On Friday afternoon, December 23 2017/January 5 2018, at the Monastic Church of Saints Constantine and Helen,  the Service of Vespers was followed by the Sacrament of the Blessing of Oil as preparation for the Feast of Christ’s Nativity the forthcoming Sunday.

The Service of this sanctifying Sacrament was officiated by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos with co-celebrant Archbishops according to the Church Order.

After the Blessing of the oil, there was the blessing of the Archbishops by His Beatitude, and of Himself by each of the Archbishops; the faithful were also blessed by His Beatitude and the Archbishops.

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After the Service of Matins on Friday morning December 23 2017/January 5 2018, the Christmas Royal Hours were read at the Monastic Church of Saints Constantine and Helen.

The Service of the Royal Hours was led by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, with Archbishops co-celebrants and the other Hagiotaphite Fathers participated in the prayer, as well as nuns and Orthodox pilgrims who have come to celebrate the Feast of Christmas in Bethlehem.
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The established annual memorial service of the Hagiotaphite Fathers was held at the Catholicon of the All-holy Church of the Resurrection on Sunday December 18/31 2017, the Sunday before Christmas. The Divine Liturgy before the memorial service was officiated by the Most Reverend Archbishop Theophanes of Gerassa. The Memorial Service after the Divine Liturgy was led by His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, with co-celebrants Hagiotaphite Fathers, Archbishops, Hieromonks, Deacons and Monks, and the choir leader of the All-holy Church of the Resurrection Archimandrite Aristovoulos.

According to the Order of the Memorial Service, there were prayers for the repose of the souls of the departed Hagiotaphite Patriarchs, Archbishops, Hieromonks, Deacons, monks and nuns.

The Memorial Service was followed by the return to the Patriarchate for a reception.

Ever-lasting remembrance of the Fathers!

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The commemoration of our Father among the Saints Modestos Patriarch of Jerusalem was observed by the Patriarchate on Monday December 19, 2017/ January 1, 2018. The Feast took place at the Holy Monastery dedicated to his honour, also known as Abu-Tor, at the hill which is separated from the Holy Zion hill by Gehenom valley, in north New Jerusalem.

The Church celebrates the memory of this Holy Father, who succeeded the abducted by the Persians Patriarch of Jerusalem Zacharias. As the Patriarch of Jerusalem St. Modestos took on the cure and healing of the wounds and the restoration of the damages caused to the Church of Jerusalem by the Persian raid in 614 A.D. St. Modestos became a comforting angel for the suffering people of God at that time.

For the Feast of St. Modestos, Vespers in the evening and the Divine Liturgy in the morning were led by the Most Reverend Archbishop Makarios of Qatar with Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and Deacons as co-celebrants. The choir was held by Archimandrite Demetrios and Archimandrite Eusevios, at the presence of monks, nuns and laity. During the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude and Hagiotaphite Fathers came for veneration. The Patriarchal and Episcopal entourage as well as the congregation were offered a reception by the good keeper of the Monastery monk Antiochos.
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The memory of our Father among the Saints Spyridon was observed by the Patriarchate on Monday December 12/25 2017 at his Holy Monastery, in the Old City of Jerusalem on the interior side of the Wall by Damascus Gate.
The Church honours St. Spyridon as its Father. He was from Cyprus, shepherd in the occupation, he was married and  fathered a daughter. After the deaths of  his wife and daughter, he became the Bishop of Trimithounta and took part in the 1^st Ecumenical Synod in 325 A.D., where he courageously defended the “One nature” (Omoousion) of the Son with the Father . The Saint was distinguished in holiness and every other virtue and was deemed worthy of the gift of clairvoyance. He was also a wonder worker, as he “summoned a woman from the dead”, through his prayer he stopped drought, halted the flood of a river, healed a sick king. He had angels as co-celebrants in the Divine Liturgy and with all the above signs he was called a wonder worker.  

This most holy Father was honoured by the Patriarchate with Vespers in the evening and the Divine Liturgy in the morning of the feast, officiated by the Most Reverend Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias and co-celebrant Hagiotaphite Hieromonks. The choir was led by the choir leader of the Monastic Church of Saints Constantine and Helen Archimandrite Eusevios, at the presence of a great congregation of monks, nuns and laity from Jerusalem, pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Romania and Cyprus.

During the Divine Liturgy, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos came for veneration, escorted by Hagiotaphite Fathers, under the blessing of heavy rain.  

The Patriarchal and Episcopal entourage as well as the congregation were offered a reception at the courtyard of the Church by the Hegoumen of the Monastery Archimandrite Sergios.

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On the eve of the Sunday of the Holy and Righteous Forefathers, Saturday December 10/23 2017, the first feast of the Holy and Righteous Patriarch Abraham was observed in Beer Sheba.

The Episcopal Divine Liturgy was officiated by the Most Reverend Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth. Others present were: Archimandrite Chrysostom, Hegoumen of Cana of Galilee, Archimandrite Leontios, Hegoumen of Rafidia & Nablus in Samaria, Archimandrite Seraphim, Dean Priest of the Holy Church of St. Nilolaos in Migdal Ha-Emek, Archimandrite Demetrios from the Central Monastery, Deacon Demetrios and the Hegoumen of the Holy Monastery of the Apostles in Capernaum Fr. Eirinarchos.

Before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy, the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Nazareth sanctified the Holy Vessels which are donated by the noble Christians of Beer Sheba for the liturgical needs of the Holy Monastery.

Archimandrite Aristovoulos

Hegoumen of the H. Monastery of St. Nikolaos.   
www.romiosyne.org

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The feast of St. Anna’s conception was celebrated by the Patriarchate was celebrated by the Patriarchate on Friday December 9/22, 2017. On this feast, the Church commemorates the fact that the righteous Joachim and Anna, who lived at the time right between the Old and the New Testament, were barren, and they were praying fervently to God to give them a child. God heard their prayers and gave them Mary as their child, who was predestined by God to conceive by the Holy Spirit the Saviour and redeemer of our souls, our Lord Jesus Christ.

This feast was celebrated:

1. In her Holy Monastery by St. Stephen’s Gate, inside the wall of the Old City of Jerusalem. Vespers in the evening and the Divine Liturgy in the morning were led by the Most Reverend Archbishop Theodosios of Sebastiya, with co-celebrants Priest Farah Bandour and other Priests. The choir was led by the choir leader of the Monastic Church of Saints Constantine and Helen Archimandrite Eusevios. The service was attended by a congregation of monks, nuns and laity. All present were offered a reception by the Hegoumen Archimandrite Meletios at the end of the Divine Liturgy.
2. At the Holy Monastery of Chozeva

Saints Joachim and Anna owned a garden at the place where this Monastery lies, by Brook Chorath towards Jericho. There the Saints retreated and prayed to God to give them a child, which turned out to be the Theotokos according to God’s providence. At St. Anna’s chapel there, near the central Monastery of Saints George and John Chozeva, there was an all-night Vigil by the Hegoumen of the Holy Monastery Archimandrite Constantine and his entourage.

The vigil was attended by monks and friends of monasticism, who came from the towns for their spiritual benefit and the glory of our Trinitarian God.

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The commemoration of our Father among the Saints Nikolaos Bishop of Lycea was celebrated by the Patriarchate on Tuesday December 6/19, 2017. St. Nikolaos was a defender of the doctrine regarding the “same nature” of the Son with the Father in the 1^st Ecumenical Synod in Nice in 325 A.D., he is a wonder worker and protector of the orphans, widows, prisoners every man in need.

1. At his chapel in the H. Monastery of St. Savvas

This was the first Church founded by St. Savvas, when he founded his Monastery. The Church was formed inside a natural rock, that is why the Saint named it “God-built”. The memory of St. Nikolaos was celebrated there with the Divine Liturgy led by the Most Reverend Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, with co-celebrants Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, Priests and Deacons. After the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy there was the memorial service of the deposed fathers of the Monastery at the courtyard of St. Savvas’ tomb, which is the roof of the cemetery of the Monastery.

The officiating Metropolitan joined the meal of the Monastery and returned in Jerusalem via the Monastery of St. Theodosios the Cenobiarch.

2. At the Community of Beit Jalla

The Greek-Orthodox Arab-speaking Community celebrated the memory of its patron Saint at the massive and marvellous Church of St. Nikolaos which is approximately two hundred years old. Vespers in the evening and the Divine Liturgy in the morning were led by the  Hegoumen Hagiotaphite Archimandrite Narkissos, with co-celebrants the ministering Priests of St. George’s Church, Fr. Paul and Fr. Joseph, at the singing of the Church choir and the presence of a full congregation who came to pray in contrition to the Saint.

After the Divine Liturgy the Community offered a meal and other festivities with the Scouts and other members of the Charity organization of the town.

3.At his Holy Monastery in Jerusalem

This old Monastery is located on the west side of the Patriarchate. At the H. Church dedicated to St. Nikolaos, Vespers in the evening and the Divine Liturgy in the morning were led by the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod Most Reverend Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda, with co-celebrants Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and Deacons.  The Hegoumen of the Monastery and Choir Leader of the All-holy Church of the Resurrection Archimandrite Aristovoulos led the choir of nuns of the Patriarchate, at the attendance of a noble congregation of monks, nuns and laity citizens of the Old City of Jerusalem and others from Greece, Palestine, Russia and Romania.

After the Divine Liturgy, the Hegoumen and renovator of the Holy Church of the Monastery offered a reception to His Eminence and the congregation at the Hegoumeneion and the courtyard.

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1. At the His Holy Lavra in the desert of Judea

The feast of our Father among the Saints Savvas the Sanctified was celebrated by the Patriarchate on Monday December 5/18, 2017, at the Monastery founded by him around the end of the 5^th century, which is located on the right bank of Brook Kidron, and is directed towards the Dead Sea.

St. Savvas founded this Monastery after a fifteen-year apprenticeship by St. Euthymios and after five years of ascetic striving opposite the Monastery, where his hermitage is preserved to this day.

The Monastery served as a Lavra, meaning that only the advanced monks from organized Monasteries were accepted. It became a great monastic centre throughout the centuries, with saints, martyrs, writers, theologians, musicians and copy writers. Some of the great poets and hymn writers of the Church that lived there were St. John of Damascus and St. Cosmas the melodist.

With the actions of St. Savvas and his contemporary compatriot St. Theodosios the Cenobiarch from Cappadocia, the Monastery played a significant role for the establishment of the Orthodox doctrine against Monophysitism, regarding the one hypostasis and the two natures of Christ in the 4^th Ecumenical Synod of Chalkidon in 451A.D.

Nowadays, twenty monks live in the Monastery, following the Typikon of worship and monastic life founded by St. Savvas, which has been disseminated to all Orthodox Churches.

According to this Typikon, the monks begin their monastic life with their morning rule of prayer at 1.00 a.m., followed by the Church service until 5.00 a.m. After that there is a small rest, followed by the daily tasks, and the reception of the pilgrims except on Wednesdays and Fridays. There is one main meal on weekdays, and two meals on Weekends and Feast days. After Vespers and the Compline the evening rest follows until 1.00 a.m.

For St. Savvas’ feast, the all-night Vigil was officiated by the Most Reverend Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, with co-celebrants Archbishops, among whom the Most Reverend Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Hieromonks and Arab-speaking Priests. The choir leader of the All-holy Church of the Resurrection Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang in Greek, with the participation in prayer of Greek pilgrims and Arab-speaking locals from Bethlehem, Beit Sahour and Beit Jalla.

The Divine Liturgy was followed by a reception with the boiled wheat and the blessed bread and then a monastic meal. 

2. At his chapel in the H. Monastery of the Archangels in the Old City of Jerusalem

There, Vespers in the evening and the Divine Liturgy in the morning were officiated by the Hegoumen Most Reverend Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda, who has renovated the Monastery. A faithful congregation attended the Services.

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1. The feast of St. Barbara the Great Martyr

The feast of St. Barbara the Great Martyr was celebrated at her chapel in the Holy Monastery of St. Nikolaos on the west side of the Patriarchate on Sunday December 4/17. Vespers in the evening and the Divine Liturgy in the morning of the feast were officiated by the Hegoumen of the Monastery Archimandrite Aristovoulos. Nuns of the Patriarchate formed the choir, while the service was attended by a noble congregation. After the Divine Liturgy the Hegoumen offered a reception to the congregation at the Hegoumeneion.

2. The commemoration of St. John of Damascus

The commemoration of St. John of Damascus, hymn writer of the Church, doctrine theologian and musician, the composer of the Octoechos, defender of the Holy Icons, was observed at the Holy Monastery of St. Savvas the Sanctified. The Service was held at his chapel, at the place his cell used to be, on the aforementioned date with an all-nigh vigil. The Vigil, which was attended by pilgrims and local Arab-speaking faithful, was officiated by the Most Reverend Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis, who went to the Monastery for the three-day celebrations of St. Savvas.

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