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THE FEAST OF THE HOLY FIRST MARTYR AND EQUAL TO THE APOSTLES THECLA AT THE PATRIARCHATE

On Friday, September 24/October 7, 2022, the commemoration of the Holy First Martyr and Apostle Thecla was celebrated by the Patriarchate in her chapel, located within the Central Monastery of the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood, west of the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen.

During this holiday, the Church remembers that the Saint came from the city of Iconium in Asia Minor and fleeing from her fiancé Thamyrid followed the Apostle Paul in his sermons and preached Christ in Antioch of Pisidia.

She confessed Christ and surrendered herself to torture for Him, from which she escaped and lived to a long age until she slept in the Lord in her birthplace.

In honour of her, Vespers was celebrated in the evening in her chapel, presided over by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos under the priest of the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen Archimandrite Nicodemus, with the participation in prayer of the Hagiotaphite Archbishops. Participants at the Entrance and the blessing of bread were the Elder Kamarasis Archimandrite Nectarios and the Elder Dragoman Archimandrite Mattheos.

After Vespers, according to the custom, wine was served in the courtyard after dry bread.

In the morning, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated again in the presence of the H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, with the participation in prayer of the Hagiotaphite Fathers, in the presence of the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Evangelos Vlioras. The chanting was delivered by Hierodeacon Symeon, Hierodeacon Eulogios, Mr Vassilios Gotsopoulos and the students of the Patriarchal School of Sion in the joint prayer of monks, nuns and pilgrims at the narthex of the Church.

At the Epitropikon Office, while a festive treat was served, His Beatitude wished for the intercessions of Saint Thecla to the Brotherhood.

From Secretariat-General