THE SERVICE OF THE HOLY LIGHT AT THE PATRIARCHATE
On Holy Saturday afternoon, 10/23 April 2022, the Service of the Holy Light was observed according to the Status Quo of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
At 13.00 o’clock (summertime) His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos left the Patriarchate Headquarters after the welcoming reception of the Greek delegation and went down to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre through the staircase of Saint James Cathedral.
Inside the Church, the representatives of the Armenians, Copts and Syrians came to receive the blessing by His Beatitude the Greek Orthodox Patriarch to participate in the ceremony and receive, each according to their right, the Holy Light.
Immediately after that the Procession three times around the Sacred Edicule began, under the chanting of “Thy Resurrection Christ Saviour” and “Joyous Light”.
After the 3rd round of the litany, the Greek Patriarch entered the Edicule along with the representative of the Armenians who stood by the Angel’s stone.
His Beatitude prayed asking the mercy and compassion of God and to offer our repentance, received the Light from the Holy Tomb, the Light of the incarnate, crucified and Resurrected Christ, as His blessing for the waiting crowds, who received it in gleefulness, sanctifying their faces, hands, glorifying God.
Holding the candles of the Holy Light, His Beatitude left the Holy Sepulchre and marched to the Sacristy through the Catholicon, and from there He returned to the Patriarchate Reception Hall, along with His entourage, bells tolling.
The Service of the Holy Light was followed by the Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great, which was officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis.
At the Patriarchate, His Beatitude gave the Holy Light to the leader of the Greek Delegation, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Andreas Kastaniotiis and to the Exarch in Athens Archimandrite Raphael to transfer it to Greece by a private flight for the blessing of the Greek people.
From Secretariat-General