Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II Visited Holy Land

OCP News Service – Syriac Patriarchate – 11/05/2023

Holy Land- Jerusalem: His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II of Antioch, the Primate of the Syrian Orthodox Church visited Holy Land from 4th May 2023 to 9th May 2023. Patriarch Aphrem II was received at the Khalil gate in the Holy Land by His Eminence Archbishop Mor Anthimos Jack Yakoub, (Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem, Jordan, and the Holy Land of Syrian Orthodox Church) and delegations from representatives of the Christian churches from the Holy Land on 4th May 2023. Then, Patriarch entered the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where he kissed the Stone of Anointing and entered the tomb of the Lord Christ, and prayed. Later that day he arrived at the St. Mark Patriarchal Monastery in Jerusalem. 

On 05th May 2023, His Holiness Patriarch  Ignatius Aphrem II conducted the service of the Installation of His Eminence Mor Anthimos Jack Yakoub, Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem, Jordan, and the Holy Land, at St. Mark Monastery in Jerusalem. The service included a procession where two archbishops escorted the new Archbishop among the people. Then the sustatikon, or the commendation letter, was read proclaiming Mor Anthimos Jack Yakoub, to be the Archbishop Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem, Jordan, and the Holy Land. His Eminence Mor Anthimos Jack Yakoub delivered a message where he thanked the Lord for his new responsibility and asked for discernment and wisdom so he can lead the flock to holiness. On the feast day of St. George the Martyr (06th May 2023) Patriarch celebrated the liturgy at St. Mark Monastery and, he consecrated the Upper Room of Zion Church at St. Mark Monastery in Jerusalem.

 

On May 7, 2023, His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II celebrated the Holy Qurobo at the altar of St. Joseph and St. Nicodemus at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and went to Bethlehem in the Holy Land. Patriarch was received by the Prime Minister of Palestine His Excellency Mr. Mohammad Shtayyeh, and the Minister of Tourism and Archeology Her Excellency Mrs. Roula Maayah, the Governor of Bethlehem, as well as the representatives of the Christian Churches. Later that day a His Holiness attended a special reception arranged in honor of the Patriarch at the Palace of Conferences in Bethlehem. He visited the Baptism site on the Jordan River on 09th May 2023.

During the visit, His Holiness also met with the primates of Orthodox churches in Jerusalem.

Mor Justinos Boulos Safar, Patriarchal Vicar in Zahleh and Beqaa, Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh, Archbishop of Beirut, Mor Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf, Archbishop of Mosul, Kirkuk, Kurdistan and Environs, Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazeera and Euphrates, Mor Boutros Kassis, Archbishop of Aleppo and Environs, Mor Yacoub Babawi, Patriarchal Vicar for Monks Affairs and the Administration of Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary in Maarat Saydnaya, Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, Mor Christophoros Markose, Patriarchal Secretary for the Affairs of the Church in India, accompanied His Holiness during the Holy Land visit.

Source:
OCP News Services