On Tuesday, July 21, 2020, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the commemoration of the Holy Glorious Great Martyr Prokopios at the chapel of the Holy Monastery of Saint Modestos, where the tomb of the Saint lies, in Abu Tor area in south New Jerusalem, opposite the hill of Holy Zion.
The Church honours Saint Prokopios as the first Martyr from Caesarea of Palestine in 303 A.D.
Having been a former persecutor of the Christians, Saint Prokopios was called by the Lord Himself, Who appeared to him in a crystal cross and a voice saying: “I am the Crucified Son of God”. When his mother Theodosia revealed his Christian identity to the persecutors, he returned to Caesarea where he was tortured and martyred for Christ, thus drawing to God his mother and others.
In honour of Saint Prokopios at this chapel, Vespers was held in the afternoon by Archimandrite Makarios and the Divine Liturgy on the day of the feast by Archimandrite Bartholomew, with the co-celebration of Hierodeacon Sophronios and the chanting by the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod Hierodeacon Simeon, with the participation of pious faithful Christians.
During the Divine Liturgy Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem visited the Holy Monastery accompanied by Hagiotaphite Fathers.
Patriarch Theophilos, the Fathers and the congregation were offered a reception at the courtyard of the Church by the devoted caretaker of the Monastery Monk Antiochos.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
