Archbishop Daniel, Joined by the Pilgrims of the UOC of the USA, Received by the Patriarch of Jerusalem at the Private Audience
Archbishop Daniel, Joined by the Pilgrims of the UOC of the USA, Received by the Patriarch of Jerusalem at the Private Audience

Reflecting upon the answer to the daily question of the pilgrimage: “What does it mean to be an Orthodox Christian in Jerusalem?” the pilgrims of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA visited the Ancient Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

His Eminence Archbishop Daniel, the Ruling Hierarch of the Western Eparchy and President of the Consistory of the UOC of the USA led a group of 33 pilgrims on a visit to the Patriarchate on May 27, 2023.

Archbishop Daniel, Joined by the Pilgrims of the UOC of the USA, Received by the Patriarch of Jerusalem at the Private Audience

Following the presentation, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos bestowed upon His Eminence Archbishop Daniel patriarchal panagia. Further, the Patriarch hosted the group of pilgrims with tea and pastries and in conclusion of which each pilgrim of the UOC of the USA approached His Beatitude to receive a blessing, while being presented with a gift of an icon from the hands of Patriarch Theophilos.

Having received a blessing from the hands of His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine, the pilgrims of the Church spent over an hour with the Patriarch, learning about the history of the Patriarchate, the Order of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulcher and about the life of Orthodox Christians in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas that are under spiritual protection of the His Beatitude.

“For us, Ukrainian Orthodox Christians from the United States of America”, said Vladyka Daniel, “a great honor indeed, the fact that we find ourselves in the Holy Land these days… His Eminence Metropolitan Antony expresses his most sincere prayerful greetings and gratitude for your Beatitude’s time spent with us… You are the spiritual father, guardian and keeper of the All-holy sites of pilgrimage, and we respect and pray for you.”

…While visiting the sacred sites of Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee, we offered our prayers for our ancestral homeland Ukraine, beseeching the Lord to bring to end the war in Ukraine, and the restoration of peace and stability for all people, especially those that are wounded or have lost their loved ones.”

In his remarks, Patriarch Theophilos spoke of the great danger of the modern-day secularization of the society, the ongoing economic difficulties and war atrocities that destabilize the harmony of our spiritual efforts and daily life. Patriarchal exhortation to the pilgrims was to spend the time in the Holy Land opening themselves to the eternal message of salvation of the Savior, while becoming active participants of His Ministry of Service and Love.

In conclusion of the meeting, Vladyka Daniel, assisted by Protopresbyter Stephen Hutnick, Very Rev. Fr. Harry Linsinbigler, Very Rev. Fr. Stephen Masliuk, Very Rev. Fr. Mykola Andrushkiv and Very Rev. Fr. Vasyl Pasakas presented the Patriarch with a traditional Pascha (ostrich) egg, decorated in the motives of Mariupol and Dondas regions of Ukraine that have been devasted by the ongoing war against the people of Ukraine. Receiving the gift, the Patriarch once again reassured the pilgrims of the UOC of the USA of his prayerful love and concern for the people and nation of Ukraine.

Following the presentation, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos bestowed upon His Eminence Archbishop Daniel patriarchal panagia. Further, the Patriarch hosted the group of pilgrims with tea and pastries and in conclusion of which each pilgrim of the UOC of the USA approached His Beatitude to receive a blessing, while being presented with a gift of an icon from the hands of Patriarch Theophilos.

Bidding farewell to the Patriarchate, Vladyka Daniel and the clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA received a blessing from the Patriarch to participate in the service of Divine Liturgy in the Church of Holy Sepulcher (the site of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem is identified as the place of the crucifixion and the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth. The church has long been a major pilgrimage center for Christians all around the world) and the Church of the Nativity of the Lord in Bethlehem.

To read more about the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, visit the official web site of the Patriarchate.

Archbishop Daniel, Joined by the Pilgrims of the UOC of the USA, Received by the Patriarch of Jerusalem at the Private Audience

Photos by Fr. Vasyla Pasakas and Mark Hatala

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