THE FEAST OF THE VENERATION OF APOSTLE PETER’S SACRED CHAIN

On Saturday, 16/29 January 2022, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of the Veneration of Apostle Peter’s Sacred Chain.

On this feast, the Church commemorates Apostle Peter’s imprisonment by Herod, with the aim to kill him as a tribute to the Jews, and the liberation of the Apostle by an angel of God, as we read in the Book of Acts (Acts, 12:6-19).

This event is believed to have taken place at the prison of the Praetorion-Roman Court. The Patriarchate has a Monastery there, named after Saint Nicodemus, the one who came to the Lord at night (John 3:1-2), or “Lentil” where there is a Church a chapel and an underground prison.

At this Monastery, Vespers on Friday afternoon and the Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning were officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Theophanes of Gerassa, with the co-celebration of Archimandrite Meletios, Priest Nectarios and Hierodeacon Eulogios, at the chanting of Mr Gotsopoulos. The Service was attended by Nuns and laity from Jerusalem, along with the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Evangelos Vlioras and members of the Consulate.

During the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem came for veneration, accompanied by Hagiotaphite Fathers.

The Hegoumen Archimandrite Makarios offered a reception at the end of the Liturgy to the Patriarchal and Episcopal entourages.

From Secretariat-General