The Feast of Christmas, the Metropolis of the Feasts according to the Church Fathers, was celebrated by the Patriarchate according to the old tradition in Bethlehem and at the place of Christ’s Nativity in the flesh.
On Christmas Eve, Monday morning, January 6, 2020, the Patriarchal Hagiotaphite Entourage marched from the Patriarchate to Jaffa Gate, bells tolling, got on the cars and reached the Holy Monastery of Prophet Elijah which is located midway between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem was welcomed there by the Hegoumen of the Monastery, Archimandrite Paissios, the customary Israeli State officials of the Political Civil Administration of Bethlehem and Hebron district, by the representatives of the Palestinian State and by the representatives of the flock of the Patriarchate from Bethlehem, Beit Sahour and Beit Jalla.
After the veneration at the Church of the Monastery, the prayer and the reception at the Hegoumeneion, the Patriarchal Entourage left, led by the customary five Israeli Police horsemen and reached the check point at Rachel’s Tomb.
There, Palestinian Police motorcyclists received the Patriarchal Entourage while on either side of the road faithful Christians, old and young people, children and infants were waiting to receive His Beatitude’s blessing. The Patriarchal Entourage reached Bethlehem Square, was received by the Patriarchal Representative Most Reverend Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan, the representatives of the Municipality and Prefectures, Hieromonks, and the married parish clergy of the Patriarchate and by many people, while the Byzantine choirs with Vasilios Gotsopoulos in Greek and Samour Lawrence in Arabic where chanting the Christmas apolytikion on the way to the humble door of the Basilica.
Upon entering the Basilica, they were welcomed by the Greek Consul General on the right and the Mayor of the town on the left, and marched through the middle of the Basilica, which is a unique right of the the Rum Orthodox, and going up to the ikonostasion, they turned on the right, through St. Nikolaos’ chapel and went down to the God-receiving Cave for veneration.
Going up through the north gate of the Cave, the Royal Hours of Christmas were read at the Catholicon, officiated by His Beatitude, our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos. The service was completed with the insence offering, and was followed by Vespers and the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, with the dismissal at 3.30 p.m. according to the Status Quo.
This was followed by the marching to the Monastery from the Baptisery Gate, where a festal meal was offered.
In the evening, around 6.00 p.m., with the hospitality of the renovator of the Monastery, Patriarchal Representative Archbishop Theophylaktos of Jordan, His Beatitude hosted a reception for the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abas- Abu-Mazen, His Excellency Minister Sami Daoud the representative of Kind Abdullah II of Jordan the Hashemite Custodian of Christian and Muslim holy sites, Palestinian Prime Minister Dr. Ramzi Khouri Palestinian Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Presidential Committee for Church Affairs as well as many other officials and diplomats.
In addition to wished of a blessed Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year, His Beatitude assured the audience that “In addition to our active local role, and efforts to relay the voice of Jerusalem to the world, the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem is exercising its historic role at the international level as well”. His Beatitude further stressed that we must view in the strength of Orthodox Unity as the strengthening of the Orthodox faith, and in its weakness, a weakening of our faith.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
