THE FEAST OF THE MEETING OF THE LORD IN THE TEMPLE

On Thursday, the 2nd/15th of February 2024, the Patriarchate celebrated the Despotic feast of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple:

1. In the Patriarchal and Monastic Church of the patrons of the Patriarchate Saints Constantine and Helen, presided over by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos with the attendance of the High Priests and Priests of the Brotherhood.
2. At the Holy Monastery of Panagia Sayda Naya, near the Patriarchate in the Christian quarter.

On this feast, the Church remembers that our Lord, the Creator and Giver of the Law on Mount Sinai to the Prophet Moses, observed this Law, being brought as an infant in the arms of His parents to the Temple of Solomon, when Simeon the righteous received Him in his arms, thus becoming “God-receiver” and recognized Him as the Christ, saying: ” Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2, 29-32) thus confessing the incarnation of Christ.

On this occasion, Vespers was held in the evening and the Divine Liturgy in the morning in the above-mentioned Monastery, presided over by the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, with concelebrants the Archimandrites; Ieronymos and Makarios, the Presbyters Fr. Farah Badur and Father Nikolaos Kulinsky, Hierodeacons Eulogios and Dositheos. The chanting was delivered by the Secretary of the Holy Synod, Hierodeacon Simeon and the Patriarchal School Students in Greek and by Mr Rimon Kamar and his assistants from Saint James Cathedral. The service was attended by monks, nuns, pilgrims and members of the parish of Saint James the Brother of God, in the presence of the Greek Consul Mrs Anna Madika and other members of the Greek Consulate General and the wife of the US Consul in Jerusalem.

Before the Holy Communion, His Eminence preached the divine word about the ecclesiological and theological interpretation and significance of this feast (see video).

During the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude visited the Monastery for veneration with the Holy Sepulchre Fathers.

The Patriarchal and Episcopal Entourages and the congregation were offered a rich reception by the Abbess, nun Seraphima, who has renovated the Holy Monastery and maintains it as a functional Spiritual Centre.

From Secretariat-General