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

On Sunday, January 16th/29th, 2023, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of the veneration of the Holy chain of the Apostle Peter in the holy Monastery of Saint Nicodemus – commonly known as “the Lentil’s”, adjacent to the Praetorium complex, that is, the prisons of the Roman Administration of time of the Lord.

During this feast, the Church commemorates the imprisonment of the Apostle Peter by Herod and his miraculous release by God through His angel, as the Acts of the Apostles declare this (12, 1-11).

On this occasion, Vespers was celebrated on Saturday afternoon and Divine Liturgy in the morning, presided over by the Most Reverend Archbishop of Theophanes of Gerassa, with the co-celebration of the Hegoumen Archimandrite Makarios, the Hegoumen of Praetorium Archimandrite Dionysios and Hierodeacon Eulogios. The chanting was delivered by Mr Vassilios Gotsopoulos and monks, as the service was attended by believers from Jerusalem and elsewhere.

Before the Holy Communion, His Eminence spoke about the Apostle Peter, who was called “blessed” by Jesus Christ, when he confessed Him as the Son of the living God, and his confession was called the building stone of the Church. He also spoke about the celebrated event of the release of the Apostle Peter under God, with the help of the angel and the Holy Spirit, and more generally about all the achievements of the Saints of the Church, which are achieved through the help of the Holy Spirit.

After the Dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, the Hegoumen Archimandrite Makarios offered a reception for the Episcopal entourage and the congregation.

From Secretariat-General