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THE FEAST OF THE PROPHET ELIAS IN MAKR, ACCRA

On Saturday, the 26th of July/8th of August 2016, the feast of the Prophet Elias the Thesbite was celebrated belatedly at the Church dedicated to his name, in the town of Makr in the Accra-Ptolemais region of Northern Israel.

After a warm welcome by the Boy Scouts at the entrance to the city, Patriarch Theophilos led the Divine Liturgy. Co-officiating were Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Archimandrite Porphyrios, Steward f. Yakub Akel, Head of the Community, priests of neighbouring parishes, and deacon Markos. Hieropsalts from the town sang with Archimandrite Philotheos, Patriarchal Commissioner in Accra-Ptolemais. The Orthodox flock of the parish participated in piety.

At the service, the Patriarch talked of the Prophet Elias as the “angel incarnate, the cornerstone of the prophets, the second Forerunner of Christ’s presence, the one who cured diseases and cleansed the lepers and healed those who invoked him in truth”.

Before the Apolysis, His Beatitude offered an icon of Theotokos for the Community and a cross to f. Yakub.

A reception followed, where addresses were made by the Sheikh of Accra, Mr Samir Asse, and Mr Mohammed Sempel, a graduate of Architecture in Greece.

On the afternoon of the same day, His Beatitude blessed a wedding in Jadeide, near Makr, before accepting an invitation to dinner at the house of Dr Khalil Andraus, a friend of the Patriarchate.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJxh7A0llmM

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An0e6NyHZEo