On Saturday, December 19, 2020, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the commemoration of Saint Nikolaos Archbishop of Myra in Lycia.
On this feast the Church commemorates that Saint Nikolaos was the Archbishop of Lycia, “as a rule of faith, an icon of meekness” who “achieved the heights of humility, riches by poverty”, who helped the poor, the needy, the prisoners, the sea travellers, the orphans, and supported the doctrine of the One Essence of the Son with the Father in the First Ecumenical Synod of Nice in A.D. 325.
This feast was celebrated at the Holy Monastery dedicated to the Saint, near the Patriarchate, with Vespers in the afternoon and the Divine Liturgy in the morning, officiated by Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, with co-celebrants, Elder Kamarasis Archimandrite Nectarios, Archimandrite Makarios and Archdeacon Mark. The chanting was delivered by the Nuns of the Patriarchate, and the services were attended by Nuns, Monks and laity of the Greek Community and from the Arab-speaking flock.
During the Divine Liturgy, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem visited the Monastery for veneration, escorted by Hagiotaphite Fathers.
The Episcopal Entourage and the Congregation were offered a reception by the Caretaker of the Monastery, Archdeacon Mark.
The feast was also celebrated at the grand Holy Church of Beit Jala, only by the Parish Priests, without any Fathers from the Patriarchate Headquarters due to COVID-19. Despite the restrictive measures, many faithful Christians attended the Liturgy as this is the feast of the Patron Saint of the city.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
