THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY AT THE PATRIARCHATE

On Saturday morning, January 6/19, 2019, the celebration of the Feast of Epiphany started with the cathode of the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood from the Patriarchate to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, under the lead of our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos.

After the welcoming at the Holy Deposition, the Service of Matins was held and then the Service of the Great Sanctification of the Water, while the troparia of Epiphany were being chanted.

Once the faithful had been blessed with the sanctified water, and had taken the sanctified water for their houses, the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom was celebrated at the All-holy Tomb, officiated by His Beatitude, with co-celebrants the Archbishops of the Patriarchate; Most Reverend Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, the Most Reverend Archbishops, Aristarchos of Constantina, Methodios of Tabor, Theodosios of Sebastia, Demetrios of Lydda, the Most Reverend Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis and the visiting from the Church of Greece Most Reverend Metropolitan Nectatrios of Corfu, Paxoi and transiting islands, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, first of whom in rank the Elder Kamarasis Archimandrite Nectarios, Priests from Orthodox Churches, Archdeacon Mark and five more Deacons. The chanting was delivered by the choir leader of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre Mr. Constantinos Spyropoulos and the services were attended by the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr. Christos Sophianopoulos and a large crowd of pilgrims from various countries.

After the Dismissal of the Divine Liturgy and the receiving of the Sanctified Water by all present who had kept the fast for one day, the Patriarchal Entourage returned to the Patriarchate Headquarters under the sound of the bells.

They were followed by the pilgrims, clergy and laity, who paid their respect to His Beatitude and received His blessing.

From Secretariat-General