Jerusalem Patriarchate

(Jerusalem Patriarchate) - On Monday, the 21st of January/3rd of February 2014,
the Patriarchal decision on the agreement and restoration of the ecclesiastical

communion between the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Patriarchate of
Romania was completed and sealed. The decision had been interrupted because of
the construction, on behalf of the Patriarchate of Romania, of a Church in Jericho
without the approval of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
The aforementioned agreement was prepared during the year 2013 over meetings
between delegations of the two Patriarchates in Jerusalem, upon the peacemaking
mediation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
For the completion of the said agreement, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of
Jerusalem, received from Romania the Most Reverend Niphon, Metropolitan of
Targoviste and Patriarchal Exarch; the Reverend f. Ionitsa Viorel, Professor and
Protopresbyter; the Reverend f. Michael Titsa and the new Representative of the
Patriarchate of Romania to Jerusalem, Archimandrite Timotheos. With them they
brought the said agreement, signed by His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of
Romania, on Sunday, 29th of January/2nd of February 2014.
The agreement was signed by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem,
on the aforementioned day, in the presence of the Romanian Delegation and the
Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina,
and the Chairman of Finances, His Eminence Methodios, Archbishop of Tabor.
The main points of this agreement have now been sealed by means of the
understanding between the Heads of the two Churches that the Church and its
guesthouse in Jericho shall operate not as a Monastic Fraternity or any other form
of Monastic Community, but as a House of Pilgrims.
Upon signing the agreement, due gifts were exchanged between the Leaders of
the two Churches.
Immediately afterwards, His Beatitude Theophilos received the Letters of
Commendation of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, for the
appointment in Jerusalem of the Representative of the Patriarchate of Romania,
Archimandrite Timotheos.
The former Representative of the Patriarchate of Romania in Jerusalem,
Archimandrite Ieronymos, then approached and apologized to Patriarch
Theophilos of Jerusalem, which marked his restoration after being defrocked by
the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Archimandrite Ieronymos has now been transferred
to serve in the Patriarchate of Romania.
Detailed points:
After discussions in a spirit of Christian Orthodox communion, the two sides

agreed on the following points ad referendum to the Holy Synod:
1. The Memorandum signed in Bucharest on the 11th of December 2012 between
the delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Romanian Patriarchate was
accepted as the basis of the present Minutes.
2. The restoration of full communion between the Patriarchates of Jerusalem and
of Romania should be also regarded as a matter of urgency in view of the need to
accelerate the process of preparation of the Great and Holy Synod of the
Orthodox Church.
3. To this purpose, the Romanian Patriarchate recognizes fully and unreservedly
the canonical jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the Holy Land with
its pastoral implications.
4. Regarding the status of the church and the pilgrims hostel in Jericho, the
Romanian Patriarchate should remain the owner of these buildings, while the
spiritual, liturgical and ecclesiastical use of these buildings should depend on
the canonical blessing of the Patriarch of Jerusalem:
a) The priests serving in the church of these buildings should be appointed by the
Patriarch of Jerusalem on the basis of recommendation of the Patriarch of
Romania. It is of course understood that the Patriarch of Jerusalem may Himself
or with his clergy liturgically use this church whenever he decides to do so;
b) All priests celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the church should
commemorate at the anaphora ( ) only the Patriarch of
Jerusalem, while at the Great Entrance the priests may commemorate also the
name of the Patriarch of Romania;
c) The Antimision will be received from the Patriarch of Jerusalem.
1. The Romanian Patriarchate will avoid in the future to build churches or shrines
on the canonical territory of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem without written
agreement.
2. Concerning the status of Archimandrite Ieronim Creu, who was deposed from
the rank of priesthood, it was agreed that the Patriarchate of Jerusalem will lift up
this canonical measure, and the Romanian Patriarchate will call him back to
Romania.
3. Concerning the Representation of the Romanian Orthodox Church in
Jerusalem, it was agreed that a special Statute should be worked out as soon as
possible, by the two sides.

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Jerusalem Patriarchate

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(Jerusalem Patriarchate) - On Monday, the 21st of January/3rd of February 2014,

the Patriarchal decision on the agreement and restoration of the ecclesiastical

After discussions in a spirit of Christian Orthodox communion, the two sides

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