On the day after Christmas, Sunday, January 8, 2023, the feast of the Synaxis of the Theotokos was celebrated with a Divine Liturgy with the participation in prayer of Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem in the monastic Church of Saints Constantine and Helen.
This was followed by a reception at the Patriarchate, with the festive treat and the blessing of Patriarch Theophilos.
At the Village of the Shepherds, this feast was celebrated with Vespers in the afternoon of Christmas day by Metropolitan Joachim of Hellenoupolis. Patriarch Theophilos was welcomed by the marching Scout Troops, the Church workers, and the faithful of the Village of the Shepherds and the neighboring areas. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Sunday morning again at the Holy Church of the Synaxis of the Theotokos, which was built by the Blessed Spiritual Father of the Lavra of Saint Savvas, Archimandrite Seraphim, by Archbishop Aristovoulos of Madaba, with the co-celebration of the current Spiritual Father of Saint Savvas, Archimandrite Eudokimos, the Priests of the area, Fr Georgios and Fr Ioannis and others. The chanting was delivered by the local Byzantine choir, at the services were attended by the members of this Community and the neighboring areas of Bethlehem.
After the Divine Liturgy, the Hegoumen of the Monastery, Archimandrite Ignatios, hosted a reception in the Hegoumeneion.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
