Sunday, June 30, 2024, marked the celebration of All Saints’ Sunday by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in accordance with the Pentecost tradition.
The festivities took place at the All Saints Chapel located within the Holy Church of the Holy Monastery of Panagia Sayda Naya.
This special occasion honored the holy individuals who have found favor with God throughout history, including Patriarchs, Forefathers, Righteous, Prophets of the Old Testament, Apostles of the New Testament, confessors, martyrs, and all the saints of the Church whose lives reflect the presence of the Holy Spirit received at Pentecost. With the conclusion of the Pentecost cycle, the fasting period leading up to the feast of the Holy Apostles commenced the following day.
To commemorate All Saints collectively, a Vespers service was held on Saturday afternoon at the All Saints Chapel, conducted by Archimandrite Alexios. The Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning was led by Archimandrites Christodoulos and Hieronymos, along with Ministering Priest Farah Bandour and Russian Priest Nikolai Koulinsky. The chanting was performed in Greek by the monastery’s nuns and in Arabic by Mr. Rimon Kamar. The service was attended by monks, nuns, local believers, pilgrims, and representatives from the Greek Consulate General in Jerusalem and the Cypriot Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Following the Divine Liturgy, Reverend Abbess Seraphima, responsible for the renovations of the Holy Church and Monastery as well as overseeing the bakery, hosted a lavish reception for the clergy and congregation at the monastery’s rectory and courtyard.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem