On Friday, 9 January 2026, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of the Holy First-martyr and Archdeacon Stephen at the place of his stoning in Gethsemane.
On this feast, our Church commemorates the account concerning Saint Stephen given in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 7:54–60), which recounts that he was one of the seven deacons of the first Church of Jerusalem, full of zeal and of the Holy Spirit. Having been brought before the council of the Jews, he confessed Christ in his defence as the Son of God, “sitting on the right hand of Power”, and endured death by stoning, during which he prayed that the Lord would forgive the sin of those who were stoning him, while a young man named Saul was guarding their garments.
At this place, where a holy church dedicated to him was also erected by the late Metropolitan of Ascalon, Arcadius, Vespers were celebrated in the evening and the Divine Liturgy in the morning by Metropolitan Joachim of Helenopolis, concelebrating with the Elder Kamarasis, Archimandrite Nektarios, Priest Nektarios, and Hierodeacon Eulogios. The chanting was offered by Fanti Abdelnour and the nun Xenia, in the presence of faithful who had gathered in prayer to honour the Saint.
After the Divine Liturgy, a procession of the holy icon took place, followed by a supplication at the Cave of the Stoning.
The Episcopal entourage and the congregation were received with hospitality by the Hegumen Archimandrite Epiphanios, who diligently cares for the Monastery.
