On the morning of Great and Holy Thursday, 17th April 2025, the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great was celebrated in the Holy Church of Saint James the Brother of the Lord, presided over by Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III.
Concelebrating were their Archbishops Aristarchos of Constantina, Theodosios of Sebastia, Nektarios of Anthedon, and Philoumenos of Pella, with the participation of the Elder Kamarasis, Archimandrite Nektarios as the leading priest, Archimandrite Meletios, and other priests from fellow Orthodox countries, along with Archdeacon Mark and the deacons Eulogios, Dositheos, and Simeon. The chanting was led in Greek by the chief Byzantine cantor of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Deacon Eustathios, and in Arabic by the choir of the Holy Church, attended by a large and devout congregation.
Immediately following the Dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, as the bells rang, the Ceremony of the Holy Washing of the Feet commenced in the Holy Courtyard of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on a specially prepared platform, in accordance with the prevailing Typikon of the Church of Jerusalem. In attendance were, His Excellency the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem, Mr Dimitrios Angelosopoulos, and the Consul, Mr Petros Anagnostaras, along with members of the Greek Consulate General and many pilgrims from various Orthodox countries, who filled the Holy Courtyard and the balconies of the Holy Constantine and the opposite dependency of Gethsemane near the Holy Sepulchre.
During this ceremony, while the Gospel narratives concerning the Last Supper were being read by the Patriarchal Commissioner, Metropolitan Hesychios of Capitolias, Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, washed the feet of twelve Hieromonks and Priests of the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood, in remembrance of the event wherein our Lord, at the Last Supper before His Passion, washed the feet of His disciples, giving to them and to us an example of humility.
Upon the ceremony’s conclusion, the Patriarchal entourage returned to the Patriarchate, where refreshments were offered, and His Beatitude distributed His Fatherly and Patriarchal blessings to all the pious pilgrims.
Photos: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
