The feast of Saint Anthony the Great was celebrated by the Patriarchate on Sunday 17/30 January 2022.
On this feast the Church commemorates that Saint Anthony (251-356) was a great pillar and leader of the monastic life of Egypt and lived in utmost hesychasm and ascesis, “imitating the zealot Elijah in the ways and succeeding the Baptist in the life”. He greatly helped the Christians during their persecution by the Arians at the time of the 1st Ecumenical Synod and the years after it. His biography was written in detail by Saint Athanasios the Great, who had a spiritual connection with him.
The commemoration of Saint Anthony was celebrated at the chapel dedicated to him within the Monastery of Saint Nikolaos, near the Patriarchate, with the Divine Liturgy which was officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, with the co-celebration of Archimandrite Klaudios, Fr David from the Romanian Patriarchate and Archdeacon Mark. The chanting was delivered by Mr Gotsopoulos, as the service was attended by Nuns of the Patriarchate and the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Evangelos Vlioras.
After the Divine Liturgy, the good caretaker of the Monastery, who continues its renovation, Archdeacon Mark offered a reception to the congregation at the renovated Hegoumeneion.
