synod’s decision, he was ordained Deacon in the Holy Golgotha by Archbishop Vasilios of Jordan, and served in the Holy Church of the Resurrection.
Later, he served as the Patriarch’s Deacon. On the 1st of July 1975, he was ordained Priest at the Holy Golgotha by Diodoros, Archbishop of Hierapolis. According to the Synod’s decision (27-02-1975) he was sent to Athens, to pursue higher education at the Theological Faculty.
On February 21, 1978 he was bestowed the office of Archimandrite. Having completed his studies, he returned to Jerusalem and was appointed Chief Secretary of the Secretariat of the Patriarchate, as well as Teacher at the Patriarchal School, and Supervisor at the holy monastery of St. Charalambos (12-10-1979).
On 02-05-1981 he was elected member of the overseeing committee of the magazine “New Sion”.
On 22-12-1981 he was sent to England to pursue post-graduate education at Durham University. Having successfully completed his studies, he returned to Jerusalem and was appointed Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod (12-08-1986), responsible for the Press and Information Office of the Patriarchate, as well as member of the School Board.
On 31-10-1986 he was the representative of the Patriarchate to the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches and took part in the 7th General Assembly of W.C.C. in Canberra, Australia.
From 1991 to 1996 he served as Abbot at Kana. In 1997 he was appointed member of the Judicial Committee and in the same year he was sent to Qatar. On 27-09-2000 he was elected to the Holy and Sacred Synod.
In September 2001 he was appointed Patriarchal Commissioner in Moscow. In July 2003 he was reappointed person in charge in Qatar. On 08-06-2004 he was appointed to serve as member of the Ecclesiastical Court and in September of the same year as Elder Sacristan of the Holy Church of the Resurrection.
On 14-02-2005 he was elected and ordained Archbishop of Tabor. On 9/22-08-2005 he was unanimously elected Patriarch of the ancient Patriarchate of Jerusalem, by the Holy and Sacred Synod.
According to basilica.ro, his enthronement took place on 9th /22nd November 2005 at the Holy Church of the Resurrection, in the presence of representatives from all Orthodox Churches, as well as from the Jordanian Government and the Palestinian Authority, and by Karolos Papoulias, the President of the Republic of Greece, and the Representative of the Emir of Qatar.
