The Entrance of Theotokos into the Temple celebrated in the Patriarchate of Jerusalem
On Friday, the 21st of November/4th of December 2015, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of the Presentation of Mary, namely the entrance of Theotokos into the Holy of Holies, where she stayed to be nurtured by angels and prepared for the great Mystery of the incarnation of God the Logos through the Holy Spirit.
Α. At the Church of the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood
Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem officiated at Matins and the divine Liturgy, wearing the mantle and holding the pastoral staff, opening the Katabasia Hymns of Christmas with Hagiotaphite Primates, Hieromonks and monks as concelebrants.
Β. At the Monastery of the Holy Panagia
This Monastery to the south of the Patriarchate served as the first residence of Hagiotaphite Fathers coming from the Hill of Sion in 516 AD, in the days of the ever-memorable Patriarch Elias of Jerusalem.
Today it is a Convent where approximately twenty nuns reside. Archbishop Dorotheos of Avila officiated at Vespers and the divine Liturgy. Co-officiating were the vicar of the Monastery, Hieromonk Makarios, hegoumen at St Nidocemus Monastery; f. Ignatios, hegoumen at the Monastery in Beit Sahour, and other Hagiotaphites, as well as deacon Markos. Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang in Greek, Arabic, Russian and Arabic for a pious congregation of nuns, Greeks from the Parish, Arabic-speaking locals and pilgrims from Greece, Russia and Romania.
Patriarch Theophilos proceeded to venerate in the course of the d. Liturgy, and went on to praise Abbess Melani for the results of restoration works carried out at the Monastery.
Source: jp-newsgate.net
