PALM SUNDAY AT THE PATRIARCHATE

On Sunday, 4/17 April 2022, the Patriarchate celebrated the Palm Sunday, namely the triumphant entrance of the Lord in Jerusalem after Lazarus’ resurrection. The Lord was sitting on a young ass and being welcomed by the children of the Jews who held palm tree branches and cried out loud, “Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord”.

This Despotic feast was celebrated at the Catholicon of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as a “Great Parresia” after the reading of the 9^th Hour at the Church of Saint Constantine, with the welcoming and the veneration at the Holy Deposition, the Holy Sepulchre and the Horrendous Golgotha, and the incense offering, through the Great Vespers on Saturday afternoon. The service was officiated by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos with the co-celebration of the Hagiotaphite Hieromonks with first in rank the Elder Kamarasis Archimandrite Nectarios, Hierodeacons and the attendance of faithful Christians from Jerusalem and many pilgrims.

On Sunday morning, 4/17 April 2022, there was the official cathode from the Patriarchate to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Catholicon by His Beatitude with co-celebrants their Eminences, Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, the Archimandrites Theophanes of Gerassa, Aristarchos of Constantina, Methodios of Tabor, Theodosios of Sebastia, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and Hierodeacons, at the presence of the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Evangelos Vlioras and many faithful Christians from Jerusalem and many pilgrims from Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Georgia and Russia.

The Divine Liturgy was followed by a litany with palm tree branches three times around the Sacred Edicule and then around the shrines, concluding with the reading of the Gospel narrative before the Holy Sepulchre.

After the litany the full congregation returned to the Patriarchate Headquarters, bells tolling, and with the Scouts parade leading the procession. At the Reception Hall, His Beatitude wished that we may go through the Holy Week in health and contrition and reach the Holy Pascha in joy.

From Secretariat-General