His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem, arrived in Romania on Thursday, Nov. 29, to lead the celebrations of Saint Andrew, the patron saint of the National Cathedral in Bucharest.
The aircraft that brought the delegation of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem landed at Henri Coanda International Airport around 9:50 am.
During the visit to Romania, the Patriarch of Jerusalem together with Patriarch Daniel will officiate on Friday the Divine Liturgy at the secondary patronal feast of the National Cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Apostle Andrew.
On Saturday, the two Patriarchs will participate at the ceremonies that will take place in Alba Iulia on the occasion of the National Day of Romania and the Centenary Year of the Great Union of 1918.
His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III (known in the world as Elias Giannopoulos, his parents, Panagiotes-Triseugenia) was born in Gargalianes of the County of Triphylia-Messinia, in 1952.
He arrived in Jerusalem in July 1964 and enrolled at the School of the Patriarchate, graduating in 1970.
On 28 June 1970 he was tonsured a monk, receiving the name Theophilos, by Benedictos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the Great Hall of the Patriarchate.
Photo Credit: Public domain
