Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem
Encyclopedia
Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem (born: 1952 - Ilias Giannopoulos, Ηλίας Γιαννόπουλος) is the current Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem
. He is styled "Patriarch
of the Holy City of Jerusalem and all Israel
, Syria
, beyond the Jordan River, Cana
of Galilee
, and Holy Zion
."
Theophilos (also spelled Theofilos or Theophilus) was elected by the Holy Synod of Jerusalem
as the 141st primate
of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem on 22 August 2005, confirmed by the pan-Orthodox Synod of Constantinople
. The election was endorsed by Jordan
on 24 September 2005, as one of the three governments whose endorsement is required. He was enthroned on 22 November 2005, despite Israel
i objection. Theophilos had previously petitioned the Israeli government for recognition of the election.
Theophilos was elected unanimously by Jerusalem's Holy Synod
to succeed the deposed, Irenaios I
. Theophilos is regarded as having been more favorable to his deposed predecessor, which may assist him in bringing stability to the troubled patriarchate as Irenaios's supporters may thus unite around him and make peace with the synod. Upon his election, Theophilos said, "In the last few months we have had a lot of problems but with the help of God
we will overcome them."http://www.cjp.org/content_display.html?ArticleID=161070
Theophilos was formerly the Archbishop
of Tabor
.
, Greece
in 1952. His name at birth was Ilias Giannopoulos. In 1964, Ilias moved to Jerusalem.
He served as archdeacon
for then-patriarch Benediktos (Benedict I). From 1991 to 1996, he was a priest
in Cana in Galilee
, which had a predominantly Israeli Arab Christian community, there he also formed a society called "Nour al Masih" ("Light of Christ") to spread the Orthodox Christian faith throughout the region.
Theophilos studied theology
at the University of Athens and went on to complete a master's degree
in Durham
. He has studied at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Besides his native Greek
, he also speaks English
, Arabic
and Hebrew.
In 1996, he was one of the first Christian
clergymen in centuries to make an opening into the closed Wahhabi Islamic society of Qatar
, an area historically under the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem where many Israeli Arab migrant workers live today, a considerable number of them Orthodox Christians. He subsequently served as Exarch
of the Holy Sepulchre in Qatar
.
From 2000 to 2003, he was church envoy to the Patriarchate of Moscow but mostly steered clear of Moscow, where the Patriarchate has an established metochion
.
Before becoming patriarch, Theophilos served for a short time as the Archbishop
of Tabor, consecrated to the episcopacy by Irenaios in February 2005.
He was officially enthroned as Patriarch of Jerusalem and Israel on November 22, 2005. Delegates from all of the Orthodox Churches
as well as high secular dignitaries were in attendance, including the President of Greece
, and senior officials representing the governments of Palestinian National Authority
, Jordan
and Qatar
, as well as diplomats and military officials.
His Most Godly Beatitude, the Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and all Israel, Syria, Arabia, beyond the Jordan River, Cana of Galilee, and Holy Zion, Theophilus III;
in Greek:
Η Αυτού Θειοτάτη Μακαριότης, ο Πατριάρχης της Αγίας Πόλεως Ιερουσαλήμ και πάσης Παλαιστίνης, Συρίας, Αραβίας, Πέραν του Ιορδάνου, Κανά της Γαλιλαίας και Αγίας Σιών, Θεόφιλος Γ'
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem
The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem is the head bishop of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, ranking fourth of nine Patriarchs in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Since 2005, the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem has been Theophilos III...
. He is styled "Patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
of the Holy City of Jerusalem and all Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, beyond the Jordan River, Cana
Cana
In the Christian New Testament, the Gospel of John refers a number of times to a town called Cana of Galilee.-The marriage at Cana:Among Christians and other students of the New Testament, Cana is best known as the place where, according to the Fourth Gospel, Jesus performed his first public...
of Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
, and Holy Zion
Zion
Zion is a place name often used as a synonym for Jerusalem. The word is first found in Samuel II, 5:7 dating to c.630-540 BCE...
."
Theophilos (also spelled Theofilos or Theophilus) was elected by the Holy Synod of Jerusalem
Holy Synod of Jerusalem
The Holy Synod of Jerusalem is the senior ruling body of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulcher.The Synod consists of 18 members nominated by the Patriarch in a session of the Holy Synod itself...
as the 141st primate
Primate (religion)
Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem on 22 August 2005, confirmed by the pan-Orthodox Synod of Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. The election was endorsed by Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
on 24 September 2005, as one of the three governments whose endorsement is required. He was enthroned on 22 November 2005, despite Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i objection. Theophilos had previously petitioned the Israeli government for recognition of the election.
Theophilos was elected unanimously by Jerusalem's Holy Synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
to succeed the deposed, Irenaios I
Patriarch Irenaios
Irenaios Skopelitis was the 140th patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem from 2001 to 2005, though the dismissal was disputed...
. Theophilos is regarded as having been more favorable to his deposed predecessor, which may assist him in bringing stability to the troubled patriarchate as Irenaios's supporters may thus unite around him and make peace with the synod. Upon his election, Theophilos said, "In the last few months we have had a lot of problems but with the help of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
we will overcome them."http://www.cjp.org/content_display.html?ArticleID=161070
Theophilos was formerly the Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Tabor
Tabor
-Places:* Mount Tabor * Tábor, Czech Republic** Taborite, member of a 15th century Czech religious group considered heretical by the Roman Catholic Church* Tabor, Slovenia, town and municipality...
.
Biography
Theophilos was born in Messinia, PeloponnesePeloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in 1952. His name at birth was Ilias Giannopoulos. In 1964, Ilias moved to Jerusalem.
He served as archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
for then-patriarch Benediktos (Benedict I). From 1991 to 1996, he was a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in Cana in Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
, which had a predominantly Israeli Arab Christian community, there he also formed a society called "Nour al Masih" ("Light of Christ") to spread the Orthodox Christian faith throughout the region.
Theophilos studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the University of Athens and went on to complete a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
. He has studied at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Besides his native Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, he also speaks English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
and Hebrew.
In 1996, he was one of the first Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
clergymen in centuries to make an opening into the closed Wahhabi Islamic society of Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
, an area historically under the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem where many Israeli Arab migrant workers live today, a considerable number of them Orthodox Christians. He subsequently served as Exarch
Exarch
In the Byzantine Empire, an exarch was governor with extended authority of a province at some remove from the capital Constantinople. The prevailing situation frequently involved him in military operations....
of the Holy Sepulchre in Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
.
From 2000 to 2003, he was church envoy to the Patriarchate of Moscow but mostly steered clear of Moscow, where the Patriarchate has an established metochion
Metochion
In Eastern Orthodoxy, a metochion is an ecclesiastical embassy church, usually from one autocephalous or autonomous church to another. The term is also used to refer to a parish representation of a monastery or a patriarch....
.
Before becoming patriarch, Theophilos served for a short time as the Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Tabor, consecrated to the episcopacy by Irenaios in February 2005.
He was officially enthroned as Patriarch of Jerusalem and Israel on November 22, 2005. Delegates from all of the Orthodox Churches
Eastern Orthodox Church organization
This article covers the organization of the Eastern Orthodox Churches rather than the doctrines, traditions, practices, or other aspects of Eastern Orthodoxy...
as well as high secular dignitaries were in attendance, including the President of Greece
President of Greece
The President of the Hellenic Republic , colloquially referred to in English as the President of Greece, is the head of state of Greece. The office of the President of the Republic was established after the Greek republic referendum, 1974 and formally by the Constitution of Greece in 1975. The...
, and senior officials representing the governments of Palestinian National Authority
Palestinian National Authority
The Palestinian Authority is the administrative organization established to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip...
, Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
and Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
, as well as diplomats and military officials.
Titles
The official title of the Patriarch of Jerusalem is:His Most Godly Beatitude, the Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and all Israel, Syria, Arabia, beyond the Jordan River, Cana of Galilee, and Holy Zion, Theophilus III;
in Greek:
Η Αυτού Θειοτάτη Μακαριότης, ο Πατριάρχης της Αγίας Πόλεως Ιερουσαλήμ και πάσης Παλαιστίνης, Συρίας, Αραβίας, Πέραν του Ιορδάνου, Κανά της Γαλιλαίας και Αγίας Σιών, Θεόφιλος Γ'
External links
- The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem
- Theophilus III of Jerusalem, OrthodoxWiki article
- Athens News profile