THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ELECTION OF THE NEW ARCHBISHOP OF SINAI, THE SERVICE OF THE GREAT MESSAGE, AND THE RECEPTION AT THE HALL OF THE THRONE – Jerusalem Patriarchate

On Saturday, 5/18 October 2025, at 15:30, the bells of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre rang joyfully, announcing the beginning of the Great Festive Vespers. The Service was celebrated in the Monastic and Patriarchal Church of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Saints Constantine and Helen, presided over from the Throne by His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III.

At the conclusion of Vespers, His Beatitude departed, accompanied by Archdeacon Mark, while the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Archimandrite Christodoulos, remained in the Church and read the Record (Memorandum) of the Election of His Grace Archimandrite Symeon as Archbishop-Elect of Sinai, Pharan, and Raitho. Thereafter, each of the Synodical Members, in the established order, reverently entered the Holy Altar and signed the Register of Election Records.

Then, in accordance with the Order of the Church of Jerusalem, the Elder Dragoman of the Patriarchate, Archimandrite Mattheos, accompanied by the Kavassides—the official staff-bearers during Patriarchal ceremonies—and the two Escorting Archimandrites, the Exarch of Athens Ieronymos, and the Elder Kamarasis Nectarios, proceeded to the residence where His Grace the Elect was awaiting them. There, in solemnity, the so-called “Small Message” was delivered to him—that is, the decision of the Holy and Sacred Synod regarding his election. The Elect received the announcement with gratitude and replied with the customary Small Message, humbly expressing his acceptance of the election.

Thereafter, they returned to the Patriarchal Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, where the Service of the Great Message commenced, namely, the formal act of accepting the Election. During this simple yet profoundly moving Service, the Elect, vested in epitrachelion and phelonion, censed the Holy Church while the chanters sang the Trisagion in slow rhythm. Together with the Hierarchs and clergy present, the choir chanted the Apolytikion and the Kontakion of Pentecost, after which His Grace offered prayers for His Beatitude, our Father and Patriarch Theophilos.

Before the dismissal, the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod read aloud the signed Record of the Election, and the Elect proclaimed the Great Message, formally accepting his election as Archbishop of Sinai, Pharan, and Raitho. The Polychronion for His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem followed, in an atmosphere of festivity and joy.

After the Service, the Synodical Members, the Elect, the members of the Holy Sepulchre and Sinai Brotherhoods, along with the pilgrims, proceeded in procession to the Hall of the Throne. There, His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, received them with paternal affection, and the Elect venerated His Beatitude’s hand. Appropriate addresses and replies were exchanged, sealing this sacred day as yet another luminous moment in the life of the Mother Church of Jerusalem.

Thereafter, His Grace read his handwritten entry in the Register of Records of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and affixed his signature. The ceremony concluded in the office of the Chief Secretariat with the signing of the relevant Code No. 22 concerning the Hierarchs of the Throne of Jerusalem, in the presence of the Elder Chief Secretary, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, and the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Archimandrite Christodoulos.

From the Chief Secretariat