On the last day of the year, January 13, 2026, the Feast of Saint Melania was celebrated at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the chapel dedicated to her name within the Holy Monastery of the Megali Panagia, situated to the south of the Patriarchate.
Concerning Saint Melania, the Church hands down to us that she was born of a wealthy family in Rome; she went to Egypt and offered her wealth to sustain thousands of Christians and monks there, and thereafter came to the Holy Land, where she lived a life of holiness at the site of her ascetic dwelling, where her chapel lies to this day, assisting the poor.
In this chapel, Vespers were celebrated in the evening and the Divine Liturgy in the morning, presided over by the Exarch of Athens, Archimandrite Hieronymos, along with the ministering priest of the Monastery, Archimandrite Makarios, Archimandrite Amphilochios, and Deacon Efstathios. The chanting was offered by Mr. Aristeidis Ntinas, chief cantor of the Holy Church of Saint Bessarion from the town of Pyli in Trikala, with assistance from Archimandrite Dositheos, Hierodeacon Prodromos, and Nun Euphemia. Hospitality and care were provided by the Nun Melania, who renovated the Holy Church of the Monastery.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
