Patriarch Theofilos III of Jerusalem

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Patriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem

His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem (b. 1952) is the current patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem.

Theophilus (also spelled Theofilos and Theophilos) was elected the 141st primate of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem on August 22, 2005. Formerly the Archbishop of Tabor, Theophilus was elected unanimously by Jerusalem's Holy Synod to succeed the deposed, Irenaios I. He is styled "Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and all Palestine, Syria, beyond the Jordan River, Cana of Galilee and Holy Zion."

Theophilus 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, Theophilus said, "In the last few months we have had a lot of problems but with the help of God we will overcome them."[1]

Theophilos is originally from Messinia, Greece. In 1964, he went to Jerusalem. He served as archdeacon for then patriarch Benediktos. From 1991 to 1996, he was a priest in Cana in Galilee, which had a predominantly Israeli Arab flock.

In 1996, he was one of the first Christian clergymen in centuries to make an opening into the closed Wahhabi Islamic society of Qatar, a historically under the jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem. He subsequently served as Exarch of the Holy Sepulchre in Qatar. From 2000 to 2003, he was church envoy to the Patriarchate of Moscow.

Theophilos's critics claims that he was favoured by Israel owing to his ties with key US officials, such as former CIA chief George Tenet, whom he reportedly met through the Greek lobby in the USA. They note that, remarkably, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held a meeting with Theophilus at her request during a recent trip to Israel. Though it is also reported that he, as then Superior of the Holy Sepulcher, merely showed Secretary Rice the Holy Sites, as he did for President Putin of Russia and other dignitaries visiting the Holy Land.

Before becoming patriarch, Theophilus served for a short time as the Archbishop of Tabor, consecrated to the episcopacy by Irenaios in February of 2005.

Theophilus studied theology at the University of Athens and went on to complete a master's degree in London. Besides his native Greek, he also speaks English and Arabic.

Other Patriarchs of Jerusalem bearing the same name are Theofilos I, Patriarch of Jerusalem from 1012 to 1020, and Theofilos II, Patriarch of Jerusalem from 1417 to 1424.

His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III is to be officially enthroned as Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine on November 22nd, 2005.

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