Patriarch Theophilus

Defense Minister Nikos Dendias is set to visit Israel on Monday to meet with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Galant. The main agenda of their meeting is to explore avenues to enhance the Greece-Israel Strategic Defense relations and promote cooperation in ensuring stability and security in the broader region.

The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem has appealed to the "international community and the forces concerned with the cause of peace in the Holy Land" to "work to stop the attack on the city of Jenin and its camp, and to put an end to violence and bloodshed based on the values of peace and justice proclaimed by the Abrahamic religions."

Britain's Prince William (center, left) walks with Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem (center, right) and other religious leaders as he arrives for a visit at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City on Thursday. The Duke of Cambridge is the first British royal to make such an official visit. [Ammar Awad/Reuters] 

The Holy Fire from Jerusalem arrived in Athens by airplane at 8 p.m. on Saturday, ahead of Easter celebrations in Greece.

The flame was received with the protocol reserved for heads of state after Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem had been handed it to a Greek delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Amanatidis.

Speaking exclusively to Proto Thema, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos, sent a message of Greek optimism to the Greek people.  "Whoever doesn't have hope, has no future," said the Patriarch just hours before the ceremony that marks the miraculous appearance of the Holy Flame that is then flown to Greece for Easter services.

President Traian Basescu received on Saturday at the Cotroceni Palace Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, who was visiting Romania on the day of St. Demetrius the New, the patron saint of Bucharest. Romanian Orthodox Patriarch Daniel, accompanying Patriarch Theophilos, was also the president's guest.