The feast of Hosia Melania of Rome at the Jerusalem Patriarchate
On Wednesday, the 31st of December 2015/13rd of January 2016, the Patriarchate observed the memory of hosia Melania of Rome at the chapel dedicated to her, within the Monastery of the Great Panagia to the south of the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood. On the same site, prior to the establishment of the Convent, dwelled Hagiotaphite Fathers from St Zion Hill in 516 AD, during the prelacy of Patriarch Elias of Jerusalem.
According to the Synaxarion, St Melania hailed from Rome and was the owner of great wealth which she had distributed to the poor and used so as to provide nutrition to thousands of monks in the Nitrian Desert, Egypt. Having crossed the desert, she arrived at the Holy Land and went on to dwell on the Mount of Olives, carrying on her benevolent work until the end of her life circa 410 AD.
Today, the Monastery of the Great Panagia is the residence of approximately twenty nuns of the Patriarchate.
Vespers and the divine Liturgy were held at the underground chapel of St Melania, led by the Most Reverend Joachim, Metropolitan of former Zambia. Co-officiating were Archimandrites Makarios, Ignatios and Ieronymos. Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang with nuns of the Monastery and members of the Rum Orthodox Parish of Jerusalem.
On the conclusion of the divine Liturgy, Abbess Melanie, renovator of the Church of the Entrance of Theotokos into the Temple, hosted the prelacy and the congregation to a reception at the hegoumeneion.
Source: OCP
