With ecclesiastical splendour and sacred dignity, Christmas was celebrated in Acre, the northernmost Province within the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
On the morning of Tuesday, 6 January 2026, at the Holy Metropolitan Church of the Holy Great-Martyr George the Trophy-bearer, the Great Hours of Christmas were read, and Vespers and the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great were celebrated.
On the morning of Wednesday, 7 January 2024, at the Holy Metropolitan Church, Matins and the Divine Liturgy were celebrated in the Greek, Arabic, and Slavonic languages, with the abundant participation of the Christian faithful of the Holy Metropolis. After the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a procession was held around the Holy Church, with the participation of the Orthodox Scouts of Acre and the faithful; thereafter, festive refreshments were offered in the reception hall of the Bishopric.
At midday of the same day, delegations of Muslims, Jews, Druze, and Baháʼís, as well as the clergy of the Christian Doctrines in Acre—namely the Latins, Uniates, Maronites, and Anglicans—visited the Holy Metropolis for the exchange of festal greetings.
The services were presided over by Metropolitan Makarios of Ptolemais, concelebrated by Fr Elias Houri, Fr Igor Ravsky, and Fr Stephanos Nassar.
In place of a sermon, the Christmas Message of Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem was read in Arabic and Russian.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
