New Primate of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem Elected

On 22 August 2005, election of the new Primate of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem took place in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Jerusalem. Archbishop Theophilus of Mount Tabor was unanimously elected the 97th Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine.

The Holy Synod of the Church of Jerusalem resolved to elect a new primate after His Beatitude Patriarch Irenaios was ousted from his office on 5 May 2005. The decision of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem was recognized by the Council of the Heads and representatives of the autocephalous Orthodox Churches held in Constantinople on 24 May 2005.

The election of a new patriarch was held in three rounds in accordance with the Statute of the Church of Jerusalem. The first round was held on 20 July 2005, when a special nomination board approved the list of 13 candidates. On August 22, the General election council consisting of 14 members of the Holy Synod, 21 archimandrites of Jerusalem monasteries and 12 diocesan priests, 3 persons were chosen out of 13 candidates. After the council announced their names, members of the Holy Synod withdrew to the sanctuary of the Church of the Resurrection and unanimously elected Archbishop Theophilus the Primate of the Mother of all Churches, the 140th successor of the holy apostle Jacob, brother of the Lord.

The newly elected Patriarch is the third Primate of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem named Theophilus. His predecessors Theophilus I and Theophilus II held the Jerusalem See in 1012-1020 and in 1417-1424 respectively.

Short biography of Patriarch Theophilus of Jerusalem

His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilus (secular name Ilija Jannopoulos) was born in the village of Gargaliani, Messinia region, Greece, in 1952.

In July 1964 entered the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre.

That same year entered the Patriarchal school in Jerusalem. Finished it in June 1970.

On 28 June 1970 tonsured monk with the name of Theophilus by His Beatitude Patriarch Benedict of Jerusalem.

On 1 July 1970 ordained deacon by Archbishop Basilios of Jordan.

In 1975 ordained priest by Archbishop Diodoros of Ierapolis.

That same year sent to study at the theological department of Athens University by the decision of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

After return to Jerusalem worked in the General Secretariat of the Holy Synod, the Patriarchal school, and St.Charalampy’s Monastery.

In 1978 elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

In 1981 appointed member of the editorial board of the ‘Nea Zion’ journal.

In December 1981 sent to England to study at the post-graduate course at the Durham University.

After graduation in 1986 appointed secretary for foreign relations of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

In 1988 appointed representative of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches.

In 1991-96 – hegumen of the Monastery of St.George the Victorious in Cana in Galilee.

In 2001-2003 – representative of the Patriarch of Jerusalem with the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and rector of the Jerusalem representation church in Moscow.

In 2003 appointed Patriarchal epitrop in Doha, Qatar.

In 2004 appointed senior custodian of the Holy Sepulchre and elected member of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

On 14 February 2005 consecrated and nominated Archbishop of Mount Tabor.

On 22 August elected Patriarch of Jerusalem.