THE ICON OF THEOTOKOS CARRIED TO GETHSEMANE
In the early hours of Monday, the 12th/25th of August 2014, the icon of Theotokos was carried in a procession from the chapel of Gethsemane opposite the Church of the Resurrection to the Tomb of the Virgin Mary in Gethsemane.
Archimandrite Nektarios, the Abbot at the Holy Shrine of Gethsemane, led the procession, carrying the icon of the Dormition, in the presence of Primates such as the Elder Secretary-General, the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod and the Archbishop of Joppa. Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and nuns, as well as a large crowd of locals and pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Cyprus and Romania participated in the procession, whilst the Head Cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos, sang troparia to the Theotokos.
The procession walked through the Via Dolorosa, in the opposite direction than that of the Lord’s path to the crucifixion, namely from Calvary to the Praetorium. Supplications were made at three stops, in front of the Praetorium, in front of the Monastery of Sts Joachim and Anne, and in front of the Monastery of St Stephen the First Martyr.
The procession terminated at the church of the Dormition in Gethsemane, where the icon was placed on the epitaphion behind the Tomb of the Virgin Mary and in front of the icon of the Platytera.
The procession was followed by Matins and the Divine Liturgy. Co-officiating was His Eminence Damaskinos, Archbishop of Joppa. Attending the procession in piety were faithful gathered in honour and glory of the Mother of God.
From the Secretariat-General