Visit of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

On Thursday 29 November, the Grand Priory was honoured to be able to meet and sing Vespers in the presence of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pizzaballa.

The Patriarch was in England to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem’s Lieutenancy in England and Wales, and to raise awareness of and seek support for the plight of the Christians of the Holy Land, caught amidst the horrors of the conflict that still rages in the region.

His Eminence and Beatitude met the Grand Prior, members of the Chapter, and other members of the Order connected with our work in the Middle East, which includes close collaboration with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem to provide humanitarian assistance in Gaza, since, as the Cardinal explained, the Patriarchate is “one of the few institutions still present and working - despite everything, we are able to continue”. After the customary exchange of gifts, a wide-ranging discussion took place about the current situation, the work of the Patriarchate and the Order, and what can be done here in Britain to help. The Hospitaller of the Grand Priory and British Association, James Pavey, promised the Patriarch a substantial donation on behalf of the Order in Britain.

Vespers was then sung in the crypt of the Priory Church of St John of Jerusalem, Clerkenwell, which was the Grand Priory’s home from 1144 until despoiled in 1540 during the Protestant Reformation. The church, of which the crypt is the oldest surviving part, was consecrated in 1185 by Heraclius, Cardinal Pizzaballa's predecessor as Patriarch of Jerusalem. The solemn recitation of the evening prayer of the church, with the Patriarch, in this setting, was moment of great spiritual significance, connecting the present and its troubles and challenges back with the Order’s foundation in Jerusalem over 900 years ago.

The church is now in the ownership and safekeeping of the Venerable Order of St John, the British order founded in the 19th century and inspired by our hospitaller history and tradition - we are very grateful to the Prior, Stuart Shilson, for welcoming us and for attending the meeting and Vespers together with his Chancellor and the Dean, Canon Paul Williams.

The Priory’s praefectus cantorum, Toby Ward, composed a setting of the Magnificat for four male voices in honour of the occasion, which was presented to the Patriarch who is himself a musician. We are grateful to Toby and his schola, and to Fr Gary Dench for presiding at Vespers.

Finally, members of the Order attended, at the Patriarch’s invitation, Mass at Wesminster Cathedral on Sunday 1 December at which he concelebrated with Cardinal Nichols, Bailiff Grand Cross of our Order, and preached. You can read his sermon on this occasion here.

Please keep the Patriarch and his flock of persecuted Christians dwelling in the Lord’s own land in your prayers at this time, and do what you can to support them materially.

All images are (c) Marcin Mazur/CBCEW - more can be viewed on the Bishops’ Conference’s Flickr page.