THE VENERATION OF THE CROSS AT THE PATRIARCHATE
On Sunday, the 2nd/15th of March 2015, the Patriarchate observed the feast of the Veneration of the Holy Cross for the strengthening and enhancement of the spiritual course to the Holy Easter.
Α’ Vespers
At 13.45 pm, the Ninth Hour was recited at the monastic church of Sts Constantine and Helen, followed by a procession of the Hagiotaphite Retinue, led by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, to the All-holy Church of the Resurrection.
There, the Primates venerated at the Holy Apokathelosis and the Holy Sepulcher.
They then entered the katholikon, where the Patriarch gave blessings, and deacons performed a censing along the holy shrines.
Vespers was then held, as the Head Cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos, sang the “Anoixantaria” psalms.
At the end of Vespers, Primates walked to the Patriarchates.
B’ On the day of the feast
On the morning of the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross, the feast was observed as the Hagiotaphite members walked from the Patriarchate to the Church of the Resurrection.
Upon their arrival, Patriarch Theophilos venerated at the Holy Apokathelosis and the Holy Sepulcher.
Entering the katholikon, His Beatitude rose to the Throne while, amidst bells tolling, priests and deacons walked to the Bema. As the “Prophets from above…” was sang, the Patriarch walked to the Bema too, where He was dressed in formal attire, just as the Primates.
After that, in the area opposite the Holy Aedicula, the Divine Liturgy began, led by Patriarch Theophilos, with co-officiating Primates: Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, Archbishops Theophanes of Gerassa, Dorotheos of Avila, Aristarchos of Constantina, Theodosios of Sebaste and Demetrius of Lydda, the Bishop of Kamenets-Potolsky visiting from Ukraine, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and others. A great crowd of faithful from Jerusalem, Greece, Russia and Romania attended the service.
Mass was performed upon the Life-giving Sepulcher. It was followed by a procession thrice around the Holy Sepulcher and the Shrines surrounding the Holy Bema.
Upon the return to the katholikon, the Primates walked to the Patriarchates, where the Patriarch addressed them in Greek.
In Arabic, the homily may be read here: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2015/03/15/10946
From the Secretariat-General
httpv://youtu.be/W-Uhq6-sq-0