he Great Feast Day of the Annunciation of the Theotokos was celebrated according to the old calendar on Mount Athos. On this day, the Holy Royal, Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of Vatopedi, whose Katholicon is dedicated to the event of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, also celebrated this feast day.
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia presided over the Feast Day celebration at the Monastery. On the morning of the feast, after a short break from the Holy Vigil, His Eminence performed the Small Consecration of the water service in the Monastery’s fountain, and this was followed by the procession of the Holy Icon of the Virgin Mary Vimatarissa around the Monastery.
The Eucharistic synaxis was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who was joined by the Abbot of the Monastery of Vatopedi, Elder Ephraim, the Abbot of the Monastery of Hilandar, Elder Methodios, and other Mount Athos Fathers and Fathers of the Vatopedi Brotherhood.
The hymns of the feast day were solemnly chanted by Archimandrite Fr. Cheroubim Tsinoglou, Holy Preacher of the Holy Metropolis of Edessa, Pella and Almopia, along with his entourage, and the Vatopedi Fathers, assisted also by the Music Teacher Dr. George Konstantinou.
After the end of the feast day Divine Liturgy, the meal of the feast followed where wishes were exchanged among all.
Please watch videos of the services of the Holy Feast Day from the website of the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi.
Photographs: orthodoxianewsagency.gr
