The Mayor of Athens Awards Patriarch Theophilos III the City Medal in Recognition of His Global Spiritual and Humanitarian Role
On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., His Excellency the Mayor of Athens, Mr. Haris Doukas, awarded the Medal of the City of Athens to His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, as a mark of honor and in recognition of his significant spiritual, peacebuilding, and charitable work; for his unwavering commitment to the universal values of justice and religious freedom; for his invaluable humanitarian contribution to Gaza; for his support of the sick, the vulnerable, and those affected by war; for the extensive educational work of the Patriarchate, particularly the recently inaugurated Patriarchal University in Jordan; and for his multifaceted efforts to safeguard Christian heritage and preserve the status quo of the Holy Places.
Present at the ceremony were representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Church of Greece, Rabbi Gabriel Negrin of the Jewish Community, the Ambassadors of Jordan and Palestine, professors from theological schools, and other distinguished guests.
His Beatitude, accepting the Medal with particular joy, emphasized in his response that this honorary distinction was not directed solely to his person, but rather to the foremost historical and spiritual institution of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which is dedicated to preserving the Holy Places—not as “museum sites,” but as places of prayer and worship where worshipers and pilgrims, Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike, from across the world come to pray. He also highlighted the role of the Patriarchate as a place of dialogue and reconciliation among the region’s diverse national and religious communities. Furthermore, he expressed his satisfaction that the Ambassadors of Jordan and Palestine, with whom he shares a long-standing friendship, were present at the award ceremony, noting that vibrant communities of the flock of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate exist in all of the Holy Land, where the presence of the Romioi tradition, the Greek spirit, and the Orthodox faith continues to endure.
He also expressed his special gratitude to the Mayor for his sincere interest, his prompt response to the Patriarchate’s requests, and his multifaceted support for the activities of the Church of Jerusalem. In particular, he thanked him for facilitating the hospitality and support of young people from the Patriarchate’s flock, enabling them to become participants in the Greek intellectual and cultural tradition and in their own Romioi heritage.
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