THE CEREMONY OF LOVE OR OF THE SECOND RESURRECTION 2016

At 12:30 pm of Easter Sunday, the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood gathered at the Hall of the Throne in the Patriarchate.

There, the Patriarch, Primates and other Hagiotaphites, exchanged the “Christ has risen” festive embrace. Then, as the magnificent Byzantine hymn “Resurrection Day” was sung by cantors, His Beatitude, Primates and Priests put on their festive vestments and read the Ninth Hour in turn.

From there, amidst bells ringing, they walked from the Patriarchate down the Way of Sorrow, chanting “Christ has risen”. In the court of the Church of the Resurrection, the Patriarch made a supplication for health, peace, stability and progress for pilgrims and our nation.

Upon entering the Church of the Resurrection, the Patriarchal Entourage walked to the Bema of the Katholikon, where Vespers began led by His Beatitude.

After censing, the Gospel according to John, on the first appearance of the Resurrected Lord to His disciples, behind closed doors for fear of the Jews, and Thomas’ infidelity that have borne faith, was read in Greek, Arabic, Russian, Hebrew, English, French, German and Latin.

Upon the apolysis and amidst bells tolling, the Patriarchal Entourage then walked to the Central Monastery.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/HeL-MLV7N4g