The feast of St. Thekla at the Jerusalem Patriarchate

On Friday, September 24th / October 7th 2011, the feast of St. Thekla the Protomartyr and Equal-to-the-Apostles was solemnly celebrated at the Patriarchate.

The feast was held at the chapel named after the Saint to Her honor inside the Central Monastery of the Fathers of the Holy Sepulcher to the west of the Monastic Church of St. Constantine and St. Helen. In the chapel for which we have testimonials since the 16th century, icons of great byzantine art are kept and protected.

In this chapel to honor St. Thekla Protomartyr and Equal-to-the-Apostles, disciple of the Apostle of the Nations Paul, the Holy Vespers was held in the previous evening according to the usual manner of the Fathers of the Holy Sepulcher, presided over by His Holy Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, Head Priest/ Typicaris of St. Constantine and St. Helen Archbishop f. Alexios, concelebrating with the rest of the abbots priests Fathers of the Holy Sepulcher and devout participants monks, nuns and laity gathered at the churchyard due to the limited space available inside the chapel, sufficient only for the Fathers of the Holy Sepulcher.

After the Vespers His Holy Beatitude sat outdoors together with the Fathers of the Holy Sepulcher to receive artos, kollyva (boiled wheat) and wine with rusk.

On the following day the day of the feast Matins and the Divine Liturgy were conducted presided over by His Holy Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, concelebrating with the Fathers of the Holy Sepulcher and many other monks, nuns, pious pilgrims  respecting St. Thekla.

After the Divine Liturgy, the Fathers received the kollyva (boiled wheat) and the herbal drink at the Epitropiko.

Source: www.jp-newsgate.net