THE FEAST OF THE HOLY ARCHANGELS AT THE JERUSALEM PATRIARCHATE

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem – 26/11/16

On Monday, the 8^th/21^st of November 2016, the Patriarchate commemorated the Gathering of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel and all celestial powers, namely the nine Orders, Authorities, Virtues, Dominions, Thrones, Powers, Cherubim, Seraphim, Archangels and Angels.

The feast pays tribute to the Archangels Michael and Gabriel and all bodiless powers for opposing the fallen Lucifer and for performing the work assigned to them by God for the help and salvation of mankind.

The feast was celebrated in the Christian quarter of the Holy City, opposite the Monastery of the Archangels. Vespers, Matins and the Divine Liturgy were led by His Eminence Benedict, Archbishop of Philadelphia, who had as concelebrants Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, headed by Archimandrite Mathew, and deacons. The left cantor at the Church of the Resurrection, Mr Alvanos, and pilgrim Georgios Papanikolaou sang for a crowd of Greek-speaking, Arabic-speaking and Russian-speaking pilgrims.

After the divine Liturgy, the hegumen and renovator of the Monastery, Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda, Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, hosted Primates and the congregation to a reception at the hegumeneion.

The feast was also celebrated in Joppa, at the seaside historic Monastery of the Archangels, restored by the subvention of Archbishop Damascene of Joppa.

The divine Liturgy was led by Metropolitan Joachim of Zambia, having as concelebrants: Archbishop Damascene of Joppa and Metropolitan Ioustinos of Nea Krini, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, led by Archimandrite Nektarios. Archimandrite Aristovoulos sand in Greek, Russian, Romanian and Arabic, whilst the Church Choir sang in Arabic for Russian-speaking, Romanian-speaking and Arabic-speaking pilgrims.

After the divine Liturgy, the hegumen hosted the Primates and others to lunch.

From the Secretariat-General

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