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| − | In 1951 Father Theodosios Makkos saved the life of Prince Hussein who
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| − | later became king of Jordan. Father Theodosios was born in Smyrna, Asia
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| − | Minor, present day Turkey, on July 11, 1913. He became an orphan at an
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| − | early age and was reared by his grandmother and aunt. He had a burning
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| − | desire to become a monk and serve the Church in the Holy Land. He came
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| − | to Palestine in 1928 and remained there until his death, 1991 at the age of
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| − | 78 years old. He served the Church of Jerusalem with great devotion at various
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| − | places and positions for 63 years. His last 50 years he was the spiritual
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| − | father and resident priest at the monastery for women, Saints Mary and
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| − | Martha, sisters of Lazarus in Bethany, a suburb of Jerusalem.
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| − | While in Palestine he befriended King Abdullah. In July 1951 the king
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| − | made a pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Omar at Jerusalem with his
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| − | grandson Prince Hussein. The prince was a very young man at that time. While in
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| − | Jerusalem King Abdullah was assassinated. Father Theodosios was present,
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| − | accompanying the king. He immediately took the young prince under his
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| − | cassock (Rasson) and brought him to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of
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| − | Jerusalem. The prince was hidden there. Fr. Theodosios reported the
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| − | Patriarch about the tragedy of the assassination of King Abdullah and
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| − | was greatly concerned for the safety and life of the young prince. The
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| − | Patriarch, before the rebels cut off the phones, placed a call to the
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| − | Jordanian authorities that the young prince is alive and hidden in a
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| − | safe place in the Orthodox Patriarchate. The Jordanian government sent
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| − | appropriate officials to the Patriarchate and took the young prince
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| − | under the protection of Jordan. For that reason King Hussein always was indebted
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| − | to the Elder Theodosios for saving his life. He visited often the simple
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| − | monk Theodosios in his monastery in Bethany. When later the prince
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| − | became king he continued to have close relations and visit him at the monastery
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| − | and Fr. Theodosios had an easy access to the king's palace. Fr.Theodosios
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| − | was able to enter the palace at any time. He helped numerous people
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| − | through his good word to the king. The king requested the Patriarch to elevate
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| − | him to the Episcopate. Elder Theodosios was elected by the synod three times
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| − | to be elevated but he refused the honor. He chose to remain a simple monk
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| − | to serve the nuns at the monastery of Martha and Mary. He was well known
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| − | throughout the region for his love and charity for all people without
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| − | regard of religion or race. He loved all people without distinction and
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| − | dedicated to charity and the service of justice. When I was in Jerusalem
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| − | for the month of January 1986 on a mission of study and dialogue with
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| − | Jews and Muslims I had the honor to meet Fr. Theodosios. I visited him in the
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| − | monastery and he told me the story. He also told me that whenever the
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| − | king greeted him as a sign of respect the king opened his palm for him to
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| − | kiss, whereas the other people kissed the back of his hand. This is a
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| − | remarkable story of friendship of a simple monk and a king, a Greek Orthodox
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| − | Christian and the other a Muslim. Father Theodosios dedicated his entire life to
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| − | protect the shrines and people who live in Palestine that he loved so
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| − | much. Especially he was honored for saving the life of the future king from
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| − | certain death. This is a great example for all people to follow, that is,
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| − | to love all and protect the life of all regardless of religious
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| − | affiliation, nationality or race. All people are people of God created
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| − | in His image. I was blessed to have known the Blessed Elder Theodosios. All
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| − | must emulate his example of love and respect for the other.
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| − | Credits: (c) 2005 Hellenic News of America, Inc. - All Rights Reserved
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