At midnight on the 14th of January 2025, a festive Divine Liturgy – “Parrhesia” – took place at the Most Holy and Life-Giving Tomb on the feast of the Circumcision of the Lord and the commemoration of Saint Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, the Great Hierarch and Ecumenical Teacher.
The Divine Liturgy at the Most Holy Tomb was presided over by His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos, with the participation of their Eminences the Metropolitan Hesychios of Capitolias, and the Archbishops, Theophanes of Gerash, and Aristarchos of Constantina, along with the Hieromonk Fathers of the Holy Sepulchre, with the first of them being the Elder Kamarasis, Archimandrite Nektarios, and Arab-speaking, Russian-speaking, and Romanian-speaking Priests. The chanting was delivered by Hierodeacon Simeon and Deacon Eustathios, together with the students of the Patriarchal School. The Consul of Greece in Jerusalem, Mrs Anna Mantika, and many faithful were present at the service.
Following the Divine Liturgy, a procession took place three times around the Holy Tomb and the sacred shrines, during which the relic of the right hand of Saint Basil the Great was carried in solemn procession.
After the dismissal, the Vasilopita (New Year’s cake) was cut in the Church of the Holy Resurrection office, with preparations and hospitality provided by the Elder Sacristan, His Eminence Archbishop Isidoros of Hierapolis.
In the morning, His Beatitude cut the Vasilopita at the Patriarchal Office after the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great at the Monastery Church of Saints Constantine and Helen and distributed it to the Holy Sepulchre Fathers.
In the afternoon, His Beatitude dined with the Fathers at a lavish table and blessed the meal.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
