On Wednesday, the 21^st of November/4^th of December 2013, the Entry of Theotokos into the Temple was celebrated at the Patriarchate, commemorating the entry of the Blessed Mary into the temple of Solomon and the Holy of Holies, as well as her preparation there for the role intended for her by God, namely the incarnation of the Son and Word of God by the Holy Spirit through herself.

The feast was celebrated in the Church of Sts Constantine and Helena of the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood, led by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, who opened the “Christ is born, praise” hymns.

The same feast was festively celebrated at the Convent of the Great Panaghia, which today numbers approximately twenty nuns. His Eminence Demetrios, Archbishop of Lydda, led the Vespers and the divine Liturgy on the day of the feast. Co-officiating were Hieromonks and Deacons, in the presence of a crowd of pious faithful including pilgrims and nuns. The head cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite f. Aristovoulos, chanted in Greek, Russian and Arabic.

The Hegoumen of the Sacred Pilgrimage of the Shepherds’ Field, serving as vicar in the Convent, Archimandrite Ignatius, preached the Word of God to the pious congregation, describing the entry of Theotokos into the Temple as the “prelude to God’s favour and the declaration of the salvation of man, and the annunciation of Christ and Theotokos towards the fulfillment of God’s economy”.

During the divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Theophilos and his retinue of Hagiotaphite members arrived in the church to venerate.

At the end of the divine Liturgy, the Mother Superior, nun Melanie hosted a reception for the Prelatic retinue and the congregation, at the abbess’ quarters.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/5k741Xtlpr4

On the evening of Thursday the 15^th/28^th of November 2013, the “thyranoixia” ceremony, namely the opening of the doors, of the Holy Sepulcher Exarchy took place in the vicinity of the Archbishopric of Cyprus, in Nicosia.

The ceremony coincided with the eve of the commemoration of St Philoumenos the Hieromartyr, who suffered at martyr’s death near Jacob’s Well in 1979. By decision of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, St Philoumenos is commemorated on the day of his martyrdom, namely the 16^th/29^th of November each year.

The Exarchy of the All-Holy Sepulcher was erected almost from ruins and maintained owing to the approval of His Beatitude Chrysostomos, Archbishop of Cyprus, upon the blessing, support and protection of His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, the tireless efforts of the Most Reverend Timotheos, Metropolitan of Bostroi and Patriarchal representative to Cyprus, at the expense of pious benefactors – mostly the significant subvention of Mr Igor Altushkin, pious pilgrim.

Leading the ceremony of “thyranoixia” was the Most Reverend Metropolitan Timotheos, in the presence of the Reverend Gregorios, Bishop of Mesaoria; the Hagiotaphite Hegoumen of the Monastery of the Shepherds in Bet Sahur, Archimandrite Ignatius, acting as a representative of His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and carrying a piece from the holy relics of St Philoumenos the Hieromartyr –the main church of the Exarchy being dedicated to the Ascension of the Lord, its chapel to St Philoumenos; the Most Reverend Chrysostomos, Metropolitan of Kyrenia, the Greek Ambassador to Cyprus, Mr Vasilios Papaioannou, representatives of the Nicosia Mayoralty, and a great crowd.

On the following day, Friday the 16^th/29^th of November 2013, the divine Liturgy was held, led by the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Bostroi. Co-officiating were Archimandrite Ignatius and priests from the Archbishopric and Bishoprics of Cyprus.

During the opening of the doors as well as in the course of the Divine Liturgy, the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Bostroi thanked the Lord for deeming us worthy to reach the “thyranoixia” ceremony, the Archbishopric of Cyprus, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, benefactors, and the attending crowd, wishing that the inauguration ceremony be held soon in order for the Exarchy to operate fully as the link between two ancient apostolic Churches, those of Jerusalem and Cyprus, for the benefit of the two Churches and pious Cypriot pilgrims alike.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/pZrbZj8THSc

On Thursday the 15^th/28^th of November 2013, the Hieromartyr Saint Philoumenos the Hagiotaphite was commemorated one day in advance due to pastoral reasons.

The feast was celebrated at Jacob’s Well, where the then Hegoumen, Archimandrite Philoumenos, had suffered a martyr’s death on the 16^th/29^th of November 1979. Following a decision in 2009 of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Saint’s martyrdom was added to the Synaxarion of Hieromartyrs (Martyrology).

His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, led the divine Liturgy on the morning of the aforementioned day. Co-officiating were the Most Reverend Kyriakos, Metropolitan of Nazareth; the Patriarchal Commissioner in Bethlehem, His Eminence Theophylaktos, Archbishop of Jordan; and the Most Reverend Isaiah, Metropolitan of Tamassos and Orinis, visiting from the Church of Cyprus. The liturgy was held in the presence of a crowd of local Orthodox faithful from the region of Samaria but also from Jerusalem, and pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Romania as well as a group from Cyprus, led by the Metropolitan of Tamassos, Isaiah. The choir chanted under the direction of the Head Cantor of the All-Holy Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos, in Greek, Arabian and Russian.

During the Koinonikon of the divine Liturgy, His Beatitude preached the Word of God in Greek. This is an excerpt from His speech:

[…] Christ’s martyrs occupy a prominent position in the ranks of saints of the Church. And this because their blood, shed for the light of truth in Christ, has made them communicants of Christ’s redeeming blood, “who hath purchased the church of God, with his own blood”, (Acts 20, 28). After all, those without hope, and without God in the world, according to the wise Paul, “who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ…consequently, they are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household”, (Eph. 2, 12-19).

In other words, my dears, the blood of the martyrs is what has made them fellow citizens of the first-born saints and members of Christ’s household. And this is exactly what the memory of the holy martyrs calls upon us, to become fellow citizens of the saints and members of Christ’s household. “Have you honoured the martyr by presence? Honour him, too by correction of kin. Because to honour the martyr is to emulate the martyr”, says the Holy Chrysostom. And this because: any disorderly attachment to the body and to the vanity of this world is a burden and a weight that hinders us from running the good race, the race “marked out for us” (Hebr. 12, 1) “throwing off the burden of the living things and their concerns, and with them negligence and sloth”, says the commentator Ecumenios.

Martyr Philoumenos whom we celebrate today, having joined the cloud, namely the crowd of the martyrs of the Church of Christ, is not only a witness of this world, but keeps witnessing in heavens in favour of truth and the redeeming faith in Christ, though invisible amongst us.

The divine Liturgy was followed by lunch, hosted by the founder of the Church that stands on Jacob’s Well in the name of St Photini of Samaria, Hegoumen, Archimandrite Ioustinos.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/QCWHbViSWRw

On Thursday the 8^th/21^st of November 2013, the feast of the Gathering of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel was celebrated by the Patriarchate.

The feast was firstly celebrated in the city of Joppe, where the Patriarchate maintains a Holy Monastery dedicated to the Archangels by the sea, on the site where the Apostle Peter had the vision of the great sheet descending from the sky, and heard a voice telling him to kill and eat from all clean and unclean animals seen into the sheet: “Kill and eat, what God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy” (Acts, 11, 7). Through this very vision, God declared His will that the church should open its gates to the gentiles, considered unclean.

In this church, which was renovated after having been reduced to ashes in a fire, at the expenses of His Eminence Damaskinos, Archbishop of Joppe, His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, led the Divine Liturgy. His Beatitude arrived from Jerusalem with His retinue and was welcomed by the Boy Scouts Association in the square near the Monastery.

Co-officiating with His Beatitude were the Most Reverend Kyriakos, Metropolitan of Nazareth; Bishop Jovan of Ulpiana, visiting from Serbia; His Eminence Damaskinos, Archbishop of Joppe; His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina and Elder Secretary-General; His Eminence Methodios, Archbishop of Tabor; the Patriarchal Commissioner in Bethlehem, Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan; His Eminence Nektarios, Archbishop of Anthedon; Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, Arab-speaking Presbyters and Hierodeacons.

The Greek Ambassador in Tel Aviv, Mr Spyridon Lambrides, piously attended the Divine Liturgy in the company of associates of his from the Embassy and a crowd of Orthodox faithful from the city of Joppe and other cities of Israel, whilst, under the direction of the Head Cantor of the All-Holy Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos, the choir chanted in Greek, Arabic, Russian and Romanian, the congregation participating piously.

To the faithful, His Beatitude preached the Word of God. This is an excerpt from His speech:

 […] These immaterial Minds, namely the angels, “are ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Hebrews 1, 14). The angels’ ministry is confirmed by the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ, saying: “there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents”, (Luke 15, 10). Besides, the Melodist of our Church declares: “Let us praise the bodiless ministers of God, those who always mediate for our salvation and commend repentance”.

[…] The angels, as God’s ministering spirits, actively participate in the work of man’s salvation, as revealed through the words of Christ:“For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done” (Matthew 16, 27).

The Divine Liturgy was followed by a brief reception, then lunch at the Hegoumen’s Quarters, courtesy of His Eminence Damaskinos, Archbishop of Joppe.

The feast of the Archangels was also celebrated at the Monastery dedicated to them in Jerusalem by means of Vespers and a Divine Liturgy, led by His Eminence Demetrios, Archbishop of Lydda, who also preached the Word of God to the faithful.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/nESo4EydL-g

On Saturday the 3^rd/16^th of November 2013, the feast of the translation of the relics of St George the Trophy-Bearer and Great-Martyr was celebrated in the Holy Church dedicated to him in Lydda.

The Holy Church of St George was the first to be built in his honour after the Edict of Milan was issued by St Constantine in 313 AD, by his mother St Helena who came to the Holy Land in 326 AD. St Helena built the church on the grave wherein the saint’s holy relics had been translated by his servant from Rome. In Rome St George suffered a martyr’s death after having confessed his faith in Christ, thus abandoning the Roman army to join the army of Christ’s martyrs.

This holy Church conquered the force of time and the alternation of powers in the Holy Land. It has been conferred on the basis of the building’s history and structure, half of the building has been seized to be used as a mosque.

In the remaining magnificent part of the church, on top of the tomb which has been preserved in the form of a crypt-chapel, His Beatitude Theophilos, Our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem led the Divine Liturgy. His Beatitude was welcomed by the Boy Scouts of the city of Lydda; the Hegoumen of the Holy Monastery, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Sophronios; the Greek-Orthodox Council, Majlis, and the Acting Mayor of the city of Lydda, Mr Abib Wasserman. Co-officiating were the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Capitolias, and His Eminence the Archbishop of Joppe, Damaskinos; the Elder Secretary-General Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina; the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Archangelsk, Daniel, visiting from the Church of Russia; the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, His Eminence Demetrios, the Archbishop of Lydda; the Exarch of the Holy Sepulcher in Constantinople, His Eminence Nektarios, the Archbishop of Anthedon; Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, the Hegoumen of Remli, Archimandrite Nephon; Arab-speaking Presbyters and Hierodeacons; the Greek Ambassador to Tel Aviv, Mr Spyridon Lambrides; the Serb Ambassador, and a great crowd of faithful from the city of Lydda and the neighbouring countries of Joppe and Remli, but also from the cities of Galilee and the occupied areas of Judea and Samaria, whilst, under the direction of the Head Cantor of the All-Holy Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos, the choir chanted in Greek, Arabic, Russian and Romanian, the congregation participating piously.

To the faithful, who had gathered to venerate the tomb of St George in piety, respect and devoutness, His Beatitude preached the Word of God during the Koinonikon of the Divine Liturgy. This is an excerpt from His speech in Greek:

[…] The festive commemoration of the martyrdom of St George, my dear brothers, as well as his time, is not the historical past; it is indeed the present and the future. And this we say in the face of an indisputable reality of displacement, of persecutions and martyric deaths of innocent children and our fellow human beings, especially our brothers in conviction and religion, both near and far from what Paul has termed our temporary stay; to this very reality the word of the Gospel can be fully applied: “in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God” (Jn: 16:2)Indeed: as if this weren’t enough, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think that not only is he not committing a crime, but that with this murder he is worshipping God. […]

In other words, the work of the devil has many times been conducted in the guise of God’s deacon and many times ferocious enemies of the truth in Christ sat “in the Temple of God”, (2 Thessalonians, 2:4)

In Arabic, the speech may be read here: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2013/11/16/2822

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archimandrite Sophronios offered refreshments and pastries to the Patriarchal Retinue and the crowd, in the Hegoumen’s Quarters opposite the church. At noon, lunch was offered by the Hegoumen and the city’s Community Council at “Nandi” –Orthodox Group, in the presence of the Acting Mayor of the city of Remli, Mr Abib Wasserman; former MP, the Christian Nadia Heloue, and a representative of the Islamic Community of Remli.

There, His Beatitude addressed those present with this speech: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2013/11/16/2821

and went on to offer monetary assistance for the benefit of the Community and the Boy Scouts of the city of Lydda.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/WQhwDhVGbhI

On Saturday the 27^th of October/9^th of November 2013, His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, performed the divine Liturgy in the city of Ib’lin (Abelin), in Northern Israel, where the Patriarchate preserves a Rum Orthodox Community, numbering approximately five thousand members. The Community falls under the jurisdiction of the Holy Metropolis of Ptolemais, present-day Accra.

The liturgy was intended for the spiritual communication and collaboration between his Beatitude and His spiritual children; also, for the installation of recently ordained priest, f. Savvas Haj. Father Savvas will serve as assistant parish priest to the elder f. Spyridon, who has been serving the Community of the city of Ib’lin for several years now.

Co-officiating were the Prelates of the Patriarchate, the Most Reverend Kyriakos, Metropolitan of Nazareth, and His Eminence Theodosios, Archbishop of Sevasteia.

During the koinonikon, His Beatitude addressed the installed priest, f. Savvas, and the pious congregation. This is an excerpt from his address:

[…] To increase and establish our holy zeal, we have proceeded, upon a Synodic decision, to the appointment of two parish priests, who are to co-officiate with the venerable and grey-haired priest and Steward, Spyridon Aouad. These new labourers in our Lord’s vineyard are your fellow parishioners, the recently ordained f. Savvas, and Steward f. Demetrios, for the time being a minister in the Community of Haifa.

Let us, my dears, summon our Father, the God of lights, so that his Only Son and Word, He who is the true light, may illuminate their faces and guide their steps towards the achievement of His commandments, by means of the mediation of the Mother of God, the Ever Virgin Mary, and the supplications of the Holy Great-Martyrs, St Demetrius and George. Amen.

At the conclusion of the divine Liturgy, during a reception held in a hall next to the church, the installed priest, f. Savvas, addressed His Beatitude. In his address, f. Savvas extended his thanks for the privilege to serve as priest in his hometown of Ib’lin. In His reply, His Beatitude wished f. Savvas a fruitful diaconate ministry, endowed with hieratic consciousness, diligence and dedication.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/JhUG5ybI4ro

On Friday the 26^th of October/8^th of November 2013, the feast of St Demetrius the Great Martyr and Myrrh-Streamer was celebrated at the ancient chapel dedicated to him. The chapel lies between the Central Monastery of the Hagiotaphites and the School of St Demetrius, named thus after the chapel.

It is well known to all Christians that St Demetrius hailed from Thessaloniki and blessed Nestor to confront Lyaios, a pompous idolater, before slaying him. As a result of this, both Nestor and St Demetrius suffered a martyr’s death in the name of Christ.

The saint’s name-day was celebrated with Vespers in the evening and the Divine Liturgy led by His Eminence Theodosios, Archbishop of Sevasteia. Co-officiating were Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and deacons in the presence of piously praying pilgrims, nuns, and pupils at the Patriarchal School of St Demetrius. 

After the koinonikon of the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence Theodosios, Archbishop of Sevasteia, wished to all present that they be blessed by St Demetrius, invoking the life of the saint as an exemplum of profound faith in Christ, in defiance of death itself.

The liturgy was followed by refreshments in the forecourt of the chapel, and a festive reception at the School of St Demetrius.

The day included a celebration at the School of St Demetrius, during which the Synaxarium of the saint was read out in Arabic and Greek, whereas Principal Mr Samir Zananiri addressed the attendants, and students of all ages and classes performed children’s dances and recited poems.

The event closed with wishes and advice from His Beatitude.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/N68LYUL7gJw

On Tuesday, 23^rd of October/5^th of November 2013, the memory of the glorious apostle and hieromartyr James, the Brother of the Lord, was celebrated by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the ancient church dedicated to him. The church stands between the Central Monastery of the Hagiotaphites and the All-holy Church of the Resurrection, beneath its belfry. It constitutes the Cathedral of the Rum Orthodox Arab-speaking Community of Jerusalem.

In the afternoon, at 2:30 pm, Vespers was held, led by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem. The procession of Vespers was attended by Hagiotaphite Fathers, nuns, Arab-speaking locals, parishioners and pious Greek-speaking and Russian-speaking pilgrims. After the procession, amidst the sound of bells ringing, the Patriarchal Retinue progressed to the Patriarchates.

On the day of the feast, at 8:00 am, His Beatitude Theophilos arrived at the Church of St James, began chanting the Katabasias, and led the Matins and Divine Liturgy. Co-officiating were Hagiotaphite Prelates: their Eminences the Archbishops of Avila, Tabor and Sevasteia, Dorotheos, Methodios and Theodosios respectively; Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and the presbyters of the Church of St James, Steward f. Issa Touma and priest Farah-Charalambous Bantour, and hierodeacons. The Greek Consul-General in Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis attended the service in the company of his associates and a crowd of Orthodox faithful, Jerusalemite parishioners and pious pilgrims.

To this Christian crowd, His Beatitude preached the Word of God in Greek. This is an excerpt of His speech in English:

Today the Church of Christ and indeed the Church of Jerusalem delights and rejoices because St James was proclaimed an Apostle and the first Bishop in Jerusalem by the Lord himself and was the first to write and set forth the Divine Liturgy, taught by none other than Christ.

In other words, my dear brothers, St James became an eye and ear witness to the mystery of divine economy in Christ and of Christ’s teachings, as demonstrated by his catholic epistle, where he names himself James of God, the servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. And truly, he is recognized as a servant of Christ. This, because he faithfully emulated Christ in words and deeds, as attested in the preaching on faith included in his epistle, namely: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead”. (James 2, 14-17 & 26)

In Arabic, the speech may be accessed here: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2013/11/05/2810

At the end of the d. Liturgy, the Patriarchal Retinue progressed to the Patriarchates, followed by Hagiotaphite Prelates from the rooftop of St James, as is the custom. Blessed bread was distributed by the supervisors of the Patriarchate’s bakery, Hieromonk f. Paisios and the reverend nun Serapheima, at the exit from the Central Monastery on the way to the Patriarchate.

During the reception at the Patriarchate, His Beatitude addressed in Greek the Hagiotaphite Fathers, the Consul-General and laymen. An excerpt from the address is cited here in English:

“It is precisely the wisdom of God, namely the Holy Spirit, which makes us not strangers to God but his fellow citizens, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone”. (Ephesians 2, 19-20).  

The safe-keeping of the construction of the Church, assembled in Christ, is guaranteed by the apostolic succession through which the Church is prolonged in Christ and through Christ along the centuries. As proprietors of this treasure in the face of the holy, glorious and most honourable Apostle James, we have properly and assuredly performed the divine liturgy in the church consecrated to St James, where we made a supplication for a righteous and peaceful condition of the entire world, especially our region, for the spiritual well-being and progress of our holy Hagiotaphite Brotherhood and of our pious Christian race.

In Arabic, the address may be read here: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/ar/2013/11/05/2808

The address was followed by brotherly embrace and kissing the hand of His Beatitude.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/tNc0mRoh9ok

On Monday, the 15^th/28^th October 2013, at 10:30 am, Doxology was held in the All-Holy Church of the Resurrection on the occasion of the national holiday commemorating the 28^th of October 1940.

Doxology was held as prayer of gratitude to God for empowering and reinforcing our nation to liberate itself from the occupying forces of World War II, and as supplication for forgiveness of the sins and repose of the souls of those who fought for their faith and homeland and those who fell heroically for the national cause and achieved the great feat of national liberation.

Doxology was led by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem. Co-officiating were Hagiotaphite Prelates and Hieromonks, in the presence of the Greek Consul-General in Jerusalem, Mr Georgios Zacharoudiakis, members of the Greek parish in Jerusalem and visiting pilgrims from Greece.

After doxology, attendants proceeded, amid ringing bells, to the Patriarchates where the Greek Consul-General made a speech pertaining to the national holiday (see video). His Beatitude addressed those present in Greek, while f. Issa Musleh translated into Arabic. An excerpt from the address is cited here:

“The present-day commemoration of the epos of 1940 is invested with particular significance in our contemporary and technologically advanced era. This we say as new forms of Nazism and Fascism threaten humanity, especially so those nations that are infused with the principles of the Gospel, love of Christ and the healing spirit of His Church, namely our Eastern Orthodox Church”.

The procession was transmitted live on the Patriarchate’s Radio Station, see: en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2012/12/26/2443

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/qdfbNhs3rhw

On Saturday the 12^th/26^th of October 2013, the feast of the translation of the relics of our hosios Father, Savvas the Consecrated, was celebrated at the Holy Monastery founded by him in the desert of Judea.

The feast is rooted in the fact that on this aforementioned day of October in the year 1965, the relics of the hosios, which were kept in Venice since the time of the Crusaders, were returned to the Holy Monastery under the Roman-Catholic Church.

Overnight celebrations were led by His Beatitude Theophilos, Our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, who arrived at the Monastery from the evening of the same day, whereupon he was warmly received by Archimandrite Evdokimos and his retinue, co-officiating prelates: their Eminences the Archbishops of Gerasa and Constantina, Theophanes and Aristarchos respectively, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and wedded Arab-speaking priests and deacons. Arab-speaking faithful from Bethlehem, Shepherds Village and Beit Jalla piously participated in the celebrations.

Consecrated wheat (kollyva) was distributed after the divine Liturgy, followed by lunch.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/qxEXRw5XuJg