On Wednesday, September 14/27, 2023, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was celebrated by the Patriarchate.

During this feast, the Church remembers that Saint Helen, sent to the Holy Land by her son Constantine the Great, saw on the Horrendous Golgotha the Tomb of the Lord and the Cross, on which he was attached for our salvation, and she built the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the decade 326-336 AD.

To the glory of our Crucified and Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, Saint Helen performed the Inauguration of his surrounding Church on September 13, 336 AD in the presence of the Archbishop of Jerusalem Makarios. Then he raised the Cross of Christ, so that the assembled multitudes could look at it from afar, and they repeatedly called out “Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy”.

This act has remained as a tradition since then in the Church, celebrated the day after the feast of the Inauguration, that is on September 14th.

In honour of this event, Great Vespers was held on Tuesday afternoon in the Catholicon of the Church of the Resurrection after incense and the blessing of bread presided over by our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem  Theophilos.

On the morning of the feast, Wednesday, September 14/27, 2023, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Catholicon of the Church of the Resurrection, led by His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, with the co-celebration of their Eminences, Metropolitans Isychios of Capitolias and Panteleimon of Xanthi, two Bishops from the Patriarchate of Serbia, the Hegoumen of the Monastery Vlatadon, Reverend Bishop Nikiforos of Amorio, the Archbishops; Theophanes of Gerassa, Aristarchos of Constantina, Philoumenos of Pella, Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, Archbishop Aristovoulos of Madaba, the Elder Kamarasis Archimandrite Nectarios, Holy Sepulchre Hieromonks, priests from other Orthodox Churches, Archdeacon Mark and Hierodeacon Eulogios. The chanting was delivered by Hierodeacon Simeon and Mr Angelos Gianopoulos with the help of Byzantine singers from Greece. The service was attended by a large congregation and the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Demetrios Angelosopoulos.

The Divine Liturgy was followed by a litany which marched from the Catholicon to the Shrine of Deposition, went down the stairs to Saint Helen’s chapel and after the incense offering at the Altar of the Armenians and the throne of Saint Helen, it went to the Cave of the finding of the Cross. The exaltation of the Cross followed there, held by our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos and the Holy Wood was exalted at the four parts of the horizon, under the chanting of the apolytikion of the feast. The Holy Cross was placed at the place of its finding and it was venerated by the High Priests and the Consul General.

The litany continued to the Holy Sepulchre, thrice around the Sacred Edicule as the Holy Wood was held on top of the heads of H.H.B. the High Priests and concluded at the Horrendous Golgotha. There the Cross was exalted again at the four parts of the horizon by His Beatitude, while the large crowd of people were chanting the apolytikion of the feast. The High Priests and the Consul General venerated again the Holy Cross there, holding basil branches in their hands, which they will keep as a blessing in their homes.

After the dismissal of the Liturgy, all the congregation venerated the Holy Wood which is kept in the case of King Justin.

At the end of the service, the Patriarchal entourage returned to the Patriarchate Reception Hall, along with a large crowd of faithful Christians to whom His Beatitude delivered the following address:  

“Christ on the cross; let us come together as partakers of His sufferings, so that we may also be born of His glory. Christ in the dead, let us die to sin, that we may live in righteousness… Christ in hades; let us come together to the highest humility, that we may also meet and be exalted and be glorified, forever seeing God and be seen”, says Saint John of Damascus.

Beloved brothers in Christ,

Reverend Christians and pilgrims,

The power of the Holy and Life-giving Cross deemed us worthy to celebrate in this place of its finding under Saint Helen, but also in the place of the Crucifixion of our God and Saviour Christ in the Horrendous Golgotha, the so-called “Skull Place”, its Universal Exaltation.

The truly great mystery of the divine Providence, as well as of the Holy Cross, whose “word to those who are lost is a blessing, to those who are saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18), cannot be understood by human logic, but only through faith and the purity of the soul, as Saint John of Damascus says: “Great grace, admittedly, the mystery of the divine Providence will not be understood, it will be believed only by one who is free, of a pure mind, out of fear of God and with a desire to be given.”

The Cross is the sacrificial power of God, and this is because in the Cross and through the Cross the great mystery of man’s salvation was accomplished. It is written; “God our king, centuries ago, worked salvation in the midst of the earth” (Ps. 73,12). The Son of God, “Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” (Eph. 5:2). Because of this, all who obey him “he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”(Hebrews 5:9).

The Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is “the beauty of the Church”, “the support of the faithful”, and the “weapon against the devil”. The Cross is the trophy of Christ, through which the demons flee. “The cross is a trophy for Christ; Once it was stood up, forever it is woe to the demons who are driven away”, says Saint John of Damascus.

Saint Cosmas, bishop of Maiouma, extolling the sermon of today’s great feast, of the exaltation of the Holy Cross, exclaims hymnologically: “O Theotokos, thou art a mystical paradise, which being untilled hath blossomed forth Christ, by Who the life-bringing Three of the Cross was planted in the earth. In worshipping Him now through its exaltation, thee do we magnify” (Ode 9, Heirmos).  

In other words, Jesus Christ, as perfect God, is the one who planted “the tree of life in Paradise” (Genesis 2:9). He Himself planted “the life-giving tree of the Cross on earth” from the pure blood of the Virgin and Theotokos Mary during His incarnation.

The life-giving tree is none other than the wood of the Cross, on which he was crucified and in which “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1, 7- 8). Through the cross, we worship “Christ our God, who was lifted up on the cross and sacrificed for our sins”. Let us honour and magnify the most blessed Theotokos and Mother of God, who gave birth to our God, the Word and our Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the kingdom now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Many happy returns”.

After this address, His Beatitude blessed all present. He awarded the honorary distinction of the Superior Brigade of the Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre to the Hegoumen of the Holy Monastery of Vlatadon, His Eminence Bishop Nikiforos of Amori in recognition and appreciation of the accomplishments of the centre of this Monastery of outstanding theological and uniting work of the Churches and the provision of hospitality to students of the Patriarchate in it.

The multitudes of the faithful, receiving the Patriarchal blessing glorified to God for the salvation He provided to the world through the Cross of His Son.

From Secretariat-General

On Sunday, September 11/24, 2023, the feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos was celebrated by transference in Beit Jala.

On this feast, the Rum Orthodox Arabic-speaking community of Beit Jala commemorates that the Theotokos was given to the Ancestors of God Joachim and Anna as a gift for themselves and for the whole of humanity so that Christ our Saviour would be born in the flesh from her.

This feast was celebrated at the beautiful 19th-century Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos.

His Beatitude had a very warm welcoming reception by the Hegoumen of Beit Jala Archimandrite Ignatios, the priests and the scouts.

The Divine Liturgy and all the feast were presided over by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, along with their Eminences, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, Archimandrite Ieronymos and the Priests of the community, Fr Boulos, Fr Yusef and Fr Elias, Archdeacon Mark and Hierodeacon Eulogios. The chanting was delivered by the community Byzantine choir as the service was attended by a large congregation praying in joy and reverence.

Before the Holy Communion His Beatitude delivered the following sermon:

“Thy Nativity, O Theotokos, hath proclaimed joy the whole world; for from thee hath dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, annulling the curse and bestowing the blessing, abolishing death and granting us life everlasting” (Apolytikion).

Beloved brothers in Christ,

Dear Christians

The grace of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High, who overshadowed the Virgin Mary, brought us all together in this magnificent Church, to celebrate her Nativity, listening to the exhortation of our Holy Father John of Damascus: “Come all nations, every race of people and every language and age and every position, let us celebrate with joy the nativity of the universal joy”.

It is indeed an event of universal rejoicing the Nativity of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, because as the hymnographer says to her “In thee O immaculate Maiden is the mystery of the Trinity praised and glorified. For the Father was well pleased and the Word dwelt among us, and the Divine Spirit overshadowed Thee” (Matins, Ode 6, Glory).

The Nativity of the Theotokos Mary marked the “beginning of salvation for the world”, that is, the lifting of the curse on the one hand and the abolition of death on the other. Both Adam and Eve were under the law of sin, curse and death due to their disobedience to God’s commandments. On the contrary, through the gracious Virgin Mary, who became the Mother of the Sun of Righteousness, the joy of Christ was proclaimed to the whole world.

The Nativity of the Theotokos brought joy to the whole world because as Saint John of Damascus says, the Virgin Mary gave birth to the world of a treasure of goods that cannot be taken away because with Her the Creator transfigured/transformed all nature through the human nature of Christ. That is to say, if the man who stands in the middle of mind and matter is the link of all visible and invisible creation, the word of God since He was united with the nature of men, through Him has been united with all creation.

 The birth of the Virgin Mary heralded the freedom not only of man but also of all creation from the slavery of decay and death. This is why Saint Paul preaches saying: ” Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Rom. 8,21).

Moreover, the birth of the Virgin Mary revealed the energy of “the mystery hidden from ages and from generations”, (Col. 1,26) ” Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel”, (Is. 7:14) exclaims the prophet Isaiah. This so-called Son Emmanuel is none other than the manifested Christ, as the hymnographer says: “We faithfully celebrate and worship thy holy nativity, which came of a promise, O immaculate Virgin, whereby we were delivered from the curse of our first father when Christ appeared” (Matins, Ode 7, Canon 2, Troparion 1).

Also noteworthy is the use of the Prophet Amos saying: “In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen” (Amos 9:11). In this prophetic word of Amos, Saint Cyril of Alexandria discerns the resurrection in Christ of the human tabernacle, that is, of the human flesh, saying: “For we are a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) according to the scriptures, for his sake; and death dug down (Amos 9:11) all [people’s] tabernacles, and God the Father in Christ rebuilt them.”

The hymnographer of the Church at the birth of the Virgin Mary discerns the pattern of the salvation of man in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ saying: “The prophecy of the Lord is fulfilled, let it be; I will raise up the tabernacle of the holy David, in you, They were prefigured, through whom the companion of men, in the flesh of God, was incarnated.”

The birth of the Virgin Mary, who protected her chastity and virginity, has a special significance for the Church of Christ, which according to the great Paul is the body of Christ (Col. 1, 18) and he is the saviour of the body of the Church (Eph. 5:23).

In other words, in the person of the most blessed Mary, we consider the mystery of the divine Providence, according to which “the whole of earthen men was incarnated in the flesh of the pure blood of the Ever-Virgin Mary under the Son and Word of God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ. “It was well-pleasing to the Father so that not from a physical connection, but from the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, supernaturally the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us”, preaches Saint John of Damascus.

Today, my beloved brothers, our Holy Church calls us through the righteous Joachim and Anna, who were ambassadors of the world’s salvation with the birth of their All-Holy daughter Theotokos, to celebrate this great gift of our God to mankind and assign all hope in Him. And after the hymnographer, we say: “O Adam be made new again; our mother Eve, be magnified, ye Prophets with the Apostles, dance in delight with the righteous. Today the world is filled with joy common to Angels and to men: From chaste and righteous Joachim and godly Anna is born now the Theotokos and Virgin” (Exapostilario 2). Alone, and only her introduced Christ into the world for the salvation of our souls.

Many happy returns and blessed the new year of the very goodness of the Lord. Amen”.

After the Divine Liturgy, a litany took place around the Church accompanied by the Scouts’ parade.

After this, a treat reception took place in the hall next to the Church, and finally, a meal where the Patriarchal Entourage, the Mayor of the city and representative of the Head of the Ecclesiastical Supreme Palestinian Committee, Mr Ramzi Khouri were present.

From Secretariat-General

On Friday, September 9/22, 2023, the Synaxis of the Theotokos’ parents Joachim and Anna was celebrated. The Holy Ancestors of God were given a child from God at an old age, and offered Mary the Mother of our Lord to God as the hymnographer says:

“She that was released by prayer from the bonds of here sometime barrenness, doth call us to celebrate with her because of the wonder, and to offer gifts unto her that is born, while entreating her with longing, before whom the virgins ran on aforetime, dancing and crying out: behold, the restoration of all is come; behold, Adam is set free; for Anna hath budded with fruit, even the only pure Mother who hath not known man” (Oikos).

For this feast the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Holy Monastery dedicated to them, the former house of Joachim and Anna by the Sheep’s Pool, according to the testimony of Saint John of Damascus, next to Saint Stephen’s Gate of the Wall of the Old City of Jerusalem.

The Divine Liturgy was officiated by His Eminence Theodosios of Sebasteia, with Archimandrites Ieronymos and Makarios and Hierodeacon Dositheos. The chanting was delivered by Mr Angelos Gianopoulos as the service was attended by monks, nuns, local Christians and pilgrims.

After the Divine Liturgy the renovator of the Shrine and the Church, Hegoumen Archimandrite Meletios hosted a reception for the Episcopal entourage and the congregation.

From Secretariat-General

On Thursday, September 8/21, 2023, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos.

On this feast, the Church commemorates that God released the bonds of the bareness of Joachim and Anna and gave them Mary as the fruit of Anna’s womb, from whom came forth Christ the Saviour of the world through the Holy Spirit.

That is why the Church joyfully chants: “Joachim and Anna were freed from the reproach of childlessness, and Adam and Eve from the corruption of death, O immaculate one, by thy holy nativity, which thy people, redeemed from the guilt of offences, celebrate by crying unto thee: the barren woman giveth birth to the Theotokos, the nourisher of our life” (Kontakion).

The Patriarchate celebrated this feast at the town Sahnin of northern Israel, in the Holy Metropolis of Acre-Ptolemais, at the newly-built marvellous Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos, which was built by the community and the help of the Patriarchate and was inaugurated two years ago.

The Divine Liturgy was officiated by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos with the co-celebration of their Eminences, Metropolitans Kyriakos of Nazareth, Isychios of Capitolias, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, local Priests, Archdeacon Mark and Hierodeacon Simeon. The service was attended by faithful Orthodox Christians of the community and the local authorities, donors and pilgrims, with the honourable presence of Mr Cesar Marjieh and Mr Iriad Shirhan.

Before the Holy Communion His Beatitude delivered a sermon. After the Divine Liturgy, there was a litany around the Church thrice. Then, His Beatitude awarded Mr Elias Gantous with the medal of the Cross-bearer of the Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, as a reward for his quite important educational, ecclesiastical and social work.

At noon there was a meal honouring the Patriarchal entourage and many others.

2. Likewise, the feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos was celebrated at the Holy Shrine of the Tomb of the Theotokos in Gethsemane with vespers in the afternoon and the Divine Liturgy in the morning, presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Theophanes of Gerassa. The service was attended by pious pilgrims and local faithful Christians. After the Liturgy the Hegoumen, His Eminence Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis hosted a reception at the rectory.

From Secretariat-General

On the morning of Saturday, September 3/16, 2023, after the Divine Liturgy on the Horrendous Golgotha, which was officiated by His Eminence Archbishop. Theodosios of Sebasteia, the fortieth-day memorial service was held for the repose of the soul of the blessed Holy Sepulchre monk Panteleimon, who served at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The memorial service was led by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos with the  Holy Sepulchre High Priests, Hieromonks and Deacons and the participation in prayer of monks, nuns and pilgrims.

After the Memorial Service, under the blessing of His Beatitude, there was a reception at the hall of the Patriarchate

May his memory be eternal!

From Secretariat-General

On Monday, August 29/September 11, 2023, the commemoration of the beheading of the Holy Forerunner and Baptist John was held by the Patriarchate.

On this day, the Church, drawing from the Gospels, remembers that John the Forerunner was “the greatest among those born of women”, in accordance with the word of the Lord (Luke 7:28), preaching a baptism of repentance in the wilderness of Judea and also baptized the Lord into the Jordan River, (Mark 1, 2-11).

This one scolded Herod because he lived with Herodias, his brother’s wife. Herod imprisoned him, but he was afraid to kill him because the crowd revered John. However, on one of the days, “he made a dinner for his birthday”, to which dinner he invited a magnate and a thousand princes. At this dinner, Salome, the daughter of Herodias, danced and Herod liked her so much that he promised to give her up to half of his kingdom.

Salome took advice from her mother and asked for John’s head on a platter. Herod was sorry, but he did not want to deny her “because of his oaths and co-conspirators”. For this reason, he sent a speculator to the prison, who cut off the head of the Holy Forerunner, and brought it to the girl as a reward for her dance and the girl gave it to his mother (Mark 6, 17-26).

On this mourning holiday, the Patriarchate celebrated in the Holy Church of the Holy Forerunner in the Old City of Jerusalem, recently renovated by the Hegoumen and Master of Ceremonies Archimandrite Bartholomew with Great Vespers on Sunday evening and the Divine Liturgy in the morning. The Liturgy was presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Benedictos of the Diocesarea, with the co-celebration of the assistant Patriarchal Commissioner in Bethlehem Archimandrite Polycarpos, the Archimandrites Claudius and Amfilochios, Meletios and other Priests. The chanting was delivered by the left Byzantine singer of the Church of the Resurrection Mr Angelos Giannopoulos as the service was attended by many faithful Orthodox Christians, locals and pilgrims.

As for the Liturgy, Archimandrite  Bartholomew offered a fasting treat to the Episcopal entourage and the congregation, as the memory of Saint John is honoured through a strict fast.

On the commemoration of the beheading of Saint John the Baptist the Divine Liturgy was also celebrated a the place where this horrendous event took place, in Sebasteia of Samaria. The Liturgy was officiated by the Hegoumen of Jacob’s well,  Archimandrite Ioustinos with the co-celebration of the Hegoumen of Rafeidia Archimandrite Leontios.

From Secretariat-General

On Sunday, August 28 / September 10, 2023, on the commemoration of Saint Moses the Ethiopian, an Episcopal Divine Liturgy was held in the Church dedicated to the Saint in Rafeidia of Samaria, presided over by the Most Reverend Archbishop Aristovoulos of Madaba with the co-celebration of the Hegoumen of Rafeidia Archimandrite Leontios, the Hegoumen of Jacob’s Well Archimandrite  Ioustinos and the Dean Priest Athanasios Geramanis, Pilgrim from the Holy Metropolis of Thebes.‎

Before the Holy Communion, His Eminence delivered a Sermon, praising the humble attitude of Saint Moses, for which he became an example to be imitated by the other fathers of the desert. Bringing the example of the humility of Saint Moses to today’s society, he urged the faithful to always bear in mind this and his humble Holy Temple, when they are occupied by thoughts of pride. ‎

After the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Hegoumen Archimandrite Leontios and the stewards of the parish of Rafeidia offered a meal to the Fathers and the congregation.‎

From Secretariat-General

On the morning of Tuesday, August 23/September 5, 2023, the Patriarchate celebrated the Apodosis Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, i.e. the completion of eight days from the day of the feast, and the return of this icon, which was placed in Gethsemane before the feast.

Therefore, on the morning of that day, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Tomb of the Theotokos, presided over by the Master of Ceremonies, Archimandrite Bartholomew.

The Procession of the return of the icon of the Dormition began after the Liturgy, as the icon was carried in great reverence by His Eminence the Hegoumen, Metropolitan Joachim of Hellenoupolis, surrounded by priests and followed by many pilgrims, chanting the hymns of the Dormition

The procession went up passing through the Monasteries of Saint Stephen, Saint Anna, Praetorio, Via Dolorosa, the Monastery of Saint Charalambos and the Monastery of Sayda Naya, where local believers stood on the right and left of the decorated way and venerated in reverence, asking for the help of Theotokos.

When the Procession reached the intersection of the streets of the Patriarchate and the streets of the Christian Quarter, there was a short prayer and H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, the Holy Sepulchre Fathers and local believers venerated the icon. The Procession continued through the Christian Way, stopped in the Court Yard of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and there was a prayer.

Finally, the procession concluded at the chapel of the Dependency of Gethsemane, a prayer was offered, the Polychronion of His Beatitude was chanted and the icon was placed for safekeeping and veneration in its place until the end of the next year, by the intercessions of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.

On this occasion, His Eminence Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis offered a refreshment.

From Secretariat-General

On Monday, August 15/28, 2023, the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos was celebrated by the Patriarchate in the Holy Shrine of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Gethsemane, where her Tomb is also located.

During this feast, the Church remembers that the Theotokos, the mother of Life, died and was buried by the Holy Apostles “in the village of Gethsemane” where the “tomb did not endure death”. Her body, which embodied the Lord of glory, was transferred to the heavens by the Lord, who inhabited her immaculate womb and she remained the “unchangeable hope and protection for all ages”.

This feast was solemnly celebrated and presided over by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, with the co-celebration of their Eminences, the Metropolitans Isychios of Capitolias and Timotheos of Bostra, the Archbishops; Theophanes of Gerassa, Aristarchos of Constantina, Makarios of Qatar, with the co-prayer of the Hegoumen of the Shrine Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, the Elder Kamarasis Archimandrite Nectarios, Fr Dometian from the Moscow Patriarchate, Fr Ioannis from the Patriarchate of Romania, Archdeacon Mark and Hierodeacon Dositheos. The service was attended by hundreds of pilgrims, at the changing of Hierodeacon Simeon in Greek and Mr Nabil from Saint James the Brother of God parish in Arabic. The Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Evangelos Vlioras and the Greek Consulate staff also attended the service.

Before the Holy Communion His Beatitude delivered the following Sermon:

“In giving birth Thou didst preserve thy virginity, in thy dormition thou didst not forsake the world O Theotokos. Thou wast translated unto life since thou art the Mother of Life; and by thine, intercessions dost thou redeem our souls from death” (Apolytikion of the feast).

Beloved brothers in Christ,

Reverend Christians and pilgrims,

The Grace of the Holy Spirit brought us all together from the ends of the earth, in this Tomb of the Theotokos to honour and praise the Dormition of the most praised and most glorious Blessed Lady of ours the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, as the choir of the holy Apostles of old.

“The greatly honoured choir of the Lord’s wise Apostles,” the hymnographer says, “hath wondrously assembled to gloriously bury thine undefiled body, O Theotokos, thou all-hymned Maid. Joining them, the multitudes of Angels have gathered, singing holy hymns to praise thy blessed translation, which we celebrate in faith” (Matins, Kathisma 2).

The Translation, that is, the Dormition of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is none other than her transition from earth to heaven. The Mother of Life, that is, of God the Word and Son of God the Father, and her Son, moved to Life, the cause of Life, to God the Father. Just as the Theotokos preserved her virginity during His birth, so also during her Dormition she preserved the incorruption of her body.

Let’s listen to our holy father Saint John of Damascus saying: Oh, how the source of life is transferred to life passing through death. How does she, who when giving labour overcame the limits of nature, now bends to its laws and submits her immortal body to death. Why must this put off mortality and put on incorruption, since the Master, the Sovereign of nature, did not refuse to submit to death. He dies in the flesh and by death He abolishes death; and by corruption, He grants us incorruption and makes His death the source of Resurrection.

The moral and spiritual but also saving magnitude of the contribution of the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary to the mystery of the Divine Providence is infinite, a miracle incomprehensible to the human mind. That is why Saint John of Damascus calls the Mother of God “the embodiment of the human race, the pride of all creation”.

Graceful and blessed among women (Cf. Luk. 1:28), the Theotokos Mary became the Mother of God, of the Son and Word of God made flesh from her pure blood, and righteously just after her Dormition, appears at the right hand of her Son and God, now dwelling in the city of God in the heavens, as David says to her: ” Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God” (Ps. 87,2).

We, my beloved brothers, “do not have here a continuing city, but we seek one to come” (Heb. 13,14), the city of “the living God” (Heb. 12,22), the city of the Son and God of the Immaculate Theotokos our Most Blessed Lady and Ever-Virgin Mary.

And now, standing in front of the holy Tomb of the Theotokos, we beseech her and after the hymnographer, we say: “When thou gavest up thy soul into His hands who once from thee had become man for our sakes, He, as thy Maker and thy God, removed thee unto the joy free of all defilement. With reverence therefore, we piously call thee blest, who alone art pure, untouched by any stain; and as is right, we all confess thee as Theotokos and cry to thee; Pray Christ, to Whom thou hast been translated, to grant our souls His salvation”. Amen. Many happy returns”.

After the Dismissal, His Eminence Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, who maintains the order and dignity of the Holy Shrine, offered a treat of refreshment at the rectory.

From Secretariat-General

On Sunday, 14/27 August 2023, the service of the Lamentations of the Theotokos was held at the Patriarchate.

The service began with the departure of the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood under their Hegoumen, His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos in procession from the Patriarchate Gate through Via Dolorosa and concluded at the rectory of Gethsemane. The procession was attended by the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Evangelos Vlioras and many pilgrims who were chanting the hymns of the Dormition.

After a reception at the rectory, the service of the Lamentations began before the Theotokos Tomb and around the sacred icon of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.

At the end of the Lamentations, His Eminence Metropolitan Theologos of Serres from the Church of Greece delivered a Sermon.

This was followed by the rest of the Matins and the Doxology, concluding with the procession of the epitaph of the Theotokos at the entrance of the Church for a supplication and then the sacred icon of the Dormition was placed behind the Tomb for veneration until the apodosis of the feast.

After the service, the Hegoumen, His Eminence Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis hosted a reception at the rectory.

From Secretariat-General