Feast Day of Vatopedi Skete of Saint Andrew the Apostle

On Wednesday, 13 December 2023, the memory of Saint Andrew the First-called Apostle was celebrated on Mount Athos according to the Julian Calendar. The feast day of Apostle Andrew was honoured with a festive all-night vigil, according to the Athonite tradition and monastic typikon, at the Holy Vatopedi Cenobitic Skete of Apostle Andrew, which is also known as Serai.

On the eve of the feast day, the Great Vespers took place at the katholikon of the Skete of Saint Andrew, which was officiated by the Dikaios (Head) of the Holy Skete, Elder Nektarios, which was then followed by the Matins Service of the feast.

On the morning of the main day of the feast, the Eucharistic Synaxis took place and was presided over by the Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi, Elder Archimandrite Ephraim, and was joined by the Dikaios of the Holy Skete of Saint Andrew and other Athonite Fathers, in the presence of many Athonite Fathers and pilgrims who came to the Skete to join in the holy celebration and to receive the grace of Saint Andrew the Apostle, through the veneration of his grace-giving relics, which are kept in the Holy Skete. The Fathers of the Holy Vatopedi Monastery chanted the sacred hymns of the feast day.

Source: orthodoxianewsagency.gr