The feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist at the Patriarchate
On Sunday, June 24/July 7, 2024, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of the Nativity of the Holy Forerunner and Baptist John in the Holy Monastery named after him, located in today’s suburb of Ein Karem, which is also his birthplace.
During this feast, the whole Church, especially the one in Jerusalem, remembers that the Holy Forerunner is the fruit of childless parents, Zacharias and Elizabeth, according to the testimony of the Evangelist Luke. Elizabeth hid her pregnancy for five months until Mariam visited her in the hill country, having gone in haste from Nazareth. Zacharias’ speechlessness was resolved when he wrote John’s name on a tablet (Luk. 1, 5-25).
In honour of the “greatest man born of a woman” (Matthew 11:11) Vespers was celebrated in the above-mentioned Holy Monastery in the evening by the Typikon Keeper of the Patriarchal and Monastic Holy Church of Saints Constantine and Helen Archimandrite Alexios, Fr Stephanos and Hierodeacon Dositheos. In the morning the Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Tephopanes of Gerash, with co-celebrants the Hegoumen of the Holy Monastery of the Holy Cross Archimandrite Christodoulos, Priest Nikolai Koulinsky, and Hierodeacon Eulogios. The chanting was delivered by the nun Danielia and Mr Iakovos Betzali, as nuns, local believers and pilgrims, and members of the Greek Consulate General in Jerusalem attended the service.
During the Divine Liturgy, H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusaleml Theophilos visited the Holy Monastery for veneration, accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina and Priest Stephanos.
The Patriarchal and Episcopal entourages and the pious congregation were offered a treat by monk Chariton, who diligently maintains the Monastery.
The commemoration of the Nativity of the Holy Forerunner was also celebrated in the Russian Monastery of the Nativity of the Forerunner of the Hill country (Gornia), presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Hesychios of Capitolias and the Head of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem (MISSIA) Archimandrite Vassianos and other Hieromonks and Elders, who were received by the Abbess of the Holy Monastery, nun Ekaterina.
From the General Secretariat
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