Benedict I of Jerusalem
Encyclopedia
His Beatitude Benedict of Jerusalem was the Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem from 1957 to 1980.
Patriarch Benedict was born in 1892. He was elected patriarch on January 29, 1957, succeeding Patr. Timotheos who had died over a year earlier. With his election the Jordanian government approved a law establishing new regulations concerning relations between the Confraternity of the Holy Sepulchre (Brotherhood of the Sepulchre - Hagiotaphites Brotherhood) and the indigenous Arab community of the Orthodox Church. While the rules gave the Arab laity
a role in the financial affairs of the Patriarchate, and required that the candidates for the offices of the patriarchate be citizens of Jordan, lobbying by the patriarchate with the Jordanians soon resulted in the death of the reforms.
Following his election, Patr. Benedict actively pursued a rehabilitation of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
. Starting in 1961, the structure was completely rehabilitated, including repair of the foundations, and cisterns, and restoration of the interior and exterior walls. Thousand of stones were replaced including removal of old and injection of new mortar. Columns were replaced and new capitals added where needed. However, on December 11, 1980, as the rotunda dome was finished, further restoration of the church came to a halt with the death of Patr. Benedict.
Patriarch Benedict was born in 1892. He was elected patriarch on January 29, 1957, succeeding Patr. Timotheos who had died over a year earlier. With his election the Jordanian government approved a law establishing new regulations concerning relations between the Confraternity of the Holy Sepulchre (Brotherhood of the Sepulchre - Hagiotaphites Brotherhood) and the indigenous Arab community of the Orthodox Church. While the rules gave the Arab laity
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
a role in the financial affairs of the Patriarchate, and required that the candidates for the offices of the patriarchate be citizens of Jordan, lobbying by the patriarchate with the Jordanians soon resulted in the death of the reforms.
Following his election, Patr. Benedict actively pursued a rehabilitation of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also called the Church of the Resurrection by Eastern Christians, is a church within the walled Old City of Jerusalem. It is a few steps away from the Muristan....
. Starting in 1961, the structure was completely rehabilitated, including repair of the foundations, and cisterns, and restoration of the interior and exterior walls. Thousand of stones were replaced including removal of old and injection of new mortar. Columns were replaced and new capitals added where needed. However, on December 11, 1980, as the rotunda dome was finished, further restoration of the church came to a halt with the death of Patr. Benedict.