THE FEAST OF THE SYNAXIS OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST (2015)
On Tuesday, the 7th/21st of January 2015, the day after the feast of Theophany, the Patriarchate celebrated the Synaxis of St John the Holy Glorious Baptist and Forerunner, at the Monastery dedicated to his name on the Southwest of the Church of the Resurrection.
Through this particular feast, the Church calls the faithful to a gathering, a synaxis, in honour of the Holy Forerunner, the Baptist of the Lord in the Jordan river.
The Most Reverend Joachim, Metropolitan of Zambia, led the Vespers and divine Liturgy on the morning of the feast. Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang in the presence of a congregation of monks, nuns, and pious pilgrims from Greece, Russia, Ukraine and Romania.
In the course of the divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, arrived at the church to venerate the Saint’s holy relic. He was accompanied by Hagiotaphite Fathers.
The Patriarchal retinue was then courteously hosted to a reception at the Hegoumen’s quarters by the Abbot, Archimandrite Bartholomew.
From the Secretariat-General
