Patriarchal Co-Celebration of the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy at the Horrendous Golgotha & the Honorary Award

of his Beatitude the Patriarch of Serbia Porfirij by His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III

From the Secretariat-General of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On Wednesday, the 20th of March/2nd of April 2025, His Beatitude the Patriarch of Serbia Prorfirije, co-celebrated the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy with His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, at the Horrendous Golgotha. The following Eminent High Priests also co-served: Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, Metropolitan Hesychios of Capitolia, the Assistant Bishop of Toplica, His Grace Petar, the visiting Metropolitan of Tamasos, His Eminence Isaias, and Hieromonks from the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood, among whom the first was Archimandrite  Kamarasis Elder Nektarios, as well as other Hieromonks and priests accompanying the Patriarch of Serbia, including Archimandrite Vassianos, Head of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem (MISSIA), Archdeacon Mark, and other deacons, with His Eminence Elder Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, also participating, alongside local faithful and devout pilgrims.

After the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, before the Sacred Edicule of the Most Holy Sepulchre, awarded His Beatitude the Patriarch of Serbia Prorfirije, the honorary distinction of the “Grand Cross of the Order of the Knights of the Most Holy Sepulchre” and addressed him with the following words:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things,” as the divine Paul says, invoking the Prophet Isaiah.

Your Beatitude, Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci, and Patriarch of Serbia, Your Holiness Prorfirije,

Your pilgrimage visit to the Holy Land has greatly uplifted the hearts of our Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood and the suffering and faithful flock of our Rum-Orthodox Christian people, who endure the trials of war. Your multifaceted personality and activities are well known, not only in the Balkans but also throughout the entire Orthodox world. Your academic background, your multilingualism, and particularly Your theological studies in Greece, which according to the late Father George Florovsky, are the means through which Orthodox theology may preserve the accuracy of Christian doctrines, Your monastic character, Your pastoral care — moving from military episcopacy to spiritual, social, and national leadership — and Your deep patristic Orthodox mindset, testify to the worthy and enlightened ecclesiastical leader that You are, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We are grateful to have You with us today at the place of the Horrendous Golgotha and the Life-Giving Tomb, where the three-day burial and Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ took place. As it is written: “Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him” (Mark 16:6).

Beloved Holy Primate of the Most Holy Serbian Orthodox Church,

We, the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood and I personally, express our connection in Christ’s love and the “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3), as well as our respect and esteem for You, and request that You accept from us the distinguished honour of the Grand Cross of the Order of the Most Holy Sepulchre, as a token of our admiration for Your leadership…

This news was originally published on the website of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, click here to read more.