From the midnight of Tuesday the 31^st of December 2014/13^th of January 2015, to 3:00 am of the 1^st/14^th of January 2015, Matins and the Divine Liturgy were held for the despotic feast of the Circumcision of the Lord and the memory of St Basil, Archbishop of Caesarea, at the katholikon of the Church of the Resurrection and the Holy Sepulcher.

Matins and the divine Liturgy were led by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, with co-officiating primates, such as Metropoliton Isychios of Kapitolias, Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina, Dorotheos of Avila, Theodosios of Sebaste and Demetrios of Lydda, and the former representative of the Romanian Patriarchate to Jerusalem, the Very Reverend Bishop Timotheos. The head cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos, sang in the presence of a large crowd piously praying for the grace and help of Christ and the mediation of St Basil.

Mass was followed by a procession around the Holy Shrines, carrying the holy relic of St Basil’s right hand, which is kept in the Sacristy of the Church of the Resurrection.

After the procession, His Beatitude cut St Basil’s pie at the Office of the Elder Sacristan.

In the morning, His Beatitude visited the Monastery of St Basil to venerate, in the course of the divine Liturgy led by Archimandrite Claudius, Abbot at the Monastery of the Holy Cross. At noon, He joined the Hagiotaphite Fathers to lunch.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/DGZ_RXF5Dls

httpv://youtu.be/CzncO2cepvM

On Tuesday, the 31^st of December 2014/3^rd of January 2015, the last day of the year 2014, the feast of Saint Melania of Rome was celebrated by the Patriarchate at the chapel dedicated to her, within the Monastery of the Great Panaghia to the south of the Patriarchate.

On this site lived Hosia Melania circa 410 AD, hailing from Constantinople, after having provided nutrition to 5000 monks for three days in the Nitrian Desert, Egypt.

Vespers and the divine Liturgy were led by the Patriarchal Commissioner, the Very Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias. Co-officiating were Hieromonk Chrysogonos, Hieromonk Makarios and deacon Markos. Father Joseph and students from the Patriarchal School sang, while nuns from the Monastery of the Great Panaghia devoutly offered their help.

On the conclusion of mass, the Elderess of the Monastery, nun Melanie, hosted the Prelatic retinue to a reception at the hegoumeneion.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/PQC8qI9Yjtk

On Friday, the 27^th of December/9^th of January 2015, the Patriarchate celebrated the memory of St Stephen the Protomartyr and Archdeacon, the first of the seven deacons chosen by the Apostles to serve the first Church of Jerusalem and remain there, devoted to the logos, preaching the word of the crucified and resurrected Jesus Christ.

Vespers and the divine Liturgy were led by His Eminence Demetrios, Archbishop of Lydda, on the site where St Stephen was stoned to death, at the church dedicated to him on the west of the Tomb of the Mother of God, in Gethsemane, in the valley of Josaphat.

Mass was observed by Hagiotaphite Fathers, nuns, faithful from Jerusalem, and a small number – due to the cold weather –  of pilgrims hailing from Greece, Russia, Ukraine and Romania.

After mass, the Prelatic Retinue and the congregation were hosted to a reception at the Hegoumen’s quarters, courtesy of the Abbot, Archimandrite Epiphanios.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/-5ST8Tsj8J0

1. At the Patriarchate.

On the day after Christmas, the 26^th of December 2014/8^th of January 2015, the Patriarchate celebrated the Synaxis of Theotokos at the monastic church of Sts Constantine and Helen.

The term “Synaxis of Theotokos” signifies the gathering of the faithful in honour of the Mother of God, a contributor to the mystery of the incarnation and birth in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matins and the Divine Liturgy of the feast were led by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem. Hagiotaphite Primates, Archimandrites and monks participated in piety. On the conclusion of mass, they walked to the Patriarchates in procession.

1. At the Monastery of the Shepherds, Beit-Sahour

On the same day, the Synaxis of Theotokos was celebrated at the Monastery built by the late Hegoumen of St Savvas Monastery, f. Seraphim, in the Village of the Shepherds, commemorating the Shepherds hailing from this very town, those hearing the angels sing and seeing the incarnate Lord lying in the manger (Luke 2, 17).

Vespers and the Divine Liturgy were led by Archbishop Dorotheos of Avila. Co-officiating with him were Archimandrite Ignatios, Hieromonk Efrosynos, and the priests of Beit-Sahour, fathers Savvas, Ibrahim, Issah and Hanna. Members of the youth association and other parishioners of Beit Sahour participated in piety, in spite of the cold weather, rain and snow.

The procession and supplication at the underground Shrine of the Shepherds were followed by a visit to the house of f. Issah-Christos, priest from the Village of the Shepherds and the Patriarchate’s liaison with Arab-speaking Mass Media. Later, Archimandrite Ignatios hosted guests to lunch at the “Palmyra” restaurant.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/3UK15inG8ps

On the evening of Christmas Eve, the 24^th of December/6^th of January 2015, to the 25^th of December/7^th of January 2015, at 10:30 pm, celebrations began for Christmas Day, as the Patriarchal Commissioner, Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias was welcomed at the Baptismal gate. From there, the Prelatic Retinue entered the nave where Matins began for the feast of Christmas.

During Matins, His Beatitude entered the Holy Bema, then walked through the Beautiful Gate with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on his right, and on his left the Jordan Minister of Labour and the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem.

In this Holy Land, where divinity was revealed to humans in a bodily form, the excerpt on the Nativity was recited from Luke’s Gospel, followed by the Patriarch’s Message of Christmas by Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina in Greek, see: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/gr/2014/12/22/19407

and by presbyter f. Issa Mousleh, the Patriarchate’s liaison with Arab-speaking Mass Media, in Arabic.

His Beatitude and the Primates went on to venerate at the Star and the Manger, before the procession began in the interior of the basilica. Upon the completion of the third circle, a supplication was made, followed by Matins in the nave, in front of the iconostasis.

Matins and the d. Liturgy were led by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem. Co-officiating were: Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, Archbishops Theophanes of Gerassa, Dorotheos of Avila, Aristarchos of Constantina, Theophylaktos of Jordan, and Demetrios of Lydda. In attendance were Hieromonks and priests visiting from Orthodox countries, such as Greece, Russia, Romania, Moldavia and Ukraine, Archdeacon Evlogios and deacons. The choir chanted in Greek on the right, in Arabic on the left, for a great congregation hailing from Bethlehem, Beit-Jalla, and Village of the Shepherds, as well as visitors from Greece, Russia, Romania, Moldavia and Ukraine.

Many among them received Holy Communion, thanking God for the experience of the divine Liturgy, offered to them by Christ on the site of His Nativity in the flesh.

Mass was followed by festive lunch, hosted by Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan.

After lunch, His Beatitude, fathers and the crowd left for their city in heavy rain, in anticipation of significant snowfall.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/LlIj3-7UqFo

The feast of Christmas was celebrated by the Patriarchate in Bethlehem, at the Cave of the Nativity of Christ and in the Basilica of the Nativity above it, on Christmas Eve, namely Tuesday the 24^th of December/6^th of January 2015 and on Christmas day.

On the morning of Christmas Eve, the Israeli Police, headed by Commander Avi Biton, and Mr Cesar Margie, representing the Israeli Ministry of Religious Affairs, came to the Patriarchate to congratulate Patriarch Theophilos on the occasion of the feast, before walking in procession to David’s Gate.

From there, the Patriarchal retinue was driven to the Monastery of the Prophet Elias. After venerating they left, accompanied by five Israeli horsemen, for the border iron gate near Rachel’s Tomb.

Once the gate was opened by the Israeli Army, His Beatitude and accompanying Primates proceeded, now accompanied by Palestinian motorcyclists, to Bethlehem. They were flanked by faithful, independent of denomination, Orthodox and others, asking for the blessing of His Beatitude.

The Patriarch was warmly received at Bethlehem square by a crowd of people led by Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan. Representatives of the Palestinian Autonomy, the Mayor and the Prefect of Bethlehem, Ministers and Police members were also in attendance.

From the square, priests headed the procession towards the court of the Basilica of the Nativity, passing through the low gate, a symbol of the Incarnate Christ’s condescension and its endurance against raids throughout the centuries.

The Patriarchal procession then walked through the Basilica – a privilege reserved only for the Orthodox – to reach the divine Cave, where a supplication was made, after which the Patriarch, Primates and Priests went on to venerate.

After reciting the Great Hours of Christmas at the Katholikon, the ceremony was concluded at 3:30 pm.

On the evening of the same day, His Beatitude hosted dinner in honour of President Mahmoud Abbas. Guests included Palestinian Ministers and Jordan’s Minister of Labour.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/gYvFFBJVR_4

On the afternoon of Monday, the 23^rd of December 2014/5^th of January 2015, the day before Christmas Eve, the Sacrament of the Holy Unction was administered at the Monastic Church of Sts Constantine and Helen.

This holy Sacrament, preparing the faithful for the feast of Christmas, was led by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and had as participants Primates from the Patriarchate.

After reciting seven excerpts from the Apostolic Fathers and seven Gospel pericopes, the Primates were anointed by the Patriarch, the Patriarch by the Primates, and Patriarch and Primates alike by monks, nuns and pilgrims attending the sacrament for the blessing of their soul and body, the remission of their sins and their salvation.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/FdQZjel8Enw

On Sunday, the 22^nd of December 2014/4^th of January 2015, a memorial service was held for the departed members of the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood, namely Patriarchs, Primates, Priests, Hieromonks, Hierodeacons, monks and nuns, at the katholikon of the All-holy Church of the Resurrection.

The divine Liturgy preceded the memorial service, led by His Eminence Theophanes, Archbishop of Gerassa. On the conclusion of mass, a memorial service was held for the repose of the souls of departed fathers, led by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem. Co-officiating were Primates and Hieromonks of the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/eAwqIfHUDr4

On Wednesday, the 18^th/31^st of December 2014, the Patriarchate observed the memory of Our Father Modestus, Patriarch of Jerusalem, at the chapel dedicated to his name on the hill of Abu Tor, opposite St Sion in Southern Jerusalem.

St Modestus was the hegoumen of the Monastery of Abba Theodosius the Cenobiarch, who morally and tangibly encouraged and enhanced Christians in the Holy Land, and renovated churches and monasteries left in ruins after the 614 AD Persian raid. He succeeded Patriarch Zacharias of Jerusalem after His dormition.

On the day of the feast, the divine Liturgy was led by the Abbot at the Holy Monastery of the Shepherds in Beit-Sahur, Archimandrite Ignatius. Co-officiating were the Master of Ceremonies, Archimandrite Porphyrios, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and deacon Markos. The Head Cantor of the Church of the Resurrection sang in Greek, Russian and Arabic. Pilgrims, monks and nuns, as well as members of the Greek parish in Jerusalem, piously attended the service.

His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, proceeded to venerate in the course of the liturgy.

On the conclusion of mass, Monk Antiochos, the Monastery’s supervisor, hosted the congregation to a reception in the forecourt.

From the Secretariat-General

On Sunday, the 15^th/28^th of December 2014, namely the Sunday of the Forefathers, the memory of the ancestors, according to the flesh, of our Lord Jesus Christ, was celebrated at the Patriarchate. Patriarch Abraham was the first to receive the Lord’s promise that “in his seed all the nations shall be blessed”. The feast was observed at the church dedicated to the Holy Forefathers in Beit-Sahur, the Village of the Shepherds, where shepherds living out in the fields near Bethlehem, saw the infant Lord, wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger. (Luke 2)

In this town, numbering approximately 15.000 inhabitants, half of whom are Arab-speaking Greek Orthodox, Patriarch Theophilos was welcomed at the entrance of the church. The Patriarch went on to lead the Divine Liturgy, with co-officiating prelates: Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina, and Theophylaktos of Jordan, and the Patriarchal Commissioner in Bethlehem. Also in attendance were Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, Hegoumen Ingatius, Archimandrite Ieronymus, the Arab-speaking vicars of the community, Archdeacon Evlogios and deacons Marcos. The Community’s Choir sang, while a crowd of faithful participated in piety.

During Communion, His Beatitude Theophilos preached the Word of God to the congregation.

In Arabic, the homily may be reached here: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2014/12/28/8932

On the conclusion of mass, His Beatitude was hosted to lunch at the Magara Restaurant, where he spoke words of praise for Archimandrite Ignatius on his venerating, pastoral and charity work.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/Yq-eVD-_U3M