From the Secretariat-General, Πατριαρχείο Ιεροσολύμων
On Monday, the 7th/20th of June 2016, Monday
of the Holy Spirit, the divine Liturgy was performed at the Church of
Dormition of Theotokos, led by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of
Jerusalem, with Hagiotaphite Archimandrites Christophoros and Ieronymos
co-officiating. The Most Reverend Primates, Priests and laymen of the
Delegation of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and of other Churches
participating in the Synod concelebrated.
After the service, the opening Session of the Holy and Great Synod of
Orthodoxy began in the events hall of the Orthodox Academy of Crete, in
the presence of the former king of Bulgaria, Simeon, and observers from
other Christian Churches.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew first addressed the Session,
followed by reply-addresses from the Heads of Churches, who pointed out
the necessity of this particular Synod for communication between the
Orthodox Churches and for sending out a strong Christian testament to
their flocks and the world.
In His address, Patriarch Theophilos remarked on the fact that
participants in the deliberations of the Holy and Great Synod overcame
distances, obstacles and differences in order to seal their synodic
collaboration for the support and salvation of their congregations and
for attesting to peace, conciliation and unity in a world tormented by
economic crisis, the immigration problem and crimes of unprecedented and
harsh violence, a world in need of life, namely Christ the Lord.
“The Church of Jerusalem” went on Patriarch Theophilos,
“has unwaveringly been in favour of the Synod, participating with
representatives in all stages of the long preparation that included Pan-Orthodox
Conventions, Inter-Orthodox Committees, Pre-Synodic Conventions and
Gatherings of the Heads of Churches. So does it participate here today
through Our Mediocrity and Entourage, bringing its fraternal embrace
from the Holy Cave, the Horrendous Golgotha, the Most Holy Sepulchre and
the Pentecost Cenacle, together with the agony of Christians in the
Holy Land and the Middle East, who are guarded by the Most Holy
Shrines”.
Patriarch Theophilos also referred to the absolutely necessary and
important work of conservation, protection and restoration of the
Aedicula of the Holy Sepulchre, in collaboration with the Franciscans
and the Patriarchate of the Armenians in Jerusalem, on the basis of a
project conducted by the NTUA. “Costs have been estimated to more
than four million euros and are expected to be met by donations from
Churches, States, Organizations and private citizens”, Patriarch Theophilos pointed out and went on to extend wishes for the fruition of the Synod’s deliberations.
At noon, the Heads of Churches and their Entourages were hosted to
lunch by the Orthodox Academy of Crete, whilst in the afternoon the
Synod discussed the text entitled “The Mission of the Church in the
contemporary world”.