Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Metropolitan Theophilos leads the Orthodox Christmas procession inside the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem January 6, 2012.
REUTERS/Ammar Awad (WEST BANK - Tags: RELIGION TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Metropolitan Theophilos (top 3rd R) arrives for the traditional Washing of the Feet ceremony outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City April 16, 2009, ahead of Orthodox Easter.
REUTERS/Darren Whiteside (JERUSALEM) 

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (L) holds a dove during a ritual baptism ceremony at the Jordan River near the West Bank town of Jericho January 18, 2009. REUTERS/Paul Hanna (WEST BANK) 

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (C) takes part in the Eastern Orthodox Christmas procession outside the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem January 6, 2009. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (WEST BANK) 

Israel's outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (2nd L) speaks as Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (R), spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel Shaykh Mowafak Tarif (2nd R) and Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yonah Metzger (L) look on before a meeting at Olmert's residence in Jerusalem, December 21, 2008. REUTERS/Sebastian Scheiner/Pool (JERUSALEM) 

Israel's outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (R) shakes hands with Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (2nd L) as spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel, Shaykh Mowafak Tarif (2nd R) and Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yonah Metzger (R) look on during a meeting at Olmert's residence in Jerusalem, December 21, 2008. REUTERS/Sebastian Scheiner/Pool (JERUSALEM) 

Greek Patriarch Metropolitan Theophilos (R) washes the foot of a priest during the traditional Washing of the Feet ceremony outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem April 24, 2008. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (JERUSALEM) 

U.S. President George W. Bush (R) stands with Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III during a visit to the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem January 10, 2008. Passing through a tiny "Door of Humility", Bush made a pilgrimage to the traditional birthplace of Jesus on Thursday in the first U.S. presidential visit to the occupied West Bank.
REUTERS/Kevin Frayer/Pool (WEST BANK) 

U.S. President George W. Bush (C) stands with Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (R) and other Greek Orthodox priests during a visit to the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem January 10, 2008. Passing through a tiny "Door of Humility", Bush made a pilgrimage to the traditional birthplace of Jesus on Thursday in the first U.S. presidential visit to the occupied West Bank. REUTERS/Kevin Frayer/Pool (WEST BANK) 

U.S. President George W. Bush (C) stands with Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (2nd L) and other Greek Orthodox priests during a visit to the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem January 10, 2008. Passing through a tiny "Door of Humility", Bush made a pilgrimage to the traditional birthplace of Jesus on Thursday in the first U.S. presidential visit to the occupied West Bank. REUTERS/Kevin Frayer/Pool (WEST BANK) 

EDITORIAL USE ONLY - NO COMMERCIAL OR BOOK SALES. Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (3rd L) and other Greek Orthodox priests wave as U.S. President George W. Bush leaves the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem January 10, 2008. Bush travelled to the West Bank on Thursday, passing powerful symbols of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict -- Jewish settlements and Israel's barrier in the occupied territory. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis (WEST BANK) 

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (C) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L) attend mass for Orthodox Christmas Eve in the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem January 7, 2008. Some Orthodox Christians follow the old Julian calendar and celebrate Christmas on January 7. REUTERS/Loay Abu Haykel (WEST BANK) 

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (R) leads the Orthodox Christmas procession in the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem January 6, 2008. Some Orthodox Christians follow the old Julian calendar and celebrate Christmas on January 7.
REUTERS/Eliana Aponte (WEST BANK) 

Israel's President Shimon Peres (2nd R), Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit (2nd L), Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (R) and Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah (L) attend a New Year reception for Christian leaders at the President's residence in Jerusalem December 31, 2007. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (JERUSALEM) 

Israel's President Shimon Peres (C) shakes hands with the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah (L) as Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III watches during a New Year reception for Christian leaders at the President's residence in Jerusalem December 31, 2007. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (JERUSALEM) 

Israel's President Shimon Peres (C), the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah (L) and Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III attend a New Year reception for Christian leaders at the President's residence in Jerusalem December 31, 2007. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (JERUSALEM) 

Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (R) speaks in front of Jerusalem's Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah (2nd L) and Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (3rd L) during a meeting with community and religious leaders at his residence in Jerusalem December 23, 2007. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (JERUSALEM) 

Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (C) shakes hands with Jerusalem's Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah (L) as Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III watches during a meeting at Olmert's residence in Jerusalem December 23, 2007. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (JERUSALEM) 

Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko (L) meets Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (R) at the Greek Patriarchy in Jerusalem November 15, 2007. REUTERS/Yonathan Weitzman (JERUSALEM) 

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (C) visits the burial site of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat after the inauguration of the newly built mausoleum for Arafat in the West Bank city of Ramallah November 10, 2007. REUTERS/Eliana Aponte (WEST BANK) 

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) stands with Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (R) during her visit to the Church of Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem October 17, 2007. The search for peace in the Middle East took Rice to Bethlehem on Wednesday, where she toured the Church of the Nativity and voiced hope for reconciliation. REUTERS/Kevin Frayer/Pool (WEST BANK) 

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (5th R) stands with Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (3rd R) during her visit to the Church of Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem October 17, 2007. The search for peace in the Middle East took Rice to Bethlehem on Wednesday, where she toured the Church of the Nativity and voiced hope for reconciliation.
REUTERS/Kevin Frayer/Pool (WEST BANK) 

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (C) stands with Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (2nd R) during her visit to the Church of Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem October 17, 2007. The search for peace in the Middle East took Rice to Bethlehem on Wednesday, where she toured the Church of the Nativity and met ordinary Palestinians. REUTERS/Oleg Popov (WEST BANK) 

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (C) stands with Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (2nd R) during her visit to the Church of Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem October 17, 2007. The search for peace in the Middle East took Rice to Bethlehem on Wednesday, where she toured the Church of the Nativity and met ordinary Palestinians. REUTERS/Oleg Popov (WEST BANK) 

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (C) smiles during a national conference in Jerusalem May 26, 2007. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (JERUSALEM) 

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (R) leads Easter prayers at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem April 8, 2007. REUTERS/Yonathan Weitzman (JERUSALEM) 

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III leads Easter prayers at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem April 8, 2007. REUTERS/Yonathan Weitzman (JERUSALEM) 

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (R) leads Easter prayers at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem April 8, 2007. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (JERUSALEM) 

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (C) leads Easter prayers at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem April 8, 2007. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (JERUSALEM) 

Greek Patriarch Theofilos III attends Mass for Orthodox Easter in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City, April 23, 2006. 

Greek Patriarch Theofilos III (C) leads Mass for Orthodox Easter in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City, April 23, 2006. REUTERS/Oleg Popov 

Greek Patriarch Theofilos III attends Mass for Orthodox Easter in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City, April 23, 2006. REUTERS/Oleg Popov 

Greek Patriarch Theofilos III attends mass for Orthodox Easter in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City, April 23, 2006. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun 

Jordan's king Abdullah (L) welcomes the new Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy Land Theofilos III, on his arrival to the Royal Palace in Amman December 5, 2005. REUTERS/Yousef Allan