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

On Saturday, September 24th/October 7th, 2023, the feast of the Holy First Martyr and Equal to the Apostles Thekla was celebrated by the Patriarchate.

On this feast, the Church remembers that Saint Thekla came from Iconium in Asia Minor and from the age of 18 she followed the Apostle Paul and was taught the Christian faith by him, and preached Christ in many areas and having suffered a lot, she died at an old age in her own homeland.

This feast was celebrated in the Saint’s chapel in the Central Monastery, dating from the 16th century, where ancient icons and the footprint of the Lord’s foot from the rock of His Ascension are kept.

The feast was celebrated with Vespers in the evening and the Divine Liturgy in the morning, held by the priests of St. Constantine. The Typikon keeper Archimandrite Alexios had the lead, in the presence of His Beatitude, with the participation in prayer of the Holy Sepulchre Fathers monks, locals and pilgrims.

After Vespers, the boiled wheat with dried bread and wine was offered in the forecourt of the Central Monastery next to the well and after the Divine Liturgy, the festive treat was provided at the Epitropikon.

From Secretariat–General