On the Sunday of Meatfare, February 15, 2026, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the Despotic Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
On this feast, the Church commemorates that the Incarnate Lord, born of the Virgin, kept the Law: “Being God, He willingly accepted circumcision in the flesh” on the eighth day after His birth. The Creator and Giver of the Law Himself fulfilled the Law and, as a forty-day-old Infant, was received and brought by His parents into the Temple of Solomon. There, according to the revelation of the Holy Spirit, the righteous Simeon took Him into his arms and recognised Him as God and Saviour of the world, saying with joy and exultation:
“Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.”
As Hesychios the Presbyter of the Church of Jerusalem says, Simeon became “the vehicle and throne of the Divinity and the herald of the Incarnation.”
This wondrous event was celebrated at the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, with Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem presiding.
Likewise, at the Holy Monastery of Panagia Sayda Naya, near the Patriarchate, with Vespers on the eve and the Divine Liturgy in the morning, at which the Elder Chief Secretary, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, presided, concelebrating with Archimandrite Kallistos, the Russian-speaking Priest Nikolaos, and Hierodeacon Prodromos. The chanting was offered by Dr Yakoub, a member of the Cathedral of Saint James, Mr Gabriel, and the nun Sebastiane of the Holy Monastery of Ormylia. Members of the Greek Consulate General and the Greek Embassy were present, together with members of the Cathedral of Saint James the Brother of the Lord and devout pilgrims. Before the Holy Communion, Archbishop Aristarchos delivered a sermon.
While the Divine Liturgy was in progress, Patriarch Theophilos III visited the church with his entourage for veneration.
The Patriarchal and Hierarchical retinue and the fullness of the Church were graciously received by the Reverend Abbess Seraphima, who diligently cares for the Monastery and maintains the bakery for the preparation of the bread for the Eucharist.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
