On Thursday, 8 January 2026, the Feast of the Synaxis of the Theotokos was celebrated in the Village of the Shepherds / Beit Sahour, at the Holy Monastery of the Shepherds, a dependency of the Holy Monastery of Saint Sabbas.
This feast, held in honour of the Theotokos and of the shepherds abiding in the fields, who were granted the vision of the Nativity of Christ and were guided by the angels to worship Him, was celebrated festally with the Service of Vespers and a grand procession of the faithful. Numerous groups of Scouts and children of all ages led the procession, together with the inhabitants of the Village of the Shepherds and the neighbouring areas. The procession commenced at the Holy Church of the Forefathers and proceeded to the Holy Monastery of the Shepherds.
The Vespers service in the evening was presided over by Metropolitan Joachim of Helenopolis, with the concelebration of the Spiritual Father of the Holy Lavra of our Venerable Father Sabbas the Sanctified, Archimandrite Eudokimos, the Hegumen of the Monastery, Archimandrite Ignatios, the priests of Beit Sahour, and the Hierodeacon Eulogios. The chanting was rendered in Greek by the right choir from Greece under the direction of Mr Eustathios Malakis, and in Arabic by the left choir of the Community of Beit Sahour.
The Divine Liturgy in the morning was officiated by Archbishop Philoumenos of Pella, with the concelebration of the Spiritual Father of the Holy Lavra of our Venerable Father Sabbas the Sanctified, Archimandrite Eudokimos, Archimandrite Philoumenos, the priests of Beit Sahour, and Hierodeacon Eulogios. The above-mentioned choirs chanted, with the prayerful participation of the Church Wardens and benefactors of the church, and a large congregation of local faithful and pilgrims.
Before Holy Communion, the officiating hierarch, Archbishop Philoumenos of Pella, delivered an address concerning the mystery of the Nativity of Christ according to the flesh, as revealed to the shepherds by the angels.
The Divine Liturgy was followed by a procession of the holy icon and a supplication at the Grotto of the Shepherds.
Following the Dismissal, the Hegumen and restorer of the Holy Monastery, Archimandrite Ignatios, offered light refreshments at the Rectory and a festal meal at the Olive Grove restaurant.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
