Archimandrite Ioan Meiu, representative of the Romanian Patriarchate in the Holy Land and superior of the Romanian establishments in Jerusalem, Jericho and Jordan, attended the Divine Liturgy on Friday for the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God according to the unrevised calendar.
His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem celebrated the service at the Church of Gethsemane, together with hierarchs, clergy, representatives of other Orthodox Churches, and priests accompanying groups of pilgrims from Romania.
Pilgrims at Gethsemane
Archimandrite Ioan Meiu highlighted the large number of faithful who attended this year’s celebrations despite the difficulties caused by the region’s security situation in recent years.
“This year’s feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God here in the Patriarchate of Jerusalem brought together quite a large number of pilgrims compared with recent years, which have been affected by security problems in this region and by the war in the Middle East,” the Romanian Patriarchate’s representative in the Holy Land told Basilica.ro.
“We all gathered to honour the Mother of God at her tomb in Gethsemane during a beautiful and solemn Divine Liturgy.”
A call to visit the Holy Land
Archimandrite Ioan Meiu encouraged the faithful to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to venerate the Tomb of the Lord and the Tomb of the Mother of God and to visit the other holy places associated with the life and ministry of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
“We pray that the Mother of God may be the protector of all Romanians and intercede for us before the throne of God,” the Romanian Patriarchate’s representative in the Holy Land added.
The Patriarchate of Jerusalem held liturgical celebrations for the feast over several days, including a procession with the icon of the Dormition of the Mother of God to her tomb in Gethsemane, as well as the Lamentations service.
Photo: Archim. Ioan Meiu
