In the afternoon of Holy Friday, the 5^th/18^th of April 2014, Vespers for the Removal of Christ from the Cross was officiated at the katholikon of the Church of the Resurrection, led by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem. The Head Cantor of the Church, Archimandrite Aristovoulos, chanted with his aides this troparion of compunction: “He who clothes Himself with light as with a garment”, in the presence of a crowd of pious pilgrims.

From the Secretariat-General

On the morning of Great Friday, namely the 5^th/18^th of April 2014, the service of the Royal (Great) Hours was observed on the Holy Golgotha. The service was read out after the opening of the Gate of the Church by the Orthodox in accordance with the standard order, and after the arrival of the procession which had begun from the Praetorium through Via Dolorosa, led by the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias. The Metropolitan carried a cross in remembrance of the fact that our Lord carried His cross from the Praetorium, aided by Simon of Cyrene, to Calvary, the “Place of the Skull”, where He was crucified. A great crowd of co-praying Orthodox followed.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/zgLBmF7Ap8Q

On the evening of Thursday the 4^th/17^th of April 2014, the Service of the Passion, known as the Twelve Gospels Service, was conducted at the monastic Church of Sts Constantine and Helen, led by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, with co-praying Hagiotaphite Fathers, in the presence of a great crowd of pious pilgrims from various Orthodox Churches and countries.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/pBS8Yy-iFxg

On the morning of Holy Thursday, the 4^th/17^th of April 2014, after the Divine Liturgy of Great Basil at the Cathedral of St James the Brother of God, the procession of the Holy Maundy was conducted in the Holy Court of the Church of the Resurrection.

During the aforementioned rite, in accordance with the Jerusalemite order, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, from an appropriate platform, washed the feet of twelve Hieromonks and Presbyters, in commemoration of the Evangelic event, as our Lord Jesus Christ washed the feet of His disciples, having girded himself with a towel, thus offering them and us an example of true and absolute humbling.

This devout rite, unique to the Church of Jerusalem, was attended with great attention and piety by thousands of pilgrims standing in the yard and the galleries of the Church of St James or of the Holy Monastery of the Dependency of Gethsemane, praising the Lord for having deemed them worthy of the grace of pilgrimage in these holy lands and of participation in this rite of exalting humiliation.

The conclusion of the procession was followed by progression to the Patriarchates amidst bells ringing.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/Zoy_C8CsZxA

On Holy Wednesday, the 3rd/16th of April 2014, the last Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified from this year’s Great Lent was held at the Monastic Church of Sts Constantine and Helen. His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, officiated at the service, with co-praying Hagiotaphite Prelates, Hieromonks, deacons and pilgrims.

On the evening of Holy Wednesday, the 3rd/16th of April 2014, the sacrament of Holy Unction was also conducted at the Church of Sts Constantine and Helen, in preparation for the Communion and participation in the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Holy Unction was led by His Beatitude Theophilos. Co-officiating were five Prelates and a Hieromonk, namely Archimandrite f. Alexios, head of rubrics [“Typikaris”] in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers, nuns and a great crowd of faithful pilgrims from Greece, Cyprus, Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Serbia, Belarus and Palestine.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/nCwHZModi7E

In the evening of Palm Sunday, the 31^st of March/13^th of April 2014, the Services of the Bridegrooms began at the All-holy Church of the Resurrection, at the Monastic Church of Sts Constantine and Helen and other Monasteries of the Patriarchate in Jerusalem.

Officiating at the Bridegroom Service in the Church of the Resurrection was His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, alongside the Patriarchal Commissioner, the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias; Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, visiting from Greece; the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina, Hagiotaphite Archimandrites, Hieromonks and Hierodeacons.

This devout Service was attended by numerous Greek pilgrims, having their souls appeased through the theological troparia, feeling united with Jesus Christ, “the Bridegroom coming at midnight”, standing and knocking on the door of our soul, waiting for us to open and follow Him to Upper Jerusalem.

To the pious congregation His Beatitude spoke in Greek.

From the Secretariat-General 

In the evening of Palm Sunday, the 31^st of March/13^th of April 2014, the Services of the Bridegrooms began at the All-holy Church of the Resurrection, at the Monastic Church of Sts Constantine and Helen and other Monasteries of the Patriarchate in Jerusalem.

Officiating at the Bridegroom Service in the Church of the Resurrection was His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, alongside the Patriarchal Commissioner, the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias; Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, visiting from Greece; the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina, Hagiotaphite Archimandrites, Hieromonks and Hierodeacons.

This devout Service was attended by numerous Greek pilgrims, having their souls appeased through the theological troparia, feeling united with Jesus Christ, “the Bridegroom coming at midnight”, standing and knocking on the door of our soul, waiting for us to open and follow Him to Upper Jerusalem.

To the pious congregation His Beatitude spoke in Greek.

From the Secretariat-General 

httpv://youtu.be/WiQdUgesIA0

On Sunday the 31^st of March/13^th of April 2014, namely Palm Sunday, the triumphal entry of the Lord into Jerusalem was commemorated by the Patriarchate, as the day when the children of the Jews chanted “Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is He who cometh” and welcomed Him with branches of palm trees.

1. In the afternoon

Vespers for the feast was held at 2 pm, first at the Church of Sts Constantine and Helen, where the 9^th Hour was read out, followed by progression to the All-Holy Church of the Resurrection, amidst bells ringing.

After venerating at the interior of the Holy Sepulcher and at the Angel’s Stone, His Beatitude gave blessings and rose to the throne, while Prelates and members of the Synod venerated at the Golgotha, and Hierodeacons burnt incense along the holy shrines.

The Head Cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos, chanted alongside Monk Joseph from Mount Athos. Vespers was led by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, with Prelates co-praying from within the Holy Bema. At the conclusion of Vespers, the Patriarchal retinue proceeded to the Patriarchates.

II. Palm Sunday from Bethphage

At the conclusion of Vespers, most of the participating faithful ascended to Bethphage, on the Mount of Olives.

There, His Beatitude Theophilos blessed the branches at the Holy Monastery of Palm Sunday, founded by the late Archbishop Gregorios of Tiberias, and assigned Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias with leading the holy procession of the litany. The procession imitates the triumphal Entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, “where the sons of the Jews chanted Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is He who cometh”.

The procession began from Bethphage and passed through Gethsemane where the crowd held branches and chanted Palm Sunday troparia, before concluding in the direction of the Lions’ Gate or St Stephen’s Gate, at the Holy Monastery of St Anna, where it was dispersed.

1. In the morning

On the day of the feast, at 07:00 am, the Patriarchal Retinue proceeded from the gates of the Central Monastery to the Church of the Resurrection through Christian Street.

Upon entrance into the Church and the Holy Bema through Golgotha, His Beatitude proceeded to venerate, as the Holy Sepulcher at that precise moment was held by the Franciscans, celebrating Easter concurrently with the Orthodox.

Once His Beatitude and the Prelates were dressed in prelatic attire, they proceeded to the area in front of the “Navel of the Earth” and the Divine Liturgy began.

The Divine Liturgy was led by His Beatitude Theophilos. Co-officiating was the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias; the Most Reverend George, Metropolitan of Nizhny-Novgorod and Arzamas, visiting from the Patriarchate of Russia; the Most Reverend Nikolaos, Metropolitan of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, visiting from the Church of Greece; their Eminences Archbishops Theophanes of Gerassa, Dorotheos of Avila, Aristarchos of Constanina, Methodios of Tabor, Theodosios of Sebaste and Demetrios of Lydda; the Very Reverend Bishop Theodosios of Prizren, visiting from the Patriarchate of Serbia; and His Eminence the Archbishop of Vitebsk and Orsansk, also visiting from the Church of Russia. Also present were Hagiotaphite Archimandrites, Archdeacon Evlogios, deacons Martyrios, Dionysios and Timotheos from the Metropolis of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki. The Head Cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos, chanted with Monk Joseph of Mount Athos in the presence of a large crowd of Orthodox from Russia, Greece, Cyprus, Ukraine and Romania. Attending the service was the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis and his esteemed wife.

At the conclusion of this magnificent Divine Liturgy, a procession began from the Holy Bema, moving thrice around the Holy Aedicula along the Holy Shrines before returning to the Holy Aedicula, where the Evangelic pericope was read out and a supplication was made.

Once the procession was completed, the Patriarchal Retinue ascended to the Patriarchates.

There, His Beatitude addressed all those present in Greek.

From the Secretariat-General 

httpv://youtu.be/HWhTmP_No-M

httpv://youtu.be/nRqS_TUpVyA

httpv://youtu.be/G_uqbCYE9Aw

httpv://youtu.be/FxjxD9_kasg

I. In Bethany

On Saturday, the 30^th of March/11^th of April 2014, namely the Saturday of Lazarus, the raising of the righteous Lazarus “of the four days”, friend of Jesus, was commemorated in Bethany, at the Convent dedicated to Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, and at his tomb.

His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, led the Divine Liturgy. Co-officiating were the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina; the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, His Eminence Demetrios, Archbishop of Lydda; the Most Reverend Metropolitan Theodosios, visiting from the Patriarchate of Serbia; the Most Reverend Nikolaos, Metropolitan of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, visiting from the Church of Greece; Hagiotaphite Archimandrites and Presbyters, visiting from the Church of Greece; Archdeacon Evlogios and other hierodeacons, cantors visiting from Cyprus, and fathers Joseph and Joseph from Mount Athos. A great crowd of Orthodox faithful from Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Cyprus and Romania participated in devoutness and piety.

To this pious flock, His Beatitude preached the Word of God in Greek.

After Communion and the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude proceeded to the Abbess’ quarters, where nun Eupraxia treated both Him and guests from the Municipal Authority of the town of Bethany to refreshments.

Subsequently, a procession began from the Monastery to the tomb of Lazarus, led by His Eminence Demetrios, Archbishop of Lydda. There, the pericope on the Raising of Lazarus was read out, followed by a supplication, which sealed the feast in Bethany.

II. On the Site of the Ascension

The feast of the raising of Lazarus was also celebrated on the Mount of Olives and the Site of the Ascension, due to its adjacency to Bethany.

Vespers for the feast was held at the Pilgrimage Site of the Ascension, where lies the foot trace of our Lord Jesus Christ, as well as the ruins of a Byzantine Church, now converted into a mosque. Before the ceremony of the Vespers, a wish was read out on a desecrated Holy Altar, exposed outdoors.

Vespers was led by the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias, and was followed by a procession to Little Galilee, where stands the church of Galili Viri. There, in the presence of His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, the First Eothinon Gospel was read out, a supplication was made, and the Patriarchal Polychronism chanted, before the procession proceeded to the Ascension site.

On the site, the Divine Liturgy was performed, led by the Patriarchal Commissioner, Isychios of Kapitolias. Co-officiating were Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and deacons, cantors from Greece, students at the Patriarchal School of Sion and the cantors of St James Cathedral, under Mr Rimon Kamar. Praying in devoutness were local Arab-speaking faithful from Jerusalem and elsewhere, praising God that His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, raised Lazarus from the dead.

A festive reception followed at the Monastery of the Ascension, offered by the Hegoumen, monk Achillios.

From the Secretariat-General 

httpv://youtu.be/EXeF1Ui1ni0

httpv://youtu.be/BL_1bOzelE8

A. In Nazareth

On Monday, the 25^th of March/7^th of April 2014, the feast of the Annunciation was celebrated in Nazareth, where the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to announce to the ever virgin Mary that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and of her would be born the Son and Word of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, for the salvation of the human kind.

Nazareth, first cited in the New Testament, has always been one of the largest towns in Galilee. Today it numbers approximately 90.000 inhabitants, of whom 18.000 are Christian Orthodox.

At the center of the old town lies the pilgrimage site, the Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, where the Annunciation took place.

After a three-hour ride, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem arrived in Nazareth on the aforementioned day and first proceeded to the Metropolis. There, he was received by Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, priests from Nazareth and adjacent towns, as well as the Council of the Rum Orthodox Community of Nazareth.

From the Metropolis, the Patriarchal Retinue, accompanied by Boy Scouts, proceeded to the holy shrine, where they were warmly received by a great crowd.

From there, His Beatitude walked to the area intended for the Divine Liturgy, where he gave blessings and began the Katabasia hymns.

He went on to officiate at the Liturgy. Co-officiating were the Most Reverend Kyriakos, Metropolitan of Nazareth; the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias; and the Elder Secretary-General, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina; hieromonks, Hagiotaphite hegoumens at Northern Israel monasteries; Archimandrite Timotheos of the Monastery of the Holy Apostles in Tiberias; monk Irinaios, the hegoumen at the Monastery of the Apostles Peter and Paul in Capernaum; Archimandrite Hilarion of Mount Tabor Monastery; Archimandrite Chrysostomos of the Monastery of St George the Great Martyr in Cana, Galilee; priests from Nazareth and adjacent towns; Archdeacon Evlogios and deacon Markos. Attending the service was the President of the Community Council, Mme Afaf Touma with Council members, the Director of the Israeli Religious Affairs Department, Mr Cesar Margie; and the representative of the Hellenic Embassy to Tel Aviv, in the presence of the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis, and his honourable wife. The Nazareth choir chanted in Arabic while the Accra choir, under Archimandrite Philotheos, chanted in Greek and Arabic alike. A great crowd of Orthodox faithful, including Greek-speaking, Russian-speaking, Arabic-speaking and Romanian-speaking, participated in piety.

To this pious flock, His Beatitude preached the Word of God in Greek, see link: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/gr/2014/04/07/12871

And in Arabic, see link: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2014/04/07/4593

After Communion and the Apolysis (conclusion), a procession was performed around the holy shrine, led by the Boy Scouts. Fish lunch was then offered to the Patriarchal Retinue and members of the flock by the Metropolitan of Nazareth and the Community Council.

B. In Jerusalem

On the occasion of the feast of the Annunciation, a Divine Liturgy was held at the Tomb of the Mother of God in Gethsemane, led by His Eminence Dorotheos, Archbishop of Avila, with co-officiating Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and deacons.

The Prelatic retinue was hosted to a reception at the Hegoumen’s Quarters by Archimandrite Nektarios.

C. In Rafidia

A Divine Liturgy commemorating the Annunciation of Theotokos was also held at the Church of the Annunciation in the Rum Orthodox Community of Rafidia, near Jacob’s Well in Neapolis (Nablus). The Liturgy was led by His Eminence Theophanes, Archbishop of Gerassa, and attended by a great crowd from the town’s Orthodox flock.

From the Secretariat-General 

httpv://youtu.be/PYY9u6jEpM4

httpv://youtu.be/3AYsEqZs-uM

httpv://youtu.be/LFBbb2GgXRU

On Friday, the 22^nd of March/4^th of April 2014, the service of the Akathist Hymn was held at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

The service was led by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, having proceeded to the All-holy Church of the Resurrection amidst bells ringing, accompanied by the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, His Eminence Demetrios, Archbishop of Lydda; the Master of Ceremonies, Archimandrite Porphyrios and other Hagiotaphite Fathers.

During the service, the cantors chanted the Canon of the Akathist Hymn “That I open my mouth…” while the four Stases of the Akathist Hymn were read out as follows: the first by Patriarch Theophilos; the second by the Elder Sacristan, Archbishop Isidoros of Hierapolis; the third by the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda; and the fourth by the Master of Ceremonies, Archimandrite Porphyrios. The choir of the Church of the Resurrection performed on the right under the direction of Archimandrite Aristovoulos, while the choir of the Alimos Music School performed on the left under Principal Mr Pouis. A crowd of monks, nuns and pious pilgrims participated, in the presence of the Greek Consul-General.

At the conclusion of the service, His Beatitude talked of the figure of Our Lady Theotokos as a model of patience, obedience and Sanctity for all generations, and wished that the congregation have a fruitful period of Lent until the celebration of the Resurrection.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/jZpYqV2DC_s

httpv://youtu.be/f8ht1J52vJw