The Feast of the Hypapante of the Lord at the Holy Monastery of Seyda Naya
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THE FEAST OF THE HYPAPANTE OF THE LORD AT THE HOLY MONASTERY OF SEYDA NAYA On Saturday the 2nd/15th of February 2014, the feast of the Hypapante (Encounter) of the Lord was celebrated at the Convent of Our Lady Seyda Naya which lies opposite the Hanke Mosque in the Christian quarter, in the vicinity of the Patriarchate, home to approximately twenty-five nuns. The Vespers, Matins and Divine Liturgy were officiated by the Elder Secretary, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina. Co-officiating were Archimandrite Ignatios, the Hegoumen of the Monastery of the Shepherds in the homonymous village; the Hegoumen of the Monastery of the Prophet Elijah, Hieromonk Paisios; Archimandrite Apostolos, visiting from the Metropolis of Petra of the Church of Crete; f. Issah Touma, Head of the Cathedral of St James the Brother of God; and Hierodeacon Thaddaeus. The head cantor of the Church of Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos, directed the choir of students at the Patriarchal School in Greek, Russian and Romanian, whereas the choir of the Cathedral of St James chanted in Arabic under the direction of Mr Rimon Kamar. A great crowd of faithful, including Greeks from the Parish of Jerusalem, Arab speaking (Rum Orthodox), Russian speaking and Romanian speaking worshippers, attended the services. His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina preached the Word of God to the pious congregation (see video). His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, arrived at the church during the Divine Liturgy accompanied by Hagiotaphite Fathers and pilgrims. The Retinue of His Beatitude, the Prelatic Retinue and the worshippers were hosted to a reception at the Abbess’ Quarters and in the forecourt of the Monastery by Abbess Serapheima, who has also undertaken the Monastery’s renovation. From the Secretariat-General httpv://youtu.be/GlJt1TihCOE THE VICE-COUNCILLOR OF THE REGION OF THESSALY VISITS THE PATRIARCHATE On Thursday the 31st of January/13th of February 2014, Her Eminence Ms Georgia Kokkalis-Kouvelis, Vice-Councillor of the region of Thessaly, visited the Patriarchate in the company of her associates. Ms Kokkalis-Kouvelis was received by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers. In the context of this visit, a discussion took place on the All-holy Pilgrimage Sites of Orthodoxy in the Holy Land and their safekeeping by the Patriarchate and the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulcher, through the help of the Byzantine Empire in the past and, in the present day, of pious pilgrims from Greece. Having received gifts from His Beatitude, Ms Kokkalis and her associates left for the Holy Sepulcher and the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem. From the Secretariat-General httpv://youtu.be/zqLTPnqV2k8 ILLEGAL ENTRY INTO THE CHAPEL OF ST SION On the night of Wednesday, the 30th of January/12th of February 2014, students at the Patriarchate’s Hieratical School on the hill of St Sion discovered that the adjacent chapel of the Holy Spirit had been broken into, whilst part of the Altar inside it had been destroyed. This sacrilegious act, the third within a year, had been committed by extreme-religious persons from the Yeshiva, the Judaist Religious School which lies in the vicinity of David’s Tomb. This is the third time they root out saplings planted there by the Patriarchate. The motive behind this violent act is opposition to Christian presence in the Holy Sion. The Patriarchate strongly condemns this sacrilegious act and has already filed a complaint with the Israeli Police. From the Secretariat-General THE FEAST OF THE THREE HIERARCHS AT THE PATRIARCHATE I. At the School of St Sion On Wednesday, the 30th of January/12th of February 2014, the feast of the three great Hierarchs and ecumenical holy teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, was celebrated at the Church of the Holy Trinity, which makes part of the Monastery and Patriarchal School on Holy Sion, to the south of the old city of Jerusalem. The Elder Sacristan and Chairman of the School Board, His Eminence Isidoros, Archbishop of Dorothea, officiated the Vespers and the Divine Liturgy. Co-officiating were Hagiotaphite Archimandrites and Archimandrite Apostolos of the Holy Metropolis of Petra of the Church of Crete, as well as hieromonks and hierodeacons. Teachers and students at the School chanted in the Byzantine style, in the presence of members of the Greek Parish of Jerusalem and nuns. The panegyric of the day, on the life and contribution of the three Hierarchs to Christian Education and its eclectic pairing with Ancient Greek was preached by professor Panayiotis Antoniades. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Principal, Physics Professor f. Photios hosted the Prelatic retinue and everyone else to lunch at the School’s hall of events. II. At the Holy Monastery of St Basil On the morning of the same day, His Eminence Aristarchos, Archbishop of Constantina and Elder Secretary-General, held the Matins and Divine Liturgy in memory of the three Hierarchs at the Monastery of St Basil, which lies in the Christian quarter of the old city of Jerusalem, close to the New Gate. Nuns and members of the Greek Parish of Jerusalem participated in the Divine Liturgy. At the conclusion of the D. Liturgy, Her Reverence Abbess Thecla hosted everyone to a reception at the Abbess’ Quarters. From the Secretariat-General httpv://youtu.be/Y4zq4PqAkmY THE PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM OFFICIATES IN ABUD COMMUNITY On the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, the first day of the Triodion Period, namely the 27th of January/9th of February 2014, a Divine Liturgy was held in the Greek Orthodox (Rum Orthodox) Community of the Patriarchate in the town of Abud, in the vicinity of Ramallah. This particular Community numbers approximately 1500 members. Its liturgical center is the Church of the Dormition of Theotokos, which to this day preserves pronounced elements of early Byzantine Architecture. Abud was visited for pastoral reasons by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, who went on to officiate the Divine Liturgy. Co- officiating were His Eminence Dorotheos, Archbishop of Avila; the Elder Secretary-General, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina; the master of ceremonies, Archimandrite Porphyrios; the Head of the Community, Steward Emmanouel; Archdeacon f. Evlogios, and Hierodeacon Dionysios. The Orthodox parishioners participated in the Liturgy with piety and devoutness. To this pious congregation, His Beatitude preached the Word of God, referring among other things to the significance of fasting and praying, “the spiritual means of preparation towards controlling and overcoming the will of the flesh, therefore towards achieving purification of the soul and the body, and cleansing of the mind”. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, during the brief reception which was followed by lunch, His Beatitude had the opportunity to listen to topics of concern to the Community from the Priest and Vestrymen, and provide answers towards their settlement and resolution. From the Secretariat-General httpv://youtu.be/5-bVrApI6q8 THE PRIEST AND THE COUNCIL OF ABU-SNAN COMMUNITY VISIT THE PATRIARCHATE On Saturday, the 26th of January/8th February 2014, priest f. Nikolaos Basal of the Greek Orthodox (Rum Orthodox) Community of Abu-Snan of the region of Accra in Northern Israel, together with a delegation of the Community’s Council, numbering approximately twenty members, visited the Patriarchate. The representatives of the aforementioned Community were received by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Hagiotaphite Fathers. Both the priest and the secular representatives of the Community addressed His Beatitude, extending their thanks for the visit and the moral and tangible support towards the conservation of their Church, the Cemetery, the Catechism School Hall and their activities within the parish. His Beatitude praised the priest and the Council for their connection to the Patriarchate, which supports and protects them as members of its congregation, as it does with all Christians in the Middle East, Syria especially. His Beatitude promised the aforementioned members of His congregation even stronger support, and went on to offer them brochures on the history of the Patriarchate in Arabic, as well a CD with constructive speeches and processions. Finally, He blessed them for their subsequent veneration at the Holy Sepulcher. From the Secretariat-General httpv://youtu.be/uGaq8Vh4z9A THE NEW CONSUL GENERAL OF GREAT BRITAIN TO JERUSALEM VISITS THE PATRIARCHATE On Wednesday, the 23rd of January/5th of February 2014, the new Consul General of the United Kingdom to Jerusalem, Mr Alastair McPhail, visited the Patriarchate on the occasion of his appointment. Mr McPhail was received by His Beatitude Theophilos, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the presence of Hagiotaphite Fathers. To Mr McPhail’s statement that he is happy and honoured to visit the Patriarchate, His Beatitude replied that he is equally happy, owing to the bilateral relations between the Patriarchate and the Great Britain and Anglican Church, especially in the days of the Government of the British Mandate of Palestine. In the context of this visit, an interesting discussion took place on the peace initiative now being promoted in the Holy Land, in the benefit of Christians and all residents. “The Patriarchate”, His Beatitude said, “with poise, wisdom, and prudence, faces challenges against it and brings peace to disputing political powers”. “The Patriarchate struggles to preserve the sanctity of the Holy Land, of the status quo in Jerusalem, and the peaceful coexistence of adherents of all religions”. From the Secretariat-General httpv://youtu.be/bsCE6EyxdfY THE PATRIARCHATES OF JERUSALEM AND ROMANIA RESTORE ECCLESIASTICAL COMMUNION BETWEEN THEM On Monday, the 21st of January/3rd of February 2014, the “Patriarchal decision on the agreement and restoration of the ecclesiastical communion” between the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Patriarchate of Romania was completed and sealed.