The Feast of Ascension in Jerusalem
On Thursday May 4/17, 2018, the Patriarchate celebrated the Feast of the Ascension at the place where the Lord was ascended in heaven before the eyes of His Holy Disciples, the Holy Shrine of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives.
In the evening of the Feast eve there was the Blessing of the Holy Table, Vespers and the Small Compline, led by the Most Reverend Archbishop Theophanes of Gerassa, and according to the Typikon order the Litany of the Holy Icon of the Ascension from the Shrine of the Ascension to the H. Monastery of the Men of Galilee; the reading of the 1st Holy Gospel of Matins was read in Greek by His Eminence and in Arabic by Fr. Charalambos.
On the morning of the Feast Day the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Shrine of the Ascension, officiated by the Most Reverend Archbishop Damascene of Joppa, with co-celebrant Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and the Priests of St. James the Brother of God Cathedral. The Choir Leader Mr. Constantinos Spyropoulos sang on the right in Greek and St. James’ Cathedral choir on the left in Arabic under Mr. Rimon Kamar. The service was attended by Orthodox faithful, Arab-speaking and from other areas of the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate, as well as pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine and Cyprus.
According to the Typikon Order, during the D. Liturgy H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos came for veneration along with the members of the Holy Synod. Later on He visited the Holy Monastery of the Ascension, led by Fr. Achillios opposite the Shrine-house of the Imam, the neighbouring Nunnery of the Ascension and the Holy Monastery of the Men of Galilee in Small Galillee, led by Archimandrite Anthimos.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
