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THE FEAST OF THE MEETING OF THE LORD AT THE PATRIARCHATE

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On Saturday, February 2/15, 2020, the Patriarchate celebrated the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord;

  1. At the monastic Church of the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood with Matins and the Divine Liturgy, with the presence of H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, and the participation in prayer of the Hagiotaphite Fathers and pilgrims.
  2. At the Holy Monastery of Sayda Naya, which is located on the north side of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Patriarchate. On this feast the Church commemorates the event narrated by St. Luke the Evangelist (ch. 2;22-38), when after the completion of forty days since His birth in the flesh, the Lord was brought to the Temple of Solomon by His parents according to the Law of Moses. They brought also the offering of two turtle doves and two young pigeons and Saint Simeon the God-receiver, inspired by the Holy Spirit received the Lord in his arms and cried aloud; “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, For mine eyes have seen thy salvation…”

This event was celebrated with Vespers in the afternoon and the Divine Liturgy in the morning of the feast led by His Eminence Archbishop Aristovoulos of Madaba, with co-celebrants the Hagiotaphite Hieromonks; Archimandrite Ieronymos, Archimandrite Makarios and Dean Priest Nikitias and Arab-speaking Priests. The chanting was delivered by Mr. Vasilios Gotsopoulos and the Patriarchal School of Zion Students in Greek and Mr. Rimon Kamar in Arabic, as the service was attended by a very large congregation of many pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Romania and Cyprus and many local Orthodox Christians from the parish of St. James’ Cathedral.

Before the Holy Communion the officiating Archbishop preached the Divine Word (see video).

During the Divine Liturgy His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos came to venerate, accompanied by Hagiotaphite Fathers.

After the Divine Liturgy the gook keeper of the Monastery who receives many pilgrims daily, Gerondissa Seraphima offered a reception to the Episcopal Entourage and the congregation at the hegoumeion and the courtyard of the Monastery.

From Secretariat-General