Archbishop Makarios of Australia visited the Holy Monastery of Iviron on Mount Athos, to preside over the Feast of the Holy Monastery on the feast day of the Dormition of the Theotokos on Tuesday, August 15.
The Archbishop arrived at the Holy Monastery on the eve of the feast, Monday, August 14, being officially received at the entrance of the Monastery by the Abbot Archimandrite Nathanael, the Former-Elder Vasilios and the brotherhood of the monastery.
According to the traditional order, the Archbishop presided over the service of the Litany and transfer of the icon of Panagia Portaitissa, from the chapel to the Katholikon Church of the Monastery, then he officiated at Vespers, Matins and the Divine Liturgy, which was co-celebrated by the Hierarchs.
After the Divine Liturgy, a celebratory meal followed, while, according to the traditional order, in the afternoon of the main day of the feast, together with the Vespers Service, a memorial service was held for the repose of the souls of the founders of the Holy Monastery.
Mount Athos is the largest Orthodox monastic community in the world, which is ecclesiastically under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
