Praise of the Theotokos celebrated at Mother of God's Tomb in Gethsemane

The Shroud of the Mother of God, carried out to the center of the church at Her Tomb in Gethsemane. Photo: Orthodoxia News Agency

On August 27, 2025, on the eve of the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos (August 14 according to the old calendar), a solemn ceremony of the Praise of the Theotokos was held in Gethsemane – at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, where the Tomb of the Mother of God is located. This was reported by the Orthodoxia News Agency.

The ceremony began with a procession of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, which traditionally transferred the service from the Central Monastery to the holy site of Gethsemane. The procession moved through the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem along the Via Dolorosa and was met by the abbots of several monasteries.

Upon arrival in Gethsemane, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem consecrated the Holy Entrance, after which the clergy and faithful proceeded to the Tomb of the Mother of God. There, prayers were offered and hymns in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos were sung.

After the service, the Chief Secretary of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantine, addressed the gathered faithful. His homily was directed to the brethren, nuns, and Greek pilgrims who had assembled at the holy site.

The archbishop emphasized the unique role of the Most Holy Theotokos in the history of salvation. According to him, it was precisely through her perfect obedience to the will of God and purity of life that the Virgin Mary became a co-worker of God in the salvation of the human race. “She responded to the call of the Creator and became the Mother of the incarnate Son of God,” the hierarch noted.

He also reminded the faithful that the example of the Theotokos must remain a model for every Christian. “Her humility, purity, and obedience open the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. By imitating the virtues of the Most Holy Virgin and seeking her intercession, we may become co-heirs of eternal life in Christ,” said Archbishop Aristarchos.

The sermon concluded with a call for spiritual strengthening and trust in the prayerful help of the Most Holy Theotokos for all those enduring sorrows and trials. The service ended with prayer at the Tomb of the Mother of God and a patriarchal polychronion.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Church celebrates the Dormition of the Theotokos.

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