On Monday, 19 May / 1 June 2026, the Monday of the Holy Spirit, the Patriarchate celebrated the Feast of the Holy Spirit, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire upon the Holy Disciples and Apostles of the Lord. The feast was celebrated at the very place where this event occurred, namely at Holy Zion, where the Upper Room is located.
In the afternoon of Pentecost Sunday, Vespers of the Holy Spirit, together with the Kneeling Prayers, were celebrated in the Patriarchal chapel situated within the cemetery and upon the ruins of the Byzantine church. The service was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Philoumenos of Pella, concelebrating with priests of the Patriarchate.
On the morning of the Monday of the Holy Spirit, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Church of the Holy Trinity, located within the Patriarchal School of Zion, with His Eminence Archbishop Philoumenos of Pella presiding. Concelebrating with him were the Holy Sepulchre Archimandrites Philoumenos, Christodoulos, Makarios, Thaddaeus, and Dositheos, the priests of the Cathedral Church of Saint James the Brother of the Lord, Fr Hader and Fr Nektarios, Hierodeacon Prodromos and the Deacon and chief cantor Efstathios.
The hymns were chanted by Mr Ioannis Karanikolas together with the students of the School, in the presence of many faithful monks, laypeople, and pilgrims. Also present were the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem, Mr Dimitrios Angelosopoulos, and members of the Consulate.
Following the Divine Liturgy, the First Kneeling Prayer was read within the church. Thereafter, in accordance with the pilgrimage Church order of the day, a procession commenced towards the Tomb of David, making a stop at the Catacomb for the reading of another Kneeling Prayer, and then proceeding to the Upper Room. A supplication service was also offered at the Tomb of the Prophet-King David. The procession was conducted under the guidance and supervision of the Master of Ceremonies and Dragoman, Archimandrite Matthaios.
Afterwards, the procession returned in excellent order to the Church of the Holy Trinity, pausing at the southern gate of the cemetery for a prayer of supplication for the repose of our fathers and brethren who have fallen asleep in the hope of the Resurrection.
Bringing this festal celebration to its conclusion, which also marked the end of the current academic year, the Managing Director of the School, monk Vasileios, together with the students of the Patriarchal School, invoking the illumination of the Holy Spirit, offered refreshments to the episcopal entourage and to all present in the School’s ceremonial hall.
From the Chief Secretariat
