THEOPHANY AT THE PATRIARCHATE (2016)
On Tuesday, the 6th/19th of January 2015, the feast of Theophany was celebrated by the Patriarchate.
On the morning of the aforementioned day, the Patriarchal Entourage walked from the Patriarchate through the stairs of St James the Brother of God to the All-holy Church of the Resurrection.
There, by the Holy Apokathelosis, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, was welcomed by priests, upon which the Patriarch and Primates went on to venerate.
Veneration also took place at the Holy and Life-giving Sepulcher of the Lord.
After cantors sang the Katabasias hymns, His Beatitude performed the rite of the Great Blessing, having the Primates and Priests as concelebrants, as the faithful received the blessing of the Holy Cross and drank sanctified water.
On the conclusion of the Blessing, the divine Liturgy began at the Holy Sepulcher led by Patriarch Theophilos. Co-officiating were the Patriarchal Commissioner, Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias; the Elder Secretary-General, Aristarchos of Constantina; the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda; Archbishop Theodosios of Sebaste; the Most Reverend Joachim of former Zambia; Hagiotaphites, Hieromonks and Priests; Archdeacon Evlogios and Hierodeacons Markos and Anastasios in the presence of the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis. A great crowd of faithful locals and pilgrims, monks and nuns attended the service, as the head cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos, sang in the Byzantine style.
The divine Liturgy was followed by return to the Patriarchates, where the Patriarch addresses hierarchs and the congregation, wishing that the enlightenment of John the Forerunner by the baptized Lord shed its light upon all of us.
From the Secretariat-General
httpv://youtu.be/enkqdsZj7kQ
httpv://youtu.be/VnC959-O4e4