The Forefeast of Theophany at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On Saturday, 18 January 2025, the Forefeast of Theophany was celebrated at the Patriarchate.

In the morning of this day, at the central monastic Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, with His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem presiding, the Matins service was held, followed by the Divine Liturgy of Saint Chrysostom.

Before the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude performed the service of the Blessing of the Waters for the Eve of Theophany, surrounded by the members of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, including Archbishops, Hieromonks, Hierodeacons, and monks, with the chanting of Archimandrites Alexios and Nectarios. After the blessing of the water and the hymn “When You were baptised in the Jordan, O Lord, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest,” the procession moved to the Patriarchal Hall, which was blessed by the ministering priest of the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, Archimandrite Stephanos.

Here, His Beatitude awaited the representatives of the Cathedral of St. James the Brother of the Lord, where the Divine Liturgy and the Blessing of the Waters had been conducted by His Eminence Archbishop Theodosios of Sebastia, who then came to bless the Patriarchal Hall.

After receiving the blessing, His Beatitude proceeded to Jericho at 9:00 a.m., passing by the Monastery of the Prophet Elisha and then through the office of the Governor of the Palestinian Authority. There, the appropriate greetings, prayers, and festive gifts were exchanged.

Subsequently, His Beatitude passed through the border checkpoint at Kasr el Yahud. He arrived at the Monastery of the Holy Forerunner and Baptist John on the western bank of the Jordan River, where the Divine Liturgy had been held earlier in the morning by the Archimandrites Meletios and Silouanos, with the chanting of Nun Euphemia and the students of the Patriarchal School of Sion. Afterwards, His Beatitude was warmly received by the Hegumen of the Monastery, Archimandrite Bartholomew, who has wonderfully renovated the Holy Monastery.

After the prayers in the Church, a procession of the Patriarchal entourage took place, proceeding officially and fully vested towards the Jordan River. There, from a platform, His Beatitude blessed the waters. He then descended to the bank of the Jordan River, where he blessed the waters, while a delegation from the Archdiocese of Amman, on the river’s Eastern bank, chanted the hymn “When You were baptised in the Jordan, O Lord.”

After completing the blessing, His Beatitude ascended to the Monastery of the Holy Forerunner, where the Hegumen and renovator, Archimandrite Bartholomew, hosted a fasting feast in honour of the occasion.

From the General Secretariat

Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem