Patriarchate of Jerusalem: The Feast of the Synaxis of the Honourable Prophet John the Baptist

On Monday, 7th/20th January 2025, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of the Synaxis of the Honourable Prophet and Baptist John.

Due to the special role he fulfilled in baptising the Lord, the Church understands the term “Synaxis” as the gathering of its members to honour the Honourable Forerunner.

This feast was celebrated particularly in the Holy Church of Saint John the Baptist, situated in the centre of the Old City of Jerusalem, south of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

In this Holy Church, Vespers were held in the evening, and the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the morning by the Archimandrites, Christodoulos, Meletios and Claudius, along with the Romanian-speaking priests and the celebrating Archimandrite John, Archdeacon Mark, and Deacon Eustathios, with the chanting of Hierodeacon Dositheos and visiting monks from Mount Athos.

After the Divine Liturgy, the celebrants were warmly received by the renovator of the Holy Church, the Hegumen Archimandrite Bartholomew.

From the Secretariat-General

Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem