On Sunday, October 1st, 2023, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was celebrated, according to the order of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the Holy Monastery of the Holy Cross, located in West Jerusalem near the Jewish Knesset.
In this area, the tradition of the Church maintains that the three-composite wood of pine, cedar, and cypress was planted by Lot, from which the Cross was made, on which our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified for our salvation.
In honor of the Holy Cross and its exaltation, Vespers was celebrated on Saturday afternoon and the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, presided over by Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda with the co-celebration of the Archimandrites Claudius, Amfilochios, Fr Dometian from the Patriarchate of Moscow and of Fr Ioannis from the Patriarchate of Romania and many Priests of other Orthodox countries, the Hierodeacons Simeon and Dositheos. The chanting was delivered by the “Tropos” Byzantine choir from Greece by Mr Angelidis. The services were attended by Christians from Jerusalem and pilgrims, in the presence of the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr. Demetrios Angelosopoulos.
After the Divine Liturgy, there was a procession into the Church, the service of the exaltation of the Holy Cross, and its veneration by the Archbishop, the Priests, and all the faithful.
Afterward, the Hegoumen and curator of the Monastery Elder Dragoman, Archimandrite Matthaios, with Mr. Stavros Andreou, the custodian of the Monastery’s library, hosted a reception for the Episcopal entourage and the congregation in the reception hall and the courtyard of the Monastery.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
