Patriarch of Jerusalem awarded Christian unity prize

The prize was given in recognition of his tireless efforts to promote Christian unity around the globe.

Patriarch Theophilos, who spoke to Premier in January about his strong desire to see greater unity between Christians across the nations, received the honour from the Patriarch of Moscow at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, in the Russian capital.

He used his acceptance speech to invite senior leaders from the Orthodox Church to his home in Jordan, so that they can address the need for greater unity between Orthodox Churches together.
Patriarch Theophilos has been tireless in his promotion of church unity during a time when there has been significant tensions between churches in Russia and Ukraine.

As the leader of the Orthodox Christian community in the Holy Land, Patriarch Theophilos reminded a packed cathedral of Christ’s prayer for the Church in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Father…I ask…that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

Patriarch Theophilos called on Christians everywhere to practice unity, not only for the sake of the Church but also for our all too broken and divided world.

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem has recently risen to international prominence, both because of the Patriarch’s increasing role in church unity, and because of the pressures…