The Leave-taking of the Feast of Pascha at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On Wednesday, May 30 / June 12, 2024, the Patriarchate celebrated the Feast of the Apodosis (Leave-taking) of Pascha, i.e., the completion of forty days of the Easter period since the day of the Resurrection. Hence, the Church repeats the Resurrection Service as on Easter Sunday without the same Biblical Readings.

On this joyous feast, the Resurrection Service, that is, the Resurrection Canon of Saint John of Damascus, was chanted in the Patriarchal and Monastic Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, in the presence of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulchre Fathers.

Subsequently, according to the tradition of the Brotherhood, His Beatitude and the Holy Fathers went through the steps of the Holy Church of Saint James the Brother of God and venerated the Holy Sepulchre, while the Divine Liturgy was being celebrated in the Catholicon of the Church of the Resurrection, presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Dorotheos of Avila and Holy Sepulchre Hieromonks and deacons, with the attendance of local believers and pilgrims.

Afterwards, the Episcopal Entourage went up to the Patriarchate and in joy paid their respects to His Beatitude.

From the General Secretariat

Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem