On the morning of Monday, the 23^rd of August/5^th of September 2016, day of the Apodosis [Leavetaking] of the Dormition of Theotokos, the icon of the Dormition was ritually returned from the Tomb of the Mother of God in Gethsemane – wherein it was kept since the 12^th/25^th of August 2016 – to the Dependency of Gethsemane opposite the Church of the Resurrection.

The ceremony began with a procession, after the Divine Liturgy, through the Via Dolorosa to the Old City of Jerusalem.

The procession was headed by the hegumen in Gethsemane, Archbishop Dorotheos of Avila, who carried the holy icon against his bosom – with Hieromonks, Archimandrite Bartholomew, monks, nuns and pilgrims following.

On the way, supplications were made at the Monasteries of Joachim and Anna, Praetorium, St Charalambos and Seida Naya. The procession was flanked by faithful and locals, having adorned their houses with flags, flowers and icons.

At the intersection between Christian and Patriarchate streets, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem venerated the icon, accompanied by Hagiotaphite Fathers, Jerusalemites and pilgrims.

From there, the procession continued to the court of the Church of the Resurrection, where Archbishop Isidoros of Hierapolis, Elder Sacristan, was waiting to venerate. After a supplication, the icon was carried to the Dependency, where it shall be kept until the following year.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/xI6EvZKcAJk

On Sunday, the 15^th/28^th of August 2016, the Dormition of the All-Holy and Ever-Virgin Theotokos was celebrated at the Tomb of the Mother of God in Gethsemane.

This most glorious feast was led, in the evening, by Metropolitan Timotheos of Bostra, having Archimandrite Meletios as hieratic head. On the morning of the feast, His Beatitude Theophilos officiated, having as concelebrants Metropolitans Isychios of Kapitolias and Timotheos of Bostra, Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina and Methodios of Tabor, as well as Metropolitan Joachim of Zambia, and several priests visiting from other Orthodox Churches. The choir sang in Greek, Arabic and Russian on the right, with Archimandrite Aristovoulos singing on the left. In attendance was the Consul-General of Greece to Jerusalem, Mr Christos Sofianopoulos, the representative of the Greek Government, Mr Terrence Quick, Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister, and a crowd of Christians from Israel and the occupied areas, the Village of the Shepherds-Beit Sahour, Bethlehem and Beit-Jala.

In His sermon, His Beatitude Theophilos said that the Church pays special honours to the Most Blessed Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, because she became the par excellence vessel of the Holy Spirit, as attested by the Evangelist Luke: “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee” (Luke 1:35). “No one”, the Patriarch added, “can approach God but through Her and Christ the Mediator, who become God and her Son. Hence why the Melodist said: “A Virgin after giving birth and living after death, O Theotokos, you rescue your inheritance forever”. This inheritance is none other than the faithful people of God, those baptized Christians in the name of the Holy Trinity. “Those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance” according to Paul (Hebrews 9:15)” the Patriarch added.

On the conclusion of the divine Liturgy, Archbishop Dorotheos of Avila hosted participants to refreshments at the hegumeneion.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/XIFcqg-tZy0

httpv://youtu.be/rW-EP3GY1bY

httpv://youtu.be/u3HvLqmulso

The feast of the Dormition of Theotokos was celebrated with due glory in the Emirate of Qatar.

On the evening of Saturday, the 14^th/27^th of August 2017, a seven-hour vigil was held, followed by the Great Vespers with breaking of bread, Matins, and the Enkomia to Panaghia in the presence of the Greek Ambassador to Doha, Mr Ioannis Metaxas. A Primatial Divine Liturgy followed, led by Archbishop Makarios of Qatar, that had as participants several faithful paying their respect to the face of the All-Holy Theotokos.

From the Holy Archbishopric of Qatar

On Saturday, the 14^th/27^th of August 2016, the Enkomia [Praises] ceremony in honour of Theotokos was held at the Church of the Dormition of Theotokos in Gethsemane, wherein stands the Tomb of the Mother of God.

A procession headed by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem and followed by Primates and Priests left the Patriarchate for Gethsemane through the Via Dolorosa. Along the way, the procession was welcomed by the hegumens at the Monasteries of the Praetorium, Sts Joachim and Anna, and St Stephen the Protomartyr. Pilgrims participated in the procession, singing the troparia in Greek, Russian and Romanian.

In Gethsemane, the Entourage rested shortly, as priests put on their vestments for the welcoming ceremony.

Then, from the Forecourt of the Church of Gethsemane, the Patriarch walked to the Tomb of the Mother of God, where he put on a mantle and gave blessings before the Epitaph was moved to the centre of the church, the icon of the Dormition of Theotokos placed upon it. The Epitaph-Enkomia service then began in the presence of the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem, Mr Christos Sofianopoulos, the Ambassador of Greece to Jordan, Ms Louisa Marinakis, and Mr Terrence Quick, Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister of Greece, representing the Greek state.

The Troparia praise and glorify the All-holy Theotokos as the one chosen by God to incarnate His Son through the Holy Spirit, and the one who followed Jesus to the Cross and attested His Resurrection. Theotokos was buried in Gethsemane before ascending to the right of the Father wherefrom she mediates in woes and sorrows.

An analytical description of the above was included in the sermon delivered by Metropolitan Theologos of Serres, Greece.

The sermon was followed by the chanting of Blessings, Praises and Doxology, attended by a crowd of faithful. Priests then carried the Epitaph before the Gate of the Church where, on the inside, a supplication was made. The icon and Epitaph were then placed before the Platytera, where the faithful proceeded to venerate.

On the conclusion of the service, the Patriarchal Entourage walked to the hegumeneion where Archbishop Dorotheos of Avila hosted guests to a reception.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/LyYCAsWsvM0

Early in the morning of Thursday, the 12^th/25^th of August 2016, in continuation of the holy Vigil, Matins and Divine Liturgy, led by Archimandrite Matthew, the icon of Theotokos was carried in a procession from the Dependency in Gethsemane, where it is kept opposite the Church of the Resurrection, to the Tomb of the Mother of God in Gethsemane.

The sacred icon was carried by the hegumen in Gethsemane, Archbishop Dorotheos of Avila, surrounded by Primates, i.e. Metropolitan Benedict of Philadelphia, Archbishops Damascene of Joppa and Demetrios of Lydda, Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veroia, visiting from the Church of Greece, and Metropolitan Joachim of Zambia. Walking ahead were several priests, monks and nuns forming a long, well-ordered queue.

The procession was flanked by men, women and children, young and old, nuns, monks and laymen.

It moved through the Via Dolorosa, stopping for supplication at the Russian Church of St Alexander Nesfky, the Monastery of the Praetorium, the Monastery of Joachim and Anna, and the Monastery of the Stoning of Protomartyr Stephen, before terminating at the Tomb of the Mother of God. There, the icon was placed on the Epitaph installed before the icon of Panagia Jerusalemite in the Platytera area.

Matins and the Divine Liturgy followed, with Archimandrite Christophoros officiating, and Archimandrite Aristovoulos singing for several pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Romania, Ukraine and Cyprus, praising God, Christ and the Holy Spirit.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/BAE_XZfbK9g

On Friday the 6^th/19^th of August 2015, the Patriarchate celebrated the Transfiguration of the Saviour in commemoration of the event recounted by the Evangelists (Matthew 17, 1-8), namely that the Lord took with him Peter, James and John and led them up Mount Tabor where He was transfigured, His face shone like the sun, and a bright cloud covered the disciples and Moses and Elijah appeared before them and talked with Jesus, and the voice of the Father was heard saying from the cloud: “This is my Son whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” and Peter said “Lord, we will put up three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah and we will stay here” – so that by this sight, namely the revelation of His divine nature, the Lord showed the beauty of man before the fall and his ability to reach divinity by grace.

The event was celebrated:

A. On Mount Tabor where a Vigil was observed on the night of the feast before Matins and the divine Liturgy, led by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, having as concelebrants Metropolitans Isychios of Kapitolias, Panteleimon of the Bishopric of Veroia, Timotheos of Bostra, Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina, Methodios of Tabor, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks i.e. Archimandrite Chrysostomos, hegumen in Kana, and Archimandrite Paisios, Rum Orthodox Arabic-speaking Presbyters and approximately 100 visiting priests from Russia, Greece, Romania and Ukraine, Archdeacon Evlogios and deacon Markos. The Very Reverend Georgios of the Bishopric of Ilia and the Patriarchal Commissioner in Accra Ptolemais, Archimandrite Philotheos, sang in Arabic for a pious congregation of pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Romania as well as locals from Northern Israel.

To the faithful His Beatitude delivered a sermon in Greek, pointing out the significance of the day as, through His Transfiguration, Christ deified human nature that had been stained by sin, as He became the ruler of the dead and the living through His Resurrection. “Christ” said the Patriarch “by means of His redeeming Passion and Resurrection introduced our own humanity into the kingdom of His divine and brilliant glory”. It is precisely this brilliant divine glory that the Lord communicated to His disciples, said Patriarch Theophilos, soon before His Crucifixion. “In other words, Christ demonstrated to His disciples that not only is He a perfect man but He is also a perfect God, of the same substance as the Father and the Holy Spirit”.

After the sermon, a crowd of faithful participated in Holy Communion for atonement, blessing and eternal life. Before the apolysis, the Patriarch recited the prayer of the fruit. On the conclusion of mass, hegumen Hilarion hosted the Patriarchal Entourage to a reception at the hegumeneion.

On feast-day, the divine Liturgy was led by Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, having as concelebrants Arabic-speaking Presbyters and Archimandrite Hieronymos, for a pious congregation of Arabic-speaking from Northern Israel.

At noon, Archimandrite Hilarion hosted guests to lunch with fish.

B. In Gethsemane

In Gethsemane, at the Tomb of the Mother of God, the Transfiguration of the Lord was celebrated with a divine Liturgy led by Archbishop Theophanes of Gerassa, having as concelebrants Hagiotaphite Hieromonks headed by Archimandrite Sergios, for a pious congregation of locals and Greek pilgrims, hosted by the hegumen, Archimandrite Nektarios.

C. In Ramallah

At the Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ramallah, the feast was observed with a divine Liturgy led by Metropolitan Joachim of Zambia for a crowd of Rum Orthodox Arabic-speaking faithful from the city.

On the conclusion of mass, after the blessing of the fruit and the apolysis, Archimandrite Galaktion hosted the Primates to a reception followed by lunch at a town restaurant.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/1YuFGOxmUjo

httpv://youtu.be/OXl05z3H5cI

httpv://youtu.be/d5PlKQRZMB0

On Wednesday, the 28^th of July/10^th of August 2016, the Patriarchate commemorated the Dormition of St John the New Chosebite, of Romania, whose canonization had been decided by the Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

The vigil and Divine Liturgy for the feast were led by His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, having as concelebrants Metropolitans Isychios of Kapitolias and Joachim of Zambia, and Hagiotaphite Hieromonks. Monks from the Monastery sang for a congregation of monks, nuns and pilgrims from Jerusalem and elsewhere.

Upon the Patriarch’s arrival, the hegumen, Archimandrite Constantinos, addressed Him by commemorating St John the New Chosebite, who had led a spiritual life at the Lavra of Chozeba and then the skete of St Anna, providing an exemplum of monastic, cenobitic and hermetic exercise. “The enlightening and life-giving Grace of the All-holy Spirit that dwells richly in the Orthodox Church and clearly at the Very Old Patriarchate of Jerusalem”, said the hegumen, “keeps revealing, through the centuries, new saints, the saint we honour today being amongst them. This fact demonstrates that the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, safeguarding the Tradition of the Orthodox Church, regenerates and reshapes the souls of those joining the monastic community at the Monasteries and Sketes of the Holy Land”, Archimandrite Constantinos remarked.

Patriarch Theophilos went on to preach the Word of God to the pious congregation, referring to the aroma exuded from the relic of St John the New Chozebite that verifies Paul’s words: “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life” (2 Corinthians, 2, 14-16). “An emulator of St Paul, Hosios John”, said the Patriarch, “never ceased to preach Christ, the Crucified and Resurrected Saviour of the World in both word and deed”. “In St John’s unperishable and scented relics, we shall see the resurrection of God’s righteous in our Lord Jesus Christ. We feel the scent, the taste of God’s eternal kingdom”, said Patriarch Theophilos.

On the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archimandrite Constantinos hosted the Patriarchal Entourage and the congregation to lunch.

From the Secretariat-General

On Tuesday, the 27^th of July/9^th of August 2016, the Patriarchate observed the feast of the glorious great martyr and healer, St Panteleimon, at the Monastery dedicated to his name, to the west of David’s Gate. The Monastery is also dedicated to St Cyril the Catechizer, Archbishop of Jerusalem.

Vespers and the divine Liturgy were led by the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias, having as concelebrants Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and deacons, as nuns dwelling at the Old City of Jerusalem sang for members of the Greek Parish and of the Rum Orthodox Arabic-speaking Community of Jerusalem.

The pious congregation was reminded of the life of St Panteleimon, who had lived in the 4^th c. AD and was taught Christianity by his mother. Having studied medicine, he practiced it without remuneration. Once baptized, he took the name “Panteleimon” and went on to heal those in need and suffer torture until finally dying as a martyr in the name of Christ.

On the conclusion of the divine Liturgy, the Abbess, Nun Charitini, hosted Primates and guests to the hegumeneion.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/LCOx7hyBf80

On Tuesday, the 20^th of July/2^nd of August 2016, the Patriarchate observed the memory of Prophet Elias the Thesbite at the Monastery dedicated to his name, between the new south gate of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The Monastery stands on the site through which the prophet passed when persecuted by Ahab and Jezebel when, through his prayer, God burnt the sacrifice on Mount Carmel and Elias slayed 400 priests of shame. There Elias slept under a broom bush until an angel of the Lord awakened him with these words: “Get up and eat and drink”. So he got up and ate and drank and, strengthened by that food, he travelled forty days and forty nights.

The divine Liturgy was led by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, having as concelebrants the Patriarchal Commissioner, Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina, Methodios of Tabor, Theodosios of Sebaste, Demetrios of Lydda and Hagiotaphite Archimandrites, e.g. Archimandrites Ieronymos, Ignatios, Matthew, Ananias, Meletios; priests from Beit Sahur, Bethlehem and Beit Jala, Archdeacon Evlogios and Hierodeacon Markos. Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang in Greek and the St James Cathedral Choir in Arabic under Mr Rimon Kamar. Attending the service was a congregation of pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Romania and locals.

The Patriarch delivered a sermon in Greek.

On the conclusion of mass, Archimandrite Paisios, the Monastery’s Supervisor, hosted guests to a reception followed by lunch at the hegumeneion.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/V49PRoNQK3U

httpv://youtu.be/6AjPEIJXSnw

On Sunday, the 18^th/31^st of July 2016, the feast of the Prophet Elias was observed belatedly at the Church dedicated to his name in Ma’alul, near Nazareth. This particular church had been a centre of worship for the Orthodox Arabic-speaking Community of the Patriarchate, abandoned after the 1948 events and Israel’s domination. Left to ruin for fifty years, the Church was in recent years restored and renovated at the expenses of Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, and the hegumen on Mount Tabor, Archimandrite Hilarion, upon permission by the Israeli army.

On feast-day, the divine Liturgy was led by H.B. Theophilos, having as concelebrants Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth and Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Hagiotaphite Archimandrites, Archimandrites Hilarion and Mathew, Arabic-speaking presbyters, Archdeacon Evlogios an deacon Markos.

During Communion, the Patriarch delivered a sermon.

On the conclusion of the divine Liturgy, guests were hosted to a reception in the forecourt of the Church, followed by lunch at the Bishopric of Nazareth, courtesy of Metropolitan Kyriakos.

From the Secretariat-General

httpv://youtu.be/WbcZavAffaA

httpv://youtu.be/guShKmP0tvQ