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MONDAY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AT THE PATRIARCHATE

On Monday, May, 26/June 8, 2020, the Patriarchate celebrated the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to the Disciples and Apostles who were gathered at the Upper Room of the Holy Zion. This day, the following after Pentecost, is celebrated as a day especially dedicated to the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Holy Trinity, “without beginning, of the same essence, without beginning and never ending”, Who came down to the Disciples and Apostles “like tongues of fire and with the sound of a mighty wind and filled the place where they were gathered”. “And they all started uttering strange words, doctrines and teachings of the Holy Trinity” the marvels of God in Jesus Christ, Who was crucified and resurrected and sent down the Holy Spirit through the Father; the Holy Spirit Who is proceeding from the Father and rests in the Son.

This marvellous and redeeming event was celebrated by the Patriarchate on Sunday afternoon at the Cemetery Chapel in the Hill of Zion, which was led by His Eminence Archbishop Philoumenos of Pella, with the co-celebration of Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, at the chanting of Hierodeacon Simeon, Mr. Vasilios Gotsopoulos and the Patriarchal School students. Part of Vespers was the reading of the kneeling Service in Greek and Arabic.

On the day of the Feast, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Holy Church of the Holy Trinity inside the School of Zion, led by His Eminence Archbishop Philoumenos of Pella, under the chanting of Hierodeacon Simeon, Mr. Vasilios Gotsopoulos and the Patriarchal School students.

The prayers of the kneeling service were read again, the first in the Church, the second in the Catacomb and the third in the Upper Room, and there was also a prayer at the Prophet-King David’s Tomb, with the Archbishop and a limited number of clergy with the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr. Christos Sophianopoulos.

Upon exiting David’s Tomb, the procession stood at the south gate of the cemetery where a prayer for the departed was read, and concluded at the Church.

The Episcopal entourage was offered a reception by the Managing Director of the School Archimandrite Mattheos.

From Secretariat-General