The Holy Imperial Serbian Lavra of Hilandar solemnly celebrated its temple feast—The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple

On Thursday, December 4, the Holy Imperial Serbian Lavra of Hilandar solemnly celebrated its temple feast—The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple.

The guest of the monastic brethren was the envoy of His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch Porfirije, His Grace Bishop of Buenos Aires and South-Central America, and administrator of the Metropolitanate of Zagreb and Ljubljana Kirilo, who presided over the all-night vigil and the Divine Hierarchical Liturgy in Hilandar’s Cathedral Church. His Eminence Metropolitan of Corfu, Paxos, and the Diapontian Islands Nectarios, concelebrated with His Grace Kirilo during the Divine Liturgy.

As every year, according to the ancient custom established by the founders, Saint Sava and Venerable Saint Simeon the Myrrh-Flowing, the Abbot of the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Ephraim, took the honorary Abbot’s place for one day.

The civil governor of Mount Athos, Mr. Alkiviadis Stefanis, His Excellency Mr. Nikola Nedeljković, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the Hellenic Republic, the advisor to the President of Serbia for regional affairs, Mr. Miloš Vučević, numerous monks from other Athonite monasteries, clergy, and many pilgrims from Serbia and abroad attended the monastery’s panegyris.

The chanting brethren from New Skete, led by Elder Damaskinos, as well as the brethren of Hilandar’s cell of Saint Nicholas—Burazeri, contributed to the beauty of the Divine Liturgy.

At the end of the Liturgy, a richly decorated festive koliva, depicting the image of the Most Holy Theotokos, the protectress of the Hilandar Monastery and Mount Athos, was blessed. Following this, a patronal feast meal was served for all present in the monastery refectory.

Photo: monk Milutin Hilandarac