In the Holy Land, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Theophilos III, on Sunday paid a pastoral visit to the Arabic-speaking Greek Orthodox Community in the city of Beit Jala.
His Beatitude first visited the building belonging to the Hegoumen, or Abbot of the Monastery, which in the past was used as a primary school, and now functions as a kindergarten.
Afterwards, the Patriarch of Jerusalem toured a housing project undertaken by the Patriarchate, which stands on land owned by the Patriarchate in the city. The housing project is designed to host up to 450 families, in cooperation with the local community council.
A foundation-laying ceremony was held in the presence of the president of the supreme Palestinian ecclesiastical committee, Ramzi Khouri, along with other political and Church officials.