On Friday, September 26, 2025, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Catholicon of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, presided over by Archbishop Philoumenos of Pella, in commemoration of the consecration of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which took place on the 13th of September in the year 326 presided over by Achbishop Makarios of Jerusalem, with the co-celebration of a multitude of Bishops. They were gathered in Jerusalem at the command of Constantine the Great after their Synod at Tyre of Sidon.
This event holds great ecclesiastical and historical significance, as it occurred following the completion of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre’s construction works during the decade 326–336, on the site of the Horrendous Golgotha and the All-holy and Life-giving Tomb. For this reason, the hymnographer of the Church proclaims:
“Thou didst reveal the comeliness of the upper firmament and didst likewise show forth the beauty of the holy tabernacle of Thy glory on earth, O Lord. Establish it unto the ages of ages, and graciously accept from us the supplications unceasingly offered therein unto Thee, through the intercessions of the Theotokos, who is the life and resurrection of all.”
Moreover, the hymns of this day in the Menaion are numerous and profoundly theological.
Concelebrating with His Eminence were the Archimandrites Claudios, Philoumenos, and Amphilochios, Thaddaios, and Archdeacon Mark, together with the Hierodeacons Gerasimos and Prodromos. The chanting was rendered by the chief cantor of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Deacon Eustathios. The service was attended by nuns, a considerable number of pilgrims, and local faithful.
After the Divine Liturgy, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem graciously received His Eminence and his concelebrants at the Patriarchate.
