Phanar: The Vespers of the Apokathilosis in an atmosphere of deep emotion

In the morning of Great and Holy Friday, 18 April 2025, at the venerable Patriarchal Church of Saint George, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew officiated at the service of the Vespers of the Apokathilosis (Taking down of Christ from the Cross), and was joined by Their Eminences Metropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia, Metropolitan Irinaios of Myriophytos and Peristasis, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Myra, Metropolitan Theoliptos of Iconium and Metropolitan Theodoros of Seleucia.

The holy sermon was preached, according to order, by the Grand Protosyncellus, Archimandrite Gregorios.

Subsequently, in an atmosphere of deep emotion, the embroidered epitaph, with the immaculate body of the Lord, was carried around the Church and placed within the flower-adorned Holy Kouvouklion, in the centre of the Solea, by the Grand Archimandrite Iakovos and Archimandrite Caesarios Chronis, Archivist of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The Ecumenical Patriarch venerated the epitaphios first, followed by Their Eminences the Hierarchs, the Clergy of the Patriarchal Court, and the Archons, to whom His All-Holiness distributed the traditional flowers, as well as, subsequently, to all the congregation.

At noon of the same day, like every Great and Holy Friday, His All-Holiness travelled to the Holy Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi Baloukli and venerated the tomb of his immediate predecessor, Patriarch Dimitrios, laid flowers and chanted the Trisagion, invoking his holy blessing.

Photographs: Nikos Papachristou