The incorrupt and fragrant body of Saint John Jacob the new Hozevite are “indisputable and irrefutable testimony of the resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ”, said the Patriarch of Jerusalem last week, as he officiated the All-Night Vigil at the whole relics of St. John Jacob of Neamț, whose entire incorrupt body reposes at the Hozeva Monastery in the Holy Land.
Archimandrite Constantine, Hegumen of the monastery, greeted Patriarch Theophilos, asking him to “pray that the Good Lord, through the intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos of Hozeva, and our Holy Father John the new Hozevite, will lead all the people … to a safe harbour and path of repentance and salvation”.
His Beatitude’s co-celebrants were Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, the Hieromonks Chrysogonos and Marcellus, Archdeacon Mark and Hierodeacon Patrikios.
“We have before our eyes the guarantee of the heritage in the heavens that is incorruptible and immaculate and does not wither”, Patriarch Theophilos said. “And that guarantee is no other than the incorrupt and fragrant relics of our Holy and wonder-worker Father John the new Hozevite from Romania.”
“We did not come here today in the feast of Saint John to honour him, but rather to participate in the honour the Lord does to him, who is His Saint. Moreover, we came to be taught the ordinances of the true life in Christ by him, Holy John the new Hozevite and the multitude of the Saints of Hozeva before him,” he added.
The Patriarch of Jerusalem prayed during the service for the victims of the Greece fires. The chanting was delivered by Hierodeacon Simeon and the Monastery Monks.
Photo credit: Jerusalem Patriarchate (archive)
