On Sunday, October 5/18, 2020, His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos officiated the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Monastery of Saint Onuphrius, which is located opposite Siloam’s pool, where the man who was born blind was sent by the Lord to wash his eyes and recover his vision. It is built on the rocky area with the carved rocks at the Potter’s Field, which the Pharisees bought in order to bury the foreigners, with the thirty pieces of silver that Judas returned to them having regretted his betrayal.

The Patriarchate owns a Monastery there, dedicated to our Righteous Father Onuphrius the Egyptian.

Co-celebrants to His Beatitude were, His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, and the Archimandrites: Elder Dragoman Mattheos, Kallistos, the Hegoumen of the H. Monastery of Saint Charalambos, along with Hierodeacon Eulogios. The chanting was delivered by Mr Vasilios Gotsopoulos and the Patriarchal School Students.

Before the Holy Communion His Beatitude delivered the following Sermon to the few Nuns and faithful who attended the service due to the COVID-19 restrictive measures:

“But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil” (Luke 6:35), the Lord says.

Beloved Brethren in Christ,

Noble Christians

The grace of the All-holy Spirit which was sent to the Holy Martyr Charitini has gathered us all in the Holy place, in order to celebrate the Great Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist on her commemoration.

The special characteristic of the Saints, and of course of the Martyrs of the Church is the Divine love, namely the love for Christ, which [love] made us sons and daughters of the Most-High.

“God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16). “We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:14-15) Saint John the Evangelist preaches.

Interpreting Saint John’s words, Saint Basil the Great says: “if God is love, it is absolutely necessary for hatred to belong to the devil. For as the one who has love has also God, likewise, the one who has hatred, feeds the devil in him”.

The infinite philanthropy of God, namely the infinite power of His love, was revealed in the mystery of the Divine Providence, with the Incarnation of the Son and Word of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. And Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross for our sins is “the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge” (Eph. 3:19).  Christ, Who, “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” Saint Paul preaches (Phil. 2:7-8).

In other words, God the Word was made human and suffered death on the Cross, in order to make powerless the one who had the power and the might of death, namely the devil, “that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14), Saint Paul says. The devil is the enemy of every righteousness (Acts 13:10), and therefore the Father of resentment and the primary enemy of God’s love. According to Saint John of the Ladder, resentment means among other things: hatred of righteousness, the poison of the soul, alienation of love, and a thorn pierced in the soul.

Behold therefore why the Lord commands: “But I say unto you which hear; love your enemies, do good to them which hate you” (Luke 6:27). Paying heed to the Lord’s words, Saint Paul composed the hymn of love, which he placed above all knowledge and every degree of faith. “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing” (1 Cor. 13:2).

Saint Paul, who was “caught up to the third heaven” (2 Cor. 12:2), praises the steadfast bond between love and truth by saying: “Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth” (1 Cor. 13:6).

And to make it clearer, love does not rejoice in something unrighteous but rejoices when the truth prevails. In this case, “truth” is Christ, the Son and Word of God, Who proclaimed “I am the truth” (John 14:6). According to Saint John the Evangelist’s testimony, “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16).

The love that was revealed in the mystery of the Divine Providence is, in itself, the mystery of God the Father. For this reason, love for others, and especially for our enemies, is not a virtue, but “the result of nature” as the interpreter Zigavinos says: “It is not a virtue for someone with love to love, but a result of nature”. And according to Saint Anthony the Great, “life and death are from our neighbour”, meaning that we will have life or death, depending on the way we behave towards our neighbour, our fellow man.

Christ’s love made today’s honoured Saint Charitini, an adornment of the Martyrs, as the melodist of the Church says: “Loving the gladness of the things of the spirit and spurning all things seen, since they are inconstant, O maid, thou didst secure thy mind with godly hopes. Hence, thou rannest froth with joy, to the contest, O Martyr, fighting in the stadium, where thou slew the serpent; and thou didst plait a most majestic crown, O Charitini, adornment of martyred Saints” (Matins, Sessional hymn tone four).

As for us, my dear Brethren, let us entreat the God of Love to make us steadfast in His Love, paying heed to Saint Paul’s advice: “Be ye, therefore, followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour”(Eph. 5:1-2). Amen. Many happy returns”.

After the Divine Liturgy, the good keeper and renovator of the Monastery Reverend Abbess Paissia offered a hospitable reception.

From Secretariat-General

The Feast of Saint Isaac the Syriac, to whom the Cathedral in Doha is dedicated, was celebrated according to the ordained measures and instructions of the Ministry of Health of Qatar. For pastoral reasons, the Feast was moved to Friday.

On Thursday, September 25/ October 8, 2020, Great Vespers and the Blessing of Bread were officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Qatar, under the chanting of the Church choir in Greek, Serbian and Arabic.

On Friday, September 26 / October 8, 2020, Matins and the Episcopal Divine Liturgy were officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Qatar, with Priest Dimitrios as co-celebrant. The Service was attended by the Archdiocese flock, the new Ambassador of Greece in Doha, Mrs Eleni Mihalopoulou, and the Military Attache’ Colonel Kyriakos Dimitriou. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only one hundred and fifty Faithful Christians were allowed to participate in the Service inside the Cathedral. The remaining ones who came for the Feast attended the Divine Liturgy which was held by Priest Stylianos at the Chapel of the Dormition.

From the Holy Archdiocese of Qatar

 On Sunday morning, September 28 / October 11, 2020, Monk Athanasios Koutsoupias was ordained a Deacon during the Divine Liturgy at the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

Monk Athanasios is a graduate of the Patriarchal School of Zion. After his graduation, he received the monastic schema and joined the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood, and has been ministering at the Shrine of the God-receiving Cave in Bethlehem for the last four years.

Monk Athanasios was ordained a Deacon by the Patriarchal Representative in Bethlehem, His Eminence Archbishop Theophylactos of Jordan, after the decision of the Holy and Sacred Synod and the blessing of H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos.

The ordained was encouraged for his ministry by the words of His Eminence Theophylactos, while the Priests, the ministers of the God-receiving Cave and the congregation of the Bethlehem Community honoured him with their presence.

From Secretariat-General

On Sunday, September 28 / October 11, 2020, His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos officiated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Trinity on the hill of Zion, on the commemoration of Saint Chariton the Confessor and introducer of the monastic life, and of Saint Isaac the Syriac. Co-celebrants to His Beatitude were their Eminences; Metropolitans Isychios of Kapitolias and Joachim of Helenoupolis, the Managing Director of the School, Elder Dragoman Archimandrite Mattheos, Archimandrite Dionysios and Hierodeacon Simeon. The chanting was delivered by Mr Gotsopoulos.

This Church was built by the Vice Sacristan of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre Archimandrite Gerasimos between the years 1905-1911, and this is where the Patriarchal School is housed since 1970. The School operates as Highschool and Lyceum, following the program of the Ministry of Education of Greece, and the leaving certificate from it offers the graduates entrance to the Universities of Greece without taking the introductory examinations. At present, thirteen students study here, preparing by their free will to join the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood, and serve the All-holy Shrines in the Holy Land, after their graduation.

After the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude held the Blessing of water, in order to bless the New School Year 2020-2021, and before the teachers, the school students, and the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Evaggelos Vlioras delivered the following Sermon:

“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying; Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken…And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all and followed him” (Luke 5:8-11).

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Beloved Students of the Patriarchal School

The grace of the Holy Spirit has gathered us all today in this sacred place of the Holy Zion, at the Monastery of the Holy Trinity, where the Patriarchal School is based, in order to offer the Trinitarian God the bloodless sacrifice in Doxology; and entreat in prayer our Lord God to send down to us the sanctification and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

“And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men” (Luke 5: 10). Through these words, “Christ replaced the natural fishing with the noetic one”, Zigavinos says.

This noetic, or spiritual fishing which Christ bestowed to the Apostles is no other than the fishing which is accomplished by the enlightening power of the mind’s abilities. In other words, the Disciples were taught about this spiritual fishing by Christ. That is why Christ is called a Teacher, while the Apostles are called Disciples. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples” (John 13:35). And elsewhere; “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:19-20).

It is clear that studentship, namely, the education, is the armour and the weapons of God’s light (Eph. 6:11, Romans 13:12). Therefore, Saint Paul advises Timothy, his disciple thus: “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:14-15).

The holy scriptures to which Saint Paul refers, are those written in the Holy Bible, which entail the enlightening and redeeming truth of God, as it has been revealed to men by the Holy Prophets and Apostles. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”, the Lord says (John 8:32). And we wonder, what (or Who) is this truth? In this occasion, the truth is the incarnate God the Word, Christ, who said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

This truth, the righteousness that lives unto the ages, is being preached and evangelized to the world by the Holy Church of Christ; “He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth forever” (2 Cor. 9:9, Psalm 111:9). This truth of the Crucified and Resurrected Christ is witnessed and ministered by the Church of Jerusalem.

“Lay hold of instruction, lest at any time the Lord be angry and ye perish from the righteous way” (Psalm 2:12). “Goodness and discipline and knowledge teach Thou me, for in Thy commandments have I believed” (Psalm 118:66). And in more detail: teach me the common sense and the science to distinguish good from evil, namely, give me the ability of knowledge and discernment, the psalmist says. Behold, therefore, why Saint Paul preaches: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

Needless to say that not only the God-inspired Scriptures, but also the discreet use of the Greek philosophy may contribute so that “God’s man be perfect and healthy” according to Saint Basil the Great, and especially according to the Holy Martyr and Philosopher Justine, who held the opinion that the seeds of the Word made the Gentile Philosophers able to “behold the beings dimly” and teach “seeds of truth”, and he adds: “For those things said [by the Gentile Philosophers] well, [they] belong to us Christians”.

And those “things said well” by the Gentile Philosophers, refer to the divine wisdom from above. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17).

My dear Brethren and beloved students, the Venerable Hagiotaphite Brotherhood, known as the Order of the Studious Ones, according to Saint Paul’s words: “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” (Gal. 4:19), has never ceased caring for the education in Christ of its flock’s children, all over its jurisdiction. On the contrary, it has always striven for the education of its future force, namely of its new members, the graduates of this Patriarchal School, according to the command written in the Bible: “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction” (Proverbs 3:11) and “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding” (Proverbs 3:13).

Concluding, We wish that the grace of the Holy Spirit which came down from heaven like tongues of fire and sat upon the Holy Apostles and Disciples of Christ at the Upper Room of the Holy Zion, may enlighten your minds and guide your education to every good work, by the intercessions of our Most-Blessed Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, and of all the Saints. Amen.”

From Secretariat-General

On Wednesday, September 24/ October 7, 2020, the Patriarchate celebrated the commemoration of the Holy First Martyr Thecla, the Equal to the Apostles, at the Holy Chapel dedicated to her, inside the Central Monastery of the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood, on the west side of the Monastic Church of Saints Constantine and Helen.

On this feast, the Church commemorates Saint Thecla as one of Saint Paul’s disciples, who followed him in his tours and preached Christ and the Orthodox Faith in the cities of Asia Minor. She concluded her life in her own hometown, Iconium of Lycia at the age of ninety.

For this Feast, Vespers was held in the afternoon and the Divine Liturgy on the morning of the Feast, by the Typikon keeper Archimandrite Alexios. The Services were officiated by the ministering Priest of this week Archimandrite Sergios and other ministering Priests, as H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos participated in the prayer, along with Hagiotaphite Archbishops, Fathers and others. The chanting was delivered by Archimandrite Eusevios and Mr Vasilios Gotsopoulos.

After Vespers and the Divine Liturgy, there was a reception with boiled wheat, dried bread and wine at the courtyard of the Epitropikon.

From Secretariat-General

On Sunday, September 21 / October 4,2020, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was celebrated one week after the main Feast at the Holy Monastery of the Holy Cross, which is located in new West Jerusalem near the Jewish Knesset. This Monastery hosted the Higher Education Theological School of the Patriarchate from 1845 to 1909, and many distinguished writers, theologians and other scientists studied in it.

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross was celebrated one week later there, as an old tradition holds the belief that the three-composed wood from pine, cypress and cedar branches was planted there by Lot, and it was from this wood that the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ was made, and on which He was crucified.

Vespers in the afternoon was led by His Eminence Archbishop Philoumenos of Pella with the co-celebration of Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, under the chanting of Mr Gotsopoulos.

The Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning was officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, with co-celebrants Dragoman Archimandrite Mattheos and Archimandrites Meletios and Kallistos, under the chanting of Mr Gotsopoulos. The Service was attended by the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem and the Ambassador of Georgia in Israel, along with quite a few Greeks from the Greek Community of Jerusalem and Arab-speaking faithful from Jerusalem and the occupied territories, who managed to pass the COVID-19 restrictive measures.

After the Divine Liturgy the Hegoumen and good keeper of the Monastery Most Reverend Archbishop Philoumenos of Pella offered a reception to the Episcopal Entourage, the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Evaggelos Vlioras and the members of the Greek Consulate and to the congregation.

In the evening, Archbishop Philoumenos hosted a meal for H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, the Episcopal Entourage, the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem and others.

From Secretariat-General

THE FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HONOURED CROSS AT THE PATRIARCHATE

On Sunday, September 14/27, 2020, the Patriarchate celebrated the Universal Exaltation of the Sacred Cross.

On this Feast, the Church commemorates the event that took place after the completion of the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (326-336 A.D.) and after the Consecration Ceremony, on 13th September of the year 336 A.D., when St. Helen and Archbishop Makarios of Jerusalem exalted the Sacred Cross at the place of the Horrendous Golgotha. This was done for the crowds to see the Cross, who cried out “Lord have mercy” many times. Ever since this event has remained in our tradition, festively celebrated on 14th September every year.

For this commemoration, Great Vespers and the blessing of bread were held in the afternoon at the Catholicon of the Church of the Resurrection, after the welcoming and the veneration at the shrine of the Holy Deposition, at the Holy Sepulchre and the veneration at the Horrendous Golgotha by the members of the Holy Synod. This was followed by the incense procedure, and all preordained rituals according to the Typikon order and the Status Quo. The service was officiated by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, with the Hagiotaphite Fathers co-celebrating.

On Sunday, the main Feast day, the Divine Liturgy was held at the Catholicon of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, officiated by His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theohilos, with co-celebrants the Most Reverend Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias and their Eminences the Archbishops; Theophanes of Gerassa, Aristarchos of Constantina, Theodosios of Sebastia, Philoumenos of Pella, His Eminence Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis and His Eminence Archbishop Aristovoulos of Madaba. The chanting was delivered by the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod Hierodeacon Simeon on the right, and Mr Vasilios Gotsopoulos on the left, as the service was attended by the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Evangelos Vlioras, and members of the Greek Consulate, along with only a few faithful due to COVID-19.

The Divine Liturgy was followed by a Procession from the Catholicon through the Deposition area, down to the area of the Finding of the Sacred Cross, where the Exaltation service was held, while the Priests and the faithful were standing at the Armenian chapel of St. Helen, despite the irrational reactions of the Armenians which were against the Status Quo. From there the Procession continued left in front of the “Touch me not” shrine, marched three times around the Holy Sepulchre, and concluded up in the Horrendous Golgotha. There the Exaltation service of the Sacred Cross was held once more by His Beatitude, who held the Cross from the Holy Altar to the four points of the horizon.

Through this action, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who was exalted on the Cross, was worshipped, and the commemoration of the first exaltation of the Sacred Cross by St. Helen was held. The second exaltation was held by Emperor Heraklios (629 A.D.). With these services, our senses and all universe were sanctified against the COVID-19 plague and every other opposing insult.

The return to the Patriarchate Headquarters followed, where His Beatitude addressed those present at the Reception Hall as follows;

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God”(1 Cor. 1:18). And in more detail, the preaching of the Cross seems to be foolishness to those who walk in the path of peril. However, to us who walk on the path of salvation, it is the power of God, St. Paul peaches.

Your Excellency Consul General of Greece Mr Evangelos Vlioras

Reverend Fathers and Brothers

Noble Christians

Today our Holy Orthodox Church celebrates the universal exaltation of the Holy and Life-giving Cross. Therefore, our Venerable Hagiotaphite Brotherhood – despite the restrictive measures against COVID-19 – came down to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre were in Parresia (boldness) we celebrated the Sacrament of the Eucharist and the ceremony of the Exaltation of the Sacred Cross, at the holy place of Its finding by St. Helen and at the Horrendous Golgotha, the place where It stood and where our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified.

Referring to the high theological significance of the Cross, St. John Damascene says: “Every action and miracle of Christ is great and wondrous, but nothing is more wondrous than His Sacred Cross. Death has been abolished by nothing else, the forefather’s sin was redeemed, Hades was put to shame, the resurrection was granted, we were given the power to defy the present and even the very death, our return to the ancient beatitude was given, the gates of heaven were opened, our nature sat at the right hand of God, we became children and heirs of God through nothing else but the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Everything has been accomplished through the Cross…Behold, Christ’s death, namely the Cross, has shielded us with the substantial wisdom and power of God”.

Indeed, as the means of Christ’s death, the Cross has surrounded us with the substantial power and wisdom of God, as it is written in the Book of Proverbs of Solomon “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom… She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her”(Proverbs 3:13, 18). And this tree of life is no other than the wood of life in the centre of Paradise, which can distinguish between good and evil (Gen. 2:9, 3:22).

The special honour given to the Sacred Cross by our Holy Church is clearly expressed by St. John Damascene: “This Sacred Cross was prototyped by the wood of life in Paradise, which was planted by God; from this wood, death came, and it was through the wood that life and resurrection should be granted”.

In other words, the crucified Christ is the wood of life, namely the very Sacred Cross Itself, through which those who preach Christ crucified become communicants and participants of the power and wisdom of God, according to St. Paul: “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God”(1 Cor. 1:23-24).

And God’s power and wisdom, namely Christ, God the Word, the Saviour of the world, is the One who was made incarnate through the pure flesh of the Ever-Virgin Theotokos Mary through the Holy Spirit, as the hymnographer of the Church St. Cosmas theologically phrases: “O Theotokos, thou art a mystical paradise, which being untitled hath blossomed forth Christ, by Whom the life-bringing Tree of the Cross was planted in the earth. In worshipping Him now through its exaltation, thee do we magnify” (Katavasiae of the Cross, ode 9).

Through the exaltation of the Cross, therefore today, and “now”, we, my dear brethren, venerate and glorify Christ Himself, Who was sacrificed on the Cross, “that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works”(Titus 2:14). Amen. Many happy returns!”

From Secretariat-General

On Saturday, September 13/26, 2020, the Patriarchate celebrated the commemoration of the Consecration of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

On this Feast, the Church as a whole, and especially the Church of Jerusalem celebrates the event of the year 336 A.D., when after the completion of the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at the Horrendous Golgotha and at the Lord’s Tomb by St. Helen, Constantine the Great convened the great Synod of the Bishops in Jerusalem, with the imperial order to celebrate the Consecration of this magnificent Church, the first of Christianity, “whose beauty is compared to the decorum of the heavenly firmament” as the Kontakion of the day reads. Ever since in this Church our God has been worshiped and glorified, and it is here where the Typikon of the Church was formed and conveyed to all the Churches.

For the commemoration of this event, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Catholicon of the Church of the Resurrection, led by His Eminence Archbishop Philoumenos of Pella, with the co-celebration of Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, among whom Archimandrite Meletios, and the Priests of the Church. The chanting was delivered by the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod Hierodeacon Simeon and Mr. Vasilios Gotsopoulos.

After the Divine Liturgy the Episcopal entourage paid their respects to His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos at the Patriarchate Headquarters.  

From Secretariat-General

On Tuesday, September 9/22, 2020, on the commemoration of the Theotokos parents, Joachim and Anna, the Holy and Righteous Ancestors of God, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at their Holy Monastery, which is at the place where their house used to be, next to the Sheep’s Pool, according to the testimony of St. John Damascene, and by St. Stephen’s gate inside the Wall of the Old City of Jerusalem.

The Divine Liturgy was officiated by the also celebrating, Most Reverend Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, hosted by the Hegoumen Archimandrite Meletios.

From Secretariat-General

On Monday, September 8/21, 2020, the Patriarchate celebrated the Feast of the Nativity of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos.

On this Feast the Church as a whole, and especially the Church of Jerusalem commemorates the fact that God gave Mary to the former barren parents of Hers, Joachim and Anna, who were also in advanced age, granting their request and preparing Her to be a chosen vessel, in order to bear by the power of the Holy Spirit the Incarnate and Only-begotten Son and Word of God, our Lord, and Saviour Jesus Christ.

1. This Feast was celebrated in Gethsemane, at the Tomb of Theotokos, with the Divine Liturgy which was officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Theophanes of Gerassa, with the co-celebration of the ministering Priests of the Holy Shrine, Archimandrites Meletios, and Dionysios, the Priests George Hader Baramki and Nectarios, Archdeacon Mark and Hierodeacon Eulogios. The chanting was delivered by the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod Hierodeacon Simeon and all the Fathers were hosted by the Hegoumen Most Reverend Archbishop Dorotheos of Avela.
2. At the Holy Church dedicated to the Nativity of Theotokos in Beit Jala, with the Divine Liturgy which was led by the Hegoumen Archimandrite Ignatios, and the co-celebration of the ministering Priests Paul, Joseph, and Elias. The Beit Jala Community choir delivered the chanting and many faithful attended the Service despite the spreading of the COVID-19.
3. At the Holy Monastery of Hozeva. The Divine Liturgy was held by the Hegoumen Archimandrite Constantinos.

From Secretariat-General