Gerasimus of Jerusalem

His Beatitude Gerasimus of Jerusalem was the Patriarch of Antioch from 1886 to 1891 and Patriarch of Jerusalem from 1891 to 1897. It was during his administration as Patriarch of Jerusalem that the full significance of the mosaic map found on the church floor in Madaba was understood.

In 1885, Gerasimus was the Bishop of Scythopolis, a city just south of the Sea of Galilee. He was occupied with defending the Orthodox faithful in the towns of Husn and Karak from missionaries when, on June 19, 1885, he learned that he had been elected to the see of Antioch. On January 27, 1890, the patriarch of Jerusalem, Nikodemus, resigned and Patr. Gerasimus was elected his successor as Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Madaba mosaic map of Jerusalem

At the time he came to lead the Patriarchate of Jersusalem, efforts were underway to restore a church in the community of Madaba in which was found a mosaic map on the floor of an ancient church, now the Church of St. George. Realizing the importance of this discovery, Patr. Gerasimus took action to have the archaeological find properly investigated and preserved.

Patr. Gerasimus was also confronted with the activities of the Russian Orthodox Palestinian Society in Palestine that had been ignoring the historical presence of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Their actions led him to increase construction of schools to neutralize the efforts of the Russian society.

Patr. Gerasimus reposed on February 9, 1897, at the age of fifty seven.

Succession box: Gerasimus of Jerusalem
Preceded by: ?	Bishop of Scythopolis 18xx-1885	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: Hierotheus	Patriarch of Antioch 1885-1891	Succeeded by: Spyridon
Preceded by: Nicodemus	Patriarch of Jerusalem 1891-1897	Succeeded by: Damianus

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Sources

• Gerasimos, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem (1891-1897)
• The Discovery of the Madaba Mosaic Map