On Tuesday, January 19, 2021, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Theophany.
On this Feast, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, surrounded by Hagiotaphite Archbishops, officiated the Service of the Great Sanctification of the Waters at the Catholicon of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and sanctified the Church, the Archbishops, the Priests and the few, due to covid-19 restrictions, faithful who were present.
After the Great Sanctification of the Waters, the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom was celebrated at the Holy Sepulchre, by Patriarch Theophilos, with the co-celebration of Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, and the Archbishops; Aristarchos of Constantina, Theodosios of Sebastia, and Philoumenos of Pella, the Hagiotaphite Hieromonks; Elder Kamarasis Archimandrite Nectarios, and the Archimandrites; Porphyrios, Makarios, Dionysios, Fr Alexander from Beer-Sheva community, Archdeacon Mark and Hierodeacon Eulogios. The chanting was delivered by Hierodeacon Simeon and Vasilios Gotsopoulos, at the presence of the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Evangelos Vlioras.
After Dismissal, the Patriarch of Jerusalem sanctified the faithful with the Sacred Cross and the Patriarchal entourage returned to the Patriarchate Headquarters. There, Patriarch Theophilos gave a short speech on the great feast of Theophany.
With the sprinkling of the Blessed Water, the senses of all present were sanctified, they were enlightened through the brightness of our Lord Jesus Christ who was baptized in the Jordan. Moreover, the Patriarchate was sanctified, so that it may remain free from the covid-19 virus and any other opposing insult.
This is a prayer and a wish that the Church of Jerusalem holds for the whole of humanity so that it will soon be delivered from this plague.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
