On Wednesday, December 8, 2021, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the commemoration of the Holy Glorious Great Martyr Catherine the all-wise at her Holy Monastery on the north-west side of the Patriarchate in the Old City of Jerusalem.
On this feast, the Church commemorates that Saint Catherine came from Alexandria, a very beautiful very wise and virgin and with eloquence put to shame the irreverent idol worshipers by the strength of the Holy Spirit in a debate with them, where she confessed she was a Christian; for this reason, she was tortured and suffered a martyr’s death for Christ, during the reign of Maximinus in AD 305.
In her honor, Archbishop Methodios of Tabor officiated Vespers on Tuesday afternoon and the Divine Liturgy on Wednesday morning, with the co-celebration of the Elder Dragoman Archimandrite Mattheos, Priest Farah, Archdeacon Mark, and Hierodeacon Eulogios. The chanting was delivered by Hierodeacon Simeon and Gotsopoulos and the Patriarchal School Students, in the presence of Nuns and faithful Christians.
During the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos came for veneration, accompanied by Hatiotaphite Fathers.
The Patriarchal and Episcopal entourages along with the congregation were offered a reception by the Hegumen of the shrine Archimandrite Stephen.
The commemoration of Saint Catherine was also celebrated at the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine in Mount Sinai, where no delegation from our Patriarchate was sent this year due to the covid-19 restrictions.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
