On Sunday, December 8, 2019, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the feast of Saint Catherine the Great Martyr and all-wise.
On this feast, the Church commemorates St. Catherine, who was a very wise young lady from Alexandria, and with her faith in Christ and education, “with the Holy Spirit’s sword silenced brilliantly the clever among the godless” and suffered a martyr’s death for Christ performing wonders and miracles during the reign of Maxentius and Maximinus (305 A.D.).
The Patriarchate honoured the Great Martyr Catherine;
- With the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Ramallah, which was officiated by Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, with co-celebrants Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, and Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Archimandrite Kallistos, the Hegoumen of this Monastery Archimandrite Galaction, the ministering Priest of this parish Steward Fr. Jacob, Fr. Simeon and Archimandrite Seraphim from Nazareth, and Archdeacon Mark. The chanting was delivered by the parish choir in Arabic and the service was attended by a large Rum-Orthodox Arab-speaking congregation of this town. The Divine Liturgy was followed by the blessing of the water for the new halls of the parish, while the Hegoumen and the Council offered a meal to His Beatitude, who offered, in turn, a Cross to Archimandrite Galaction.
- At the Holy Monastery dedicated to St. Catherine in the Old City, a stone’s throw away from the Patriarchate, with Vespers in the afternoon and the Divine Liturgy on the morning of the feast, led by Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda, with co-celebrants; Dragouman Archimandrite Mattheos and other Priests. The chanting was delivered by Monk Raphael and the services were attended by a noble congregation of local faithful and pilgrims. After the Divine Liturgy, the Hegoumen Archimandrite Stephen offered a reception.
- At the Holy Monastery of St. Catherine in Sinai, where her sacred relic is kept. For this feast, a delegation was sent from the Patriarchate, led by Metropolitan Joachim of Helenoupolis. The delegation arrived in the evening of the forefeast, participated in Vespers and at the Divine Liturgy in the All-night Vigil and returned to Jerusalem on Sunday evening.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem