Patriarchs Celebrate Exaltation of the Cross at Golgotha

JERUSALEM — As reported by UOJ-Ukraine, Patr. Theophilos III of Jerusalem and Patr. Daniel of Bulgaria celebrated the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-giving Cross with a solemn Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on September 26.

The joint service took place in the Katholikon of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher during Patr. Daniel’s peaceful visit to the Holy Land. Hierarchs of the Jerusalem and Bulgarian Patriarchates, together with numerous clergy, concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with the two Primates.

Following the service, the clergy and faithful took part in the traditional procession through the church. The procession began at the site of the Holy Descent from the Cross and continued to the chapel of St. Helena, where the Holy Cross was discovered.

In the Cave of the Finding of the Holy Cross, Patrs. Theophilos and Daniel, together with the clergy, performed the rite of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross toward the four cardinal points. The procession then circled the Kuvuklia of the Holy Sepulcher three times before ascending to Golgotha, where the rite was performed again near the patriarchal throne.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Patr. Theophilos joined the patronal feast at Gethsemane Monastery.