CUTTING ST BASIL’S PIE AT THE JERUSALEM PATRIARCHATE (2016)
January 2016
At 5:00 pm of Wednesday, the 31st of December 2015/13th of January 2016, New Year’s Eve according to the Julian Calendar, the traditional pie-cutting ceremony took place at the Patriarchate’s hall. In attendance at the ceremony were Hagiotaphite Primates, Hieromonks, monks and novices, nuns, the Greek Consul-General to Jerusalem with his esteemed wife, as well as members of the Greek Consulate and of the Greek Parish of Jerusalem.The humble ceremony began with the troparion of the Circumcision of the Lord and of St Basil, and was followed by the Patriarch’s address in Greek.
In His speech, His Beatitude quote St Paul in saying “But you are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses” (Tim. 1, 6, 11-12). And: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6, 12).
The Patriarch went on to bless St Basil’s pie, wishing “a favourable and blessed New Year” for everyone before distributing the pie amongst the guests. Students of the Patriarchal School sang carols for the Nativity and the New Year whilst the choir of St James the Brother of God sang the Apolytikia in Arabic. Jerusalemite dentist, Mr Ioannis Tlil, got the piece with the lucky coin.
From the Secretariat-General
