The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrates Christmas Day-Vigil at the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem

This news is shared from the website of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

The Christmas Vigil began on the night of the Eve of the Feast, the 24th of December 2024 / 6th of January 2025, with the Midnight Office, the beginning of which was led by His Eminence Metropolitan Isychios of Capitolias, representing His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and all Palestine and Jordan, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and after with His Beatitude’s blessing, the Christmas Katavasiae commenced.

From the Seating hymn “Come, let us see, O faithful, where Christ is born,” the procession descended to the Holy Grotto through the Main Gate of the Catholicon and via the southern door of the Grotto, where on the right of His Beatitude stood the Representative of the Palestinian Authority, Mr Ramzi Khoury, and the General Consul of Greece in Jerusalem, Mr Dimitrios Angelosopoulos, while on the left stood the representative of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and other officials.

In the Holy Grotto, the Gospel of the Nativity was read: “And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed…” from the Gospel according to Saint Luke, in Greek and Arabic. The Christmas Message of His Beatitude was then read by His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantine, in Greek, and by Father Issa Mousleh in Arabic.

Following the reading of the Message, the veneration took place at the Star and the Manger by His Beatitude, his entourage, and the officials and the Patriarchal procession ascended through the Northern Gate of the Grotto’s steps, beginning the procession within the Basilica, thrice circumnavigating its cloisters until the centre of the Basilica…

Click Here To Check All the Photos.

This news was originally published on the website of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, click here to read more.