THE FEAST OF SAINT MELANI AT THE PATRIARCHATE

On Friday, December 31, 2022/January 13, 2023, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of St. Melani of Rome in her chapel located inside the Nunnery of Megali Panagia, adjacent to the Patriarchate to the southwest.

On this day, the Church remembers that St. Melanie came from a rich family to Rome, and after her husband and children died, she undertook a charitable journey to Egypt, where she fed thousands of monks and Christians who were suffering, and who were persecuted by heresies, and ended up in in the Holy Land and in Jerusalem, where she founded a guesthouse and a monastery. She lived until the year 411 AD in truth, monastic striving and philanthropic activity.

In her honour, Vespers was held on Thursday afternoon and Divine Liturgy on Friday morning under the ministering Priest of the Monastery of Archimandrite Makarios and Archimandrite Stephen, at the chanting of Mr Vasilios Gotsopoulos with the help of Hierodeacons and Monks of the Patriarchate, as the services were attended by the nuns of the Monastery and of other Monasteries and many pilgrims.

The Fathers and the congregation were offered a reception by the renovator of the Church reverend Nun Melani.

From Secretariat-General