On Thursday, 27 December 2024 / 9 January 2025, on the feast of the Holy First Martyr and Archdeacon Stephen, the following Christian Churches and Communities visited the Patriarchate for the celebration of Christmas:

  1. The Franciscan Brotherhood – Custody of the Holy Land, led by its Superior, Fr Francesco Paton. During this visit, mutual prayers for peace, reconciliation, and dialogue were exchanged, with special mention of the significance of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea as the foundation of Church unity. The Custodian spoke of his impending retirement from the Custody service and thanked His Beatitude for His excellent cooperation during his years as Custodian of the Holy Land. His Beatitude also expressed his gratitude for the collaboration, particularly in the context of the current difficult circumstances in the Holy Land.
  2. All the Christian Churches in Jerusalem, namely: the Latin Patriarchate, the Coptic Church, the Syrian Church, the Ethiopian Church, the Anglican Church, and the Lutheran Church with their respective representatives. His Beatitude addressed the representatives of the Latin Patriarchate and all the other Churches in Jerusalem. During the exchange of greetings and addresses, reference was made again to the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, which defined and affirmed the one essence of the Son with the Father. His Beatitude emphasised the message of a common, united, and powerful Christian witness, proclaimed through today’s gathering of all the Christian Churches of Jerusalem at the Patriarchate.
  3. The delegation of the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem, led by the Venerable Bishop Gurion. This delegation was received in the same spirit of love, reconciliation, and dialogue. His Beatitude stressed the importance of these encounters for peaceful Christian coexistence in the Holy Land.
  4. The visit of the Apostolic Nuncio, Cardinal Adolfo Tito Yllana, the Vatican’s representative to the Holy Land.
  5. The former Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem, the Venerable Suheil Dawani, along with his Roman Orthodox assistant, Dr Hisham Nasar, a cardiologist.
  6. A group of priests representing the Communities of Northern Israel, led by the Patriarchal Representative of Acre, Archimandrite Silouanos.
  7. A group of Russian-speaking faithful from Southern Israel, primarily from Beersheba, under the pastoral care of the Venerable Archbishop Aristovoulos of Madaba, and their priests, Fr Alexander and Fr Mark.
  8. The visits of the Coptic, Syrian, and Ethiopian representatives were reciprocated by His Eminence Archbishop Theodosios of Sebastia on behalf of the Patriarchate.