THE FEAST OF ST. ANNA’S CONCEPTION (2017)

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem  – 27/12/17

The feast of St. Anna’s conception was celebrated by the Patriarchate was celebrated by the Patriarchate on Friday December 9/22, 2017. On this feast, the Church commemorates the fact that the righteous Joachim and Anna, who lived at the time right between the Old and the New Testament, were barren, and they were praying fervently to God to give them a child. God heard their prayers and gave them Mary as their child, who was predestined by God to conceive by the Holy Spirit the Saviour and redeemer of our souls, our Lord Jesus Christ.

This feast was celebrated:

1.  inside the wall of the Old City of Jerusalem. Vespers in the evening and the Divine Liturgy in the morning were led by the Most Reverend Archbishop Theodosios of Sebastiya, with co-celebrants Priest Farah Bandour and other Priests. The choir was led by the choir leader of the Monastic Church of Saints Constantine and Helen Archimandrite Eusevios. The service was attended by a congregation of monks, nuns and laity. All present were offered a reception by the Hegoumen Archimandrite Meletios at the end of the Divine Liturgy.
2. At the Holy Monastery of Chozeva – Saints Joachim and Anna owned a garden at the place where this Monastery lies, by Brook Chorath towards Jericho. There the Saints retreated and prayed to God to give them a child, which turned out to be the Theotokos according to God’s providence. At St. Anna’s chapel there, near the central Monastery of Saints George and John Chozeva, there was an all-night Vigil by the Hegoumen of the Holy Monastery Archimandrite Constantine and his entourage.

The vigil was attended by monks and friends of monasticism, who came from the towns for their spiritual benefit and the glory of our Trinitarian God.

From Secretariat-General

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