THE FEAST OF ST. EUTHYMIOS THE GREAT AT THE JERUSALEM PATRIARCHATE

Jerusalem Patriarchate – 12/2/18

The commemoration of our Holy Father among the Saints Euthymios the Great was celebrated by the Patriarchate on Friday January 20/February 2, 2018, at the Holy Monastery dedicated to his name next to the Holy Monastery of Panagia Sayda Naya at the Christian Quarter, at a short distance from the Patriarchate.

St. Euthymios came from Melitini of Armenia in the Holy Land in 406 A.D. and founded a Lavra in the desert between Jerusalem and Jericho. He gathered many monks in it and led them in the monastic perfection in Christ, but there were also many people from the towns who came to him for his spiritual council.

St. Euthymios had St. Theoctistos as his co-ascetic. St. Theoctistos had founded a Coenobitic Monastery for the monks who were beginners. St. Euthymios had founded a monastic Lavra for the advanced in ascesis monks. St. Theoctistos and St. Euthymios became the spiritual teachers of St. Savvas when he came to the Holy Land from Cappadocia in 456 A.D.

St. Euthymios’ Lavra became a monastic centre due to his manner of living as well as a missionary beacon of Orthodoxy against the heresy of monofycitism, which preached on nature of Christ and not one hypostasis in two natures, according to the doctrine of the 4^th Ecumenical Synod in Chalcedon in 451 A.D. St. Euthymios was deemed worthy by God to receive the gift of clairvoyance and that of healing and ended his life in peace at the age of ninety seven years old.

In the aforementioned Holy Monastery, in honour of St. Euthymios, Vespers in the evening and the Divine Liturgy in the morning were led by the Most Reverend Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias with co-celebrant Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, with first in rank Archimandrite Ieronymos. The choir was led by the left choir singer of the Church of the Resurrection Mr. George Alvanos with the help of the Patriarchal School of Zion students. The services were attended by a congregation of monks, nuns and pilgrims. The Episcopal entourage and the congregation were offered a rich reception by the Abbess, Nun Christonymfi.

From Secretariat-General

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