MEETING THE GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCH THEOPHILOS III.


Jerusalem, January 8th, 2008. It was on the second day after the Orthodx Christmas, that I went to search for the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate to see if there would be any chance to have a personal meeting with their Patriarch. On december 31st at the House of President Shimon Peres Patriarch Theophilos III. had already invited me to come and see him "any time". Even though we had exchanged some thoughts at the Presidents house, I doubted, that the Patriarch would really have much time, especially not around Christmas.

However, I was more then surprised that I was sent up stairs by a greek monk saying "see if he is still there" when I requested to set up an appointment with Patriarch Theophilos. When I reached the first floor I was amazed at all the marble and beauty. I had never before entered these greek orhtodox realms. I asked another orhtodox priest for Theophilos, when he just pointed to the open door of a hugh hall. my eyes followed the direction of his pointed fingers and there, at the end of the hall (that was maybe 100m/300ft long), sat the Patriarch on a comfortable chair. Infront of him were lined up several lines of chair (like in a choir) and rows and rows of uncountable chairs for more people. I realized I must have come to the greek orthodox reception of bishops and clergymen of different christian faiths. Even though some had already departed, there was still a number of monks and bishops sitting around the patriarchs in strict order.

To make sure I would act according to the right codex of behaviour, I asked the greek monk to help me get seated in one of the innumerable rows of chairs. It seemed he was not sure himself. But as I steped forward the marbled hall, the Patriarch winked me in to step forward. "Me?", he affirmed with a smiling nod. When I came to greet him I felt all the eyes of the surrounding monks and bishops set on me. Even more so, when Patriarch Theophilos asked for a comfortable red velvet chair to be brought right next to him. I almost couldn´t believe my eyes, when he had treated me with such an honour that he even gave me the seat on the right to him - nearer then any other bishop or priest.

Now sitting between Patriarch Theophilos III on my left and the Syrian Orthodox Archbishop Sewerios on my right, I thought this would be a scene for a fairy tale movie. And I guess the others in the room had similar thoughts like "What on earth is a woman doing in this room full of churchmen? What on earth is so special about her, that he gives her the honor to sit next to him? Why does he spent his time talking to her more then to others? Isn´t she not even Orthodox? Why, why, why?..."

The visitors that came after me came to shake hands first with the Patriarch, then with me and afterwards with Archbishop Sewerios etc... It was such a funny scene, that I said with a smile "you know, I almost feel like a Bishop myself, right now", everyone was laughing... (to be continued)

 

Photo: His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III. of the Greek Orthodox Church, Jerusalem at the house of President Shimon Peres with me (Claudia Henzler)