THE FEAST OF STS PETER AND PAUL IN CAPERNAUM
On Tuesday, the 29th of June/12th of July 2016, the Patriarchate observed the memory of the First amongst the Apostles, Sts Peter and Paul, at the monastery dedicated to their name in Capernaum, on the northwest coast of the Tiberian sea, once lifted to the heavens, the Lord’s second homeland after Nazareth, a town deserted for its inhabitants had not repented (Matthew 11, 23-24).
The divine Liturgy was led by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, having as concelebrants Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina and Metropolitan Joachim of Zambia. Praying with them were Archbishop Damascene of Joppa, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks from monasteries adjacent to Capernaum i.e. the hegumen in Fhes, Jordan, Archimandrite Ieronymos as leading priest, the hegumen at Mount Tabor Monastery, Archimandrite Hilarion, the hegumen in Accra-Ptolemais, Archimandrite Philotheos, the hegumen in Kana, Galilee, Archimandrite Chrysostomos, the hegumen in Tiberias, Archimandrite Dionysios and Arabic-speaking presbyters from neighbouring towns. Archimandrite Aristovoulos sang with the youth choir of Nazareth for a pious congregation of local Christians as well as Russian-speaking and Greek-speaking pilgrims.
To the pious congregation, His Beatitude preached the Word of God in Greek and in Arabic.
The divine Liturgy was followed by a reception and then lunch hosted by Monk Irinarchos, renovator of the monastery.
From the Secretariat-General
httpv://youtu.be/jA6wuuLEFjw