Christmas Day Vigil at the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem
The Christmas Vigil began on the night of the Eve of the Feast, the 24th of December 2024 / 6th of January 2025, with the Midnight Office, the beginning of which was led by His Eminence Metropolitan Isychios of Capitolias, representing His Beatitude, and after with His Beatitude’s blessing, the Christmas Katavasiae commenced.
From the Kathismata hymn “Come, let us see, O faithful, where Christ is born,” the procession descended to the Holy Grotto through the Main Gate of the Catholicon and via the southern door of the Grotto, where on the right of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem stood the Representative of the Palestinian Authority, Mr Ramzi Khoury, and the General Consul of Greece in Jerusalem, Mr Dimitrios Angelosopoulos, while on the left stood the representative of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and other officials.
In the Holy Grotto, the Gospel of the Nativity was read: “And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed…” from the Gospel according to Saint Luke, in Greek and Arabic. The Christmas Message of His Beatitude was then read by His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantine, in Greek, and by Father Issa Mousleh in Arabic.
Following the reading of the Message, the veneration took place at the Star and the Manger by His Beatitude, his entourage, and the officials and the Patriarchal procession ascended through the Northern Gate of the Grotto’s steps, beginning the procession within the Basilica, thrice circumnavigating its cloisters until the centre of the Basilica.
Thereafter, His Beatitude led the Matins and the Divine Liturgy, assisted by Their Eminences, Archbishop Theophanes of Gerash, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, Archbishop Filoumenos of Pella, and Archbishop Aristovoulos of Madaba, the Holy Sepulchre Hieromonks, with Archimandrite Nektarios as the chief Hieromonk, and other Orthodox clergy. The chanting was delivered by Hierodeacon Simeon, the newly-ordained Deacon Eustathios, and the choir of the Bethlehem parish, in the presence of the General Consul of Greece in Jerusalem, Mr Dimitrios Angelosopoulos, and the consulate staff. The Divine Liturgy concluded according to the Status Quo at 3:30 am. Before this, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Holy Grotto of the Nativity by His Eminence Metropolitan Isychios of Capitolias.
Afterwards, the procession ascended from the Basilica through the Baptismal Gate to the Central Monastery, where a festive meal was offered by the Patriarchal Representative, His Eminence Metropolitan Benedictos of Diocaesarea.
Around the ninth hour of the morning, a procession descended once again to the Holy Grotto, where a thanksgiving prayer was offered to God for His assistance in the completion of the Sacred Vigil.
From the General Secretariat
