Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem


Theophilos III

Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and all Palestine, Israel, Syria, beyond the Jordan River, Cana of Galilee, and Holy Zion
ChurchGreek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem
SeeJerusalem
InstalledNovember 22, 2005
PredecessorIrenaios
Personal details
Born
Ilias Giannopoulos

(1952-04-04) 4 April 1952 (age 72)
ResidenceJerusalem
Alma materUniversity College, Durham
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
University of Athens
SignatureTheophilos III's signature

Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem (Greek: Πατριάρχης Ιεροσολύμων Θεόφιλος Γ'; Arabic: غبطة بطريرك المدينة المقدسة اورشليم وسائر أعمال فلسطين كيريوس كيريوس ثيوفيلوس الثالث, romanizedGhabṭat baṭriark almādinat almuqadasat awrishālim wasāyir 'aemal filasṭin kiryus kiryus thiufilus althālith; Hebrew: הפטריארך תיאופילוס השלישי של עיר הקודש ירושלים וכל ישראל; born 4 April 1952) is the current Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem since 2005.[1] He is styled "Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and all Palestine and Israel."[2]

Theophilos (also spelled Theofilos or Theophilus) was elected unanimously on 22 August 2005 by the Holy Synod of Jerusalem as the 141st primate of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem to succeed the deposed Irenaios. His election was confirmed by the Eastern Orthodox synod of Constantinople, and was endorsed by Jordan on 24 September 2005, and subsequently by the Palestinian National Authority, two of the governments ruling lands over his religious jurisdiction.[3] He was enthroned on 22 November 2005, despite initial Israeli objection to the ousting of Irenaios.[4] The Israeli government officially recognised Theophilos' election on 16 December 2007.

Prior to becoming Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos was the Eastern Orthodox Archbishop of Tabor.

  1. ^ Jerusalem Patriarchate website, Apostolic Succession section, retrieved 2023-12-05
  2. ^ "Jerusalem Patriarchate". Jerusalem-patriarchate.info. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Jordan issues royal decree endorsing new Orthodox patriarch in Jerusalem (journal article)". Cosmos.ucc.ie. Archived from the original on 2014-12-17. Retrieved 2015-02-23.
  4. ^ Aleni, Giulio. "HOLY LAND Israel slams swearing-in of Theophilos III as a "serious impropriety" - Asia News". Asianews.it. Archived from the original on 2018-06-20. Retrieved 2015-02-23.