The Forefeast of Theophany at the Patriarchate
The Forefeast of Theophany was celebrated by the Patriarchate on Sunday, 5th/18th January 2026, as follows:
First, in the Holy Monastic Church of Saints Constantine and Helen of the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood, the Resurrection Service was chanted, since the day coincided with the Sunday before the Lights and, at the same time, the Forefeast of Theophany. Thereafter, the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom was celebrated.
Shortly before the Dismissal, the Service of the Small Blessing of the Waters commenced in the narthex, officiated by His Beatitude, with the Hierarchs concelebrating in prayer with Him and chanting three times, “When Thou, O Lord, wast baptised in the Jordan…”, as well as, “Today the Lord has come to the streams of the Jordan and cries out to John.”
Subsequently, the procession ascended to the Patriarchate, where a supplication was offered, His Beatitude sanctified the hall, and the Patriarchal Polychronion was chanted. Thereupon His Eminence Archbishop Theodosios of Sebasteia, arrived from the Cathedral of Saint James the Brother of God, who had celebrated the Blessing of the Waters there.
After a short rest, His Beatitude departed, according to custom, for the River Jordan, travelling with His entourage by road via Jericho, the Monastery of Saint Elisha, the Governor/Administrator of the Palestinian Authority, and the Monastery of Saint John the Forerunner. There, in the morning, the Divine Liturgy and the Service of the Small Blessing of the Waters were celebrated by Archimandrite Klaudios and Priest Nectarios. Upon the arrival of His Beatitude, a supplication was offered, and the procession then set out on foot towards the River Jordan amid heavy rain, a sign of God’s blessing.
Upon arrival at the Western Bank of the Jordan, on a prepared and suitably adorned platform, Vespers and the Service of the Small Blessing of the Waters were celebrated.
Finally, His Beatitude, despite the dense crowd, descended to the edge of the bank of the River Jordan and immersed in the waters the Precious Cross, sanctified by the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ who was baptised there, amid the chanting of, “When Thou, O Lord, wast baptised in the Jordan…”. At the same time, from the Eastern Bank, the faithful, under His Eminence Archbishop Christophoros of Kyriakoupolis, celebrated the same service.
After the completion of these events, His Beatitude ascended to the Holy Monastery of Saint John the Baptist, where the Hegumen, Elder Dragoman and Master of Ceremonies, Archimandrite Mattheos, offered refreshments and a fasting meal. Thereafter, His Beatitude, together with the British Consul and many of the faithful, visited the Holy Monastery of Abba Gerasimos of the Jordan and its ailing Hegumen, Archimandrite Chrysostomos.
From the Chief Secretariat
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