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THE FEAST OF ST. PHILOUMENOS THE HAGIOTAPHITE AT THE PATRIARCHATE

On Thursday, November 16/29, 2018, the Patriarchate celebrated the commemoration of the Holy Hieromartyr Philoumenos the Hagiotaphite, who suffered a martyr’s death at the old Shrine of Jacob’s well in 1979.

The Holy Hieromartyr Philoumenos, from the village Orounda of Cyprus, served the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood in various posts, the last of which was the Hegoumeneia of Jacob’s well in Nablus of Samaria. During Vespers one evening he was attacked and murdered by a fanatic Israeli man. In 2009, by the decision of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem he was canonized among the Saints of the Orthodox Church, while his commemoration was set to be celebrated on 16th November every year.

In honour of St. Philoumenos, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at Jacob’s well and in the magnificent Church of St. Photeini, which has been built by Hegoumen Archimandrite Ioustinos, with the help of reverend faithful Christians. The Service was officiated by the Most Reverend Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, with co-celebrants Archimandrite Kallistos and Arab-speaking Priests, along with visiting Priests and Hierodeacon Demetrios. The chanting was delivered by Archimandrite Leontios and the Community choir, while the service was attended by monks, nuns, local Arab-speaking Orthodox Christians from the neighbouring areas of Zababde, Toubas, Toulkarem, and Rafidia, along with pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Ukraine and Romania.

After the festal Liturgy the hospitable Hegoumen of the Shrine Archimandrite Ioustinos offered a reception and a festal meal.

From Secretariat-General