THE FEAST OF THE PROPHET ELIAS AT THE PROPHET ELIAS MONASTERY IN JERUSALEM (2016)
On Tuesday, the 20th of July/2nd of August 2016, the Patriarchate observed the memory of Prophet Elias the Thesbite at the Monastery dedicated to his name, between the new south gate of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The Monastery stands on the site through which the prophet passed when persecuted by Ahab and Jezebel when, through his prayer, God burnt the sacrifice on Mount Carmel and Elias slayed 400 priests of shame. There Elias slept under a broom bush until an angel of the Lord awakened him with these words: “Get up and eat and drink”. So he got up and ate and drank and, strengthened by that food, he travelled forty days and forty nights.
The divine Liturgy was led by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, having as concelebrants the Patriarchal Commissioner, Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina, Methodios of Tabor, Theodosios of Sebaste, Demetrios of Lydda and Hagiotaphite Archimandrites, e.g. Archimandrites Ieronymos, Ignatios, Matthew, Ananias, Meletios; priests from Beit Sahur, Bethlehem and Beit Jala, Archdeacon Evlogios and Hierodeacon Markos. Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang in Greek and the St James Cathedral Choir in Arabic under Mr Rimon Kamar. Attending the service was a congregation of pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Romania and locals.
The Patriarch delivered a sermon in Greek.
On the conclusion of mass, Archimandrite Paisios, the Monastery’s Supervisor, hosted guests to a reception followed by lunch at the hegumeneion.
From the Secretariat-General
httpv://youtu.be/V49PRoNQK3U
httpv://youtu.be/6AjPEIJXSnw