His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III Participates As Guest in the Coronation of king Charles III and Queen Camila

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem is delighted to announce that His Beatitude Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, has participated as a guest on Sunday the 7th of May 2023, at the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Patriarch Theophilos was the only Orthodox head of church at the ceremony. The oil used in the coronation ceremony was consecrated by Patriarch Theophilos, and then by His Grace the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, Hosam Naoum at the church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, further cementing the historic ties between the Coronation, the Bible, and the Holy Land.

The anointing oil utilized to anoint the King and Queen is derived from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, specifically two groves at the Monastery of Mary Magdalene, which also houses the burial place of the King’s grandmother, Princess Alice of Greece, as well as from the Monastery of the Ascension.

For centuries, monarchs have been anointed with oil from this hallowed city of Jerusalem, from ancient kings to the present day.

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem is honoured to have played a pivotal role in this historic, which marks the first coronation of a British monarch in the 21st century. The ceremony took place at Westminster Abbey in London, which has hosted coronations for over 900 years, since the coronation of William the Conqueror on 25 December 1066.

His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos expressed “we are deeply honoured to have contributed to this historic event and to have had the privilege of contributing to the anointing of King Charles III and Queen Camilla…

This news was originally published on the website of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Please click here to read the full text.