On Friday, January 24, 2020, His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Wales visited the Basilica of the Nativity of the Lord, accompanied by a delegation including His Excellency Mr. Philip Hall, the British Consul General of Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II and the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, Souheil Dawani.
Upon his arrival at the courtyard of the Basilica, the Prince of Wales was welcomed by the representatives of the Hegoumens of Bethlehem, Archimandrite Polykarpos, on behalf of the Orthodox Church, and was led to the Gate of the Basilica.
In the Basilica the first to greet the Prince was His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, followed by the Custos of the Holy Land Reverend Francesco Patton and the representative of the Armenian Patriarch His Eminence Archbishop Sevan.
From there, His Beatitude led the Prince of Wales to the Catholicon, before the iconostasis, and standing by the Main Gate, presented him with the star of the Nativity made of pearls and addressed His Royal Highness.
“Your Royal Highness, it is a great honour for us to welcome you here in Bethlehem the birthplace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the place that brought peace and justice upon the whole world.”
“Bethlehem is indeed a symbol of peace here, for Christians and Muslims, who live as a family and a united community, and the Church is also the place that is offering spiritual refreshment to thousands of pilgrims of all faiths and of all cultures and nationalities without any discrimination.”
“Your Highness’s presence here is highly appreciated and heartfelt for our region, which is facing many challenges, and your pilgrimage here is a tangible sign of your commitment to promoting and advancing peace and justice in the very birthplace of peace.”
From this point and through St. Nicholas chapel, His Beatitude guided the Prince to St. George’s chapel, which is adjacent to the Basilica on the southeast side.
There the Patriarchal Representative of Bethlehem, His Eminence Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan read out the Gospel passage of the Nativity of Christ in Greek. The Prince of Wales read the narrative of the Beatitudes according to chapter 5 of St. Mathew’s Gospel, and each of the Heads of the Christian Churches, without litourgical vestments, read a prayer according to the printed schedule.
Photo courtesy of the Jerusalem Patriarchate
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