On the afternoon of Holy and Great Thursday, the Ecumenical Patriarch officiated the First Service of the Holy Passion at the Patriarchal Cathedral of Saint George at the Phanar.
The Ecumenical Patriarch read the first of the 12 Gospel narratives, as is customary, followed by Protosyncellus Andreas and the clergymen of the Patriarchal Court. The atmosphere at the Patriarchal Cathedral and the entire Patriarchate was charged with emotion during the procession of the Holy Cross.
It was the first time that the Service was celebrated without the congregation, as all church services are performed behind closed doors, due to the measures taken against the coronavirus pandemic.
