On Tuesday, December 6 / 19, 2023, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, Wonderworker of Lycia.
On this feast the Church commemorates St. Nicholas as the 4th century Father of the Church, "the rule of faith and the image of meekness," who participated in the First Ecumenical Council in Nicea and defended the oneness of the Son with the Father.
This holiday was celebrated:
In the city of Beit Jala, in the beautiful church of St. Nicholas. The Divine Liturgy was led by His Divine Blessedness Our Father and Patriarch Theophilus of Jerusalem, with the co-service of Their Eminences, Archbishops Aristarchus of Constantine and Theodosius of Sebastia, hieromonks of the Holy Sepulchre such as Archimandrite Nectarius, the elder of Kamarasis, Archimandrite Porfiry, Abbot of Beit Jala Monastery, priests Boulos, Yusef and Elijah and presbyter Hanna Aouad, other priests of the region and Hierodeacon Eulogius. The service was attended by the city's popular faithful, a representative of the Consulate General of Greece in Jerusalem, Mrs. Constantina Giftou, representatives of the Palestinian State, Mr. Houloud Daebes and Mr. Riyad Hananieh, and Abbot Archimandrite Ignatius, who was in charge of organizing the feast.
Before Holy Communion, His Beatitude preached the divine word as follows:
"For this One is our God for ever and ever: He shall save us for ever." (Psalm 47: 15)," exclaims the psalmist.
Beloved brothers in Christ,
Pious Christians,
The Hierarch of Christ Nicholas, Bishop of Myra of Lycia, has gathered us all in his temple in the biblical city of Beit Jala to celebrate his sacred memory.
The Holy Church of Christ rejoices and exults in the memory of her St. Nicholas, for he was a great shepherd who imitated the Archpastor Christ, not only in his local ecclesiastical jurisdiction, but in the entire Sobor and Apostolic Church, as St. John Damascene says in song: "We pray diligently to Thee, the great shepherd, and imitator in all things of the chief Shepherd Christ, Nicholas: from the heights of the sacred fall thy servants, and deliver them from all worldly misfortunes at all times."
Indeed, our Father Nicholas became a great shepherd of the whole Church, because the model for him was our Lord Jesus Christ, who said: "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep [...] I am the good shepherd: and I know my shepherd, and they know me: as the Father knows me, and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep."(Jn. 10: 11,14-15).
.
Interpreting the words of the Lord, St. Cyril of Alexandria says: "Man withdrew from love for God and inclined to sin. Therefore he was banished from the holy and divine court - I mean the court of paradise -. And because he became sick from Such a calamity caused by the devil, who deceived man and led him into sin, from which death sprouted, man became a victim of wolves, truly cruel and ruthless. But because Christ is the good shepherd of all men, he laid down his life for us...and suffered for us on the Cross, so that by death he might kill death, abolished by faith tyrannical sin, and nailed on his cross the manuscript against us (Col. 2:14) as it is written."
The Holy and Divine Court is none other than the Church, the earthly paradise that God has given us humans to have freedom, "which we have in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 2:4). "By this freedom, by which Christ has set us free, stand fast, and do not again be held under the yoke of work" (Galatians 5: 1), the divine Paul urges us. The Son and Word of God Himself, Christ, became the Archpastor: "For He is our God, and we are the shepherds of His flock and the sheep of His hand" (Psalm 94: 7) exclaims the Psalmist. God has appointed apostles and teachers in the Church (cf. 1 Cor. 12: 28) whose successors are bishops appointed by the Holy Spirit to shepherd the Church of Christ (cf. Acts 20: 28).
Such a bishop and shepherd, the successor of the Apostles, shone in the Church of Christ us St. Father Nicholas. His active participation in the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea in 325 against the heretical teaching of Arius made St. Nicholas "the rule of faith" and "the representative of the The Church", as his songster says: "The warmest representative of the Church of Christ appeared you, Nicholas, and the heresies of ungodly doctrine destroying with boldness, and the rule appeared you to all Orthodoxy, praying for all, following your divine teaching and punishment."
Blessed Nicholas, as the songster says, "sanctified himself as a great mystery of God's grace", because he kept the judgment, i.e. kept the Divine commandments, and did the truth at all times, just as the Psalmist says: "Blessed are those who keep the judgment and do the truth at all times" (Psalm 105: 3). That is why the priestly mystic Nicholas was called a miracle worker.
Our Father Nikolaos did not write any writings, because the Gospel of Christ was written in his heart, and he kept a clear consciousness of the mystery of faith (cf. 1 Tim. 3: 9). God shone in Nicholas' heart with the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in Jesus Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 4: 6) as the great Paul preaches. Driven by the illuminating power of the glory of God, St. Nicholas became a shepherd of the Universal Church and a teacher of Orthodoxy, that is, of the true doctrine, as the songster says: "Passing through invisible goodnesses, you have understood the glory of the saints, O holy one. Thereby you reveal to us the heavenly words of the visions of the ever-living ones, most holy Father.
In other words, my dear brothers, the Shepherds of the Church are the instruments of the Church. The Holy Spirit, and they have been entrusted with the care of the Churches, for they are the Archpastors of Christ. That is why Apostle Peter says: "Cast all your sorrow upon Nan, for he cares for you. Be alert, be vigilant, for your adversary the devil, like a roaring lion, walks about, looking for someone to devour" (1 Pet 5: 7- 9)
.
The God-bearing Nicholas, who visited the Holy Land of Palestine, calls us to this work, that we may remain steadfast in the faith which we have received from God and our Savior Jesus Christ through His Holy Apostles and their successors, the holy God-bearing Fathers of our Church. This faith is nothing else but faith in the great mystery of Divine Providence, i.e., the Incarnation of God the Word and His condescension to humble and weak humanity, which took place in the Cave of Bethlehem.
This means that God is near, close to us, as the psalmist says: "Near are You, O Lord, and all Your ways are truth."(Psalm 118: 151). And in another place, in the words of the prophet Jeremiah, "I am the God who draws near, saith the Lord, and not a God from afar." (Jer. 23: 23). This God who draws near is the Sun of Truth and the God of Peace, Christ, "born of the Father without seed and incarnate of the Virgin at the end of time."
Yes, my dear brethren, our neighboring Bethlehem is preparing to receive in its cave the Savior and Redeemer of the world, from the pure blood of Our Lady and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Let us also Let us prepare the "cave" of our hearts to receive in the Holy Spirit the God of love and peace. And together with the chanter St. John Damascene, let us say: "Look upon the singing of the servants, O Benefactor, who humbles the enemy's uplifted pride, but who, O All-Seeing One, is above sin, unshakably established, O Blessed One, the singers by the foundation of faith." [In other words: O Lord, benefactor, who sees all things in our lives and is truly blessed, favor the chants of Thy servants. Humble the pride of our enemy the devil, and lead us who praise you to rise above sin, keeping us firmly on the foundation of faith]. Amen. Have a long and blessed Christmas!"
The Divine Liturgy was followed by a procession in and around the church.
At noon, a meal was offered, attended by the priests and epitropes of Beit Jala.
The feast was also celebrated
at the holy church of St. Nicholas in Jerusalem, near the Patriarchate.
Vespers on the eve and the Divine Liturgy in the morning were led by His Eminence Metropolitan Isikhios of Capitolias, with the co-service of the Hieromonks of the Holy
Holy Shrine such as the Senior Dragoman Archimandrite Matthew, Archimandrite Claudius and Priest Nectarius. Sung by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda, Fr. Christodoul and the pupils of the Patriarchal School of Sion. Many faithful Christians and representatives of the Consulate General of Greece in Jerusalem.
After the Divine Liturgy, the renewer and good guardian of the temple Archdeacon Mark received everyone in the Abbess' reception room and in the courtyard of the holy temple.
On this feast the Church commemorates St. Nicholas as the 4th century Father of the Church, "the rule of faith and the image of meekness," who participated in the First Ecumenical Council in Nicea and defended the oneness of the Son with the Father.
This holiday was celebrated:
In the city of Beit Jala, in the beautiful church of St. Nicholas. The Divine Liturgy was led by His Divine Blessedness Our Father and Patriarch Theophilus of Jerusalem, with the co-service of Their Eminences, Archbishops Aristarchus of Constantine and Theodosius of Sebastia, hieromonks of the Holy Sepulchre such as Archimandrite Nectarius, the elder of Kamarasis, Archimandrite Porfiry, Abbot of Beit Jala Monastery, priests Boulos, Yusef and Elijah and presbyter Hanna Aouad, other priests of the region and Hierodeacon Eulogius. The service was attended by the city's popular faithful, a representative of the Consulate General of Greece in Jerusalem, Mrs. Constantina Giftou, representatives of the Palestinian State, Mr. Houloud Daebes and Mr. Riyad Hananieh, and Abbot Archimandrite Ignatius, who was in charge of organizing the feast.
Before Holy Communion, His Beatitude preached the divine word as follows:
"For this One is our God for ever and ever: He shall save us for ever." (Psalm 47: 15)," exclaims the psalmist.
Beloved brothers in Christ,
Pious Christians,
The Hierarch of Christ Nicholas, Bishop of Myra of Lycia, has gathered us all in his temple in the biblical city of Beit Jala to celebrate his sacred memory.
The Holy Church of Christ rejoices and exults in the memory of her St. Nicholas, for he was a great shepherd who imitated the Archpastor Christ, not only in his local ecclesiastical jurisdiction, but in the entire Sobor and Apostolic Church, as St. John Damascene says in song: "We pray diligently to Thee, the great shepherd, and imitator in all things of the chief Shepherd Christ, Nicholas: from the heights of the sacred fall thy servants, and deliver them from all worldly misfortunes at all times."
Indeed, our Father Nicholas became a great shepherd of the whole Church, because the model for him was our Lord Jesus Christ, who said: "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep [...] I am the good shepherd: and I know my shepherd, and they know me: as the Father knows me, and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep."(Jn. 10: 11,14-15).
.
Interpreting the words of the Lord, St. Cyril of Alexandria says: "Man withdrew from love for God and inclined to sin. Therefore he was banished from the holy and divine court - I mean the court of paradise -. And because he became sick from Such a calamity caused by the devil, who deceived man and led him into sin, from which death sprouted, man became a victim of wolves, truly cruel and ruthless. But because Christ is the good shepherd of all men, he laid down his life for us...and suffered for us on the Cross, so that by death he might kill death, abolished by faith tyrannical sin, and nailed on his cross the manuscript against us (Col. 2:14) as it is written."
The Holy and Divine Court is none other than the Church, the earthly paradise that God has given us humans to have freedom, "which we have in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 2:4). "By this freedom, by which Christ has set us free, stand fast, and do not again be held under the yoke of work" (Galatians 5: 1), the divine Paul urges us. The Son and Word of God Himself, Christ, became the Archpastor: "For He is our God, and we are the shepherds of His flock and the sheep of His hand" (Psalm 94: 7) exclaims the Psalmist. God has appointed apostles and teachers in the Church (cf. 1 Cor. 12: 28) whose successors are bishops appointed by the Holy Spirit to shepherd the Church of Christ (cf. Acts 20: 28).
Such a bishop and shepherd, the successor of the Apostles, shone in the Church of Christ us St. Father Nicholas. His active participation in the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea in 325 against the heretical teaching of Arius made St. Nicholas "the rule of faith" and "the representative of the The Church", as his songster says: "The warmest representative of the Church of Christ appeared you, Nicholas, and the heresies of ungodly doctrine destroying with boldness, and the rule appeared you to all Orthodoxy, praying for all, following your divine teaching and punishment."
Blessed Nicholas, as the songster says, "sanctified himself as a great mystery of God's grace", because he kept the judgment, i.e. kept the Divine commandments, and did the truth at all times, just as the Psalmist says: "Blessed are those who keep the judgment and do the truth at all times" (Psalm 105: 3). That is why the priestly mystic Nicholas was called a miracle worker.
Our Father Nikolaos did not write any writings, because the Gospel of Christ was written in his heart, and he kept a clear consciousness of the mystery of faith (cf. 1 Tim. 3: 9). God shone in Nicholas' heart with the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in Jesus Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 4: 6) as the great Paul preaches. Driven by the illuminating power of the glory of God, St. Nicholas became a shepherd of the Universal Church and a teacher of Orthodoxy, that is, of the true doctrine, as the songster says: "Passing through invisible goodnesses, you have understood the glory of the saints, O holy one. Thereby you reveal to us the heavenly words of the visions of the ever-living ones, most holy Father.
In other words, my dear brothers, the Shepherds of the Church are the instruments of the Church. The Holy Spirit, and they have been entrusted with the care of the Churches, for they are the Archpastors of Christ. That is why Apostle Peter says: "Cast all your sorrow upon Nan, for he cares for you. Be alert, be vigilant, for your adversary the devil, like a roaring lion, walks about, looking for someone to devour" (1 Pet 5: 7- 9)
.
The God-bearing Nicholas, who visited the Holy Land of Palestine, calls us to this work, that we may remain steadfast in the faith which we have received from God and our Savior Jesus Christ through His Holy Apostles and their successors, the holy God-bearing Fathers of our Church. This faith is nothing else but faith in the great mystery of Divine Providence, i.e., the Incarnation of God the Word and His condescension to humble and weak humanity, which took place in the Cave of Bethlehem.
This means that God is near, close to us, as the psalmist says: "Near are You, O Lord, and all Your ways are truth."(Psalm 118: 151). And in another place, in the words of the prophet Jeremiah, "I am the God who draws near, saith the Lord, and not a God from afar." (Jer. 23: 23). This God who draws near is the Sun of Truth and the God of Peace, Christ, "born of the Father without seed and incarnate of the Virgin at the end of time."
Yes, my dear brethren, our neighboring Bethlehem is preparing to receive in its cave the Savior and Redeemer of the world, from the pure blood of Our Lady and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Let us also Let us prepare the "cave" of our hearts to receive in the Holy Spirit the God of love and peace. And together with the chanter St. John Damascene, let us say: "Look upon the singing of the servants, O Benefactor, who humbles the enemy's uplifted pride, but who, O All-Seeing One, is above sin, unshakably established, O Blessed One, the singers by the foundation of faith." [In other words: O Lord, benefactor, who sees all things in our lives and is truly blessed, favor the chants of Thy servants. Humble the pride of our enemy the devil, and lead us who praise you to rise above sin, keeping us firmly on the foundation of faith]. Amen. Have a long and blessed Christmas!"
The Divine Liturgy was followed by a procession in and around the church.
At noon, a meal was offered, attended by the priests and epitropes of Beit Jala.
The feast was also celebrated
at the holy church of St. Nicholas in Jerusalem, near the Patriarchate.
Vespers on the eve and the Divine Liturgy in the morning were led by His Eminence Metropolitan Isikhios of Capitolias, with the co-service of the Hieromonks of the Holy
Holy Shrine such as the Senior Dragoman Archimandrite Matthew, Archimandrite Claudius and Priest Nectarius. Sung by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda, Fr. Christodoul and the pupils of the Patriarchal School of Sion. Many faithful Christians and representatives of the Consulate General of Greece in Jerusalem.
After the Divine Liturgy, the renewer and good guardian of the temple Archdeacon Mark received everyone in the Abbess' reception room and in the courtyard of the holy temple.
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