His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III celebrates the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul at the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem
On Saturday, the 29th of June/12th of July 2025, the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem solemnly celebrated the commemoration of the Holy, Glorious, and Chief of the Apostles, Peter and Paul.
Their sacred memory was honoured in the Church dedicated to their names, which celebrates its patronal feast, located within the Holy Monastery at the city of Capernaum—a place frequently mentioned in the Holy Gospels, now lying in ruins upon the western shore of the Sea of Tiberias.
In honour of these two foremost Apostles, the Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem. Concelebrating with His Beatitude were Their Eminences Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, Metropolitan Makarios of Ptolemais, and the Elder Chief Secretary, His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, together with Archimandrite Christodoulos, priests from the neighbouring regions, including the Russian-speaking priest of Capernaum, Fr Mark, Archdeacon Fr Mark, and Hierodeacon Prodromos.
The chanting was offered on the right side in Greek by a choir under the direction of Archimandrite Leontios, and on the left side in Arabic by the choir of Acre, which was founded by the late Archimandrite Philotheos. Present in prayer were Arabic-speaking and Russian-speaking faithful from the communities of Northern Galilee—Shakhnin, Kafr Yasif, and other towns, along with the honourable presence of Her Excellency the Ambassador of Greece to Tel Aviv, Mrs Maria Solomou, and Secretary Mr Nikolaos Mavroeidis.
Before the Holy Communion, His Beatitude delivered the following Sermon:
“He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:15–17).
And the Lord said unto His disciple Ananias: “Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings” (Acts 9:15).
Beloved brethren in Christ,
Pious Christians and pilgrims,
The grace of the Holy Spirit hath gathered us all today in this sacred shrine dedicated to the Holy Apostles in Capernaum, that we might celebrate the all-venerable memory of the wisest and foremost among the Apostles, Peter and Paul, chanting and proclaiming: Rejoice, O Apostle Peter, and true friend of thy Teacher, Christ our God. Rejoice, O most beloved Paul, herald of the Faith and teacher of the whole world. “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things” (Romans 10:15 / cf. Isaiah 52:7, LXX).
This blessed fellowship of the Apostles Peter and Paul, as the interpreter Oicumenios said, became preachers of peace—that is to say, of the reconciliation of God with mankind. Both Peter and Paul received their calling to the apostolic office from the very Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Peter, together with his brother Andrew, were fishermen: “And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (cf. Matthew 4:18–19). And as for Paul, it is written: “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? And he said, Who art Thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: but arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do” (Acts 9:3–6)…
This news was originally published on the website of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.