THE FEAST OF THEOPHANY AT THE PATRIARCHATE
On Sunday the 6th/19th of January 2014, the feast of Theophany was celebrated by the Patriarchate according to its typical order and the status of veneration at the All Holy Church of the Resurrection.
Upon His descent from the Patriarchate on the morning of the feast, to the Church of the Resurrection, and after venerating at the Holy Apokathelosis and the Holy Sepulcher, our Father, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, was dressed in Prelatic attire in the Holy Bema of the Katholikon, and went on to perform the Grand Blessing at the center of the church – the blessed water intended for drinking after abstaining from meat on the eve of Theophany, and also for strengthening and enhancing the pious congregation of Orthodox Christians.
Immediately after the holy water rite, the Divine Liturgy was held in the Holy Sepulcher of the Lord, led by His Beatitude. Co-officiating were the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias, their Eminences the Archbishops: Dorotheos of Avila, Aristarchos of Constantina, Methodios of Tabor, Theodosios of Sevastia and Demetrios of Lydda, in the presence of Hieromonks and deacons and a great crowd surrounding the Holy Aedicula, piously observing the choir chanting under the direction of the Head Cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos.
The antidoron was distributed in front of the Holy Aedicula, followed by the blessing of the faithful by means of the blessed water. At the conclusion of the blessing, the Patriarchal retinue and a crowd of pilgrims left for the Patriarchates amid ringing bells.
There, the brotherly embrace took place, as well as the kissing of the Patriarch’s hand, who wished everyone that they be enlightened by the Holy Spirit, descending in the form of a pigeon upon the baptized Lord.
The service was broadcast live from the Holy Sepulcher on the online radio station of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem:
www.radio.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/en
From the Secretariat-General
httpv://youtu.be/vYwfQDpljm8