Hierarchs of eight Local Churches concelebrate Divine Liturgy in Greece

Hierarchs of eight Local Churches celebrated a joint liturgy in Veria. Photo: Vima Orthodoxias

On June 29, 2026, representatives of eight Local Orthodox Churches gathered in the Greek city of Veria for a solemn service in honor of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. This was reported by Vima Orthodoxias.

The Divine Liturgy in Veria’s historic cathedral marked the culmination of the annual international Pavleia 2026 forum. The service was led by Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Hierarchs of the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Georgia took part in the common prayer. Representatives of the Churches of Greece and Cyprus, numerous clergy, and hundreds of pilgrims also attended the service.

In his homily, Metropolitan Cleopas described the Apostles Peter and Paul as eternal examples of repentance and missionary service. He stressed that amid contemporary wars and social conflicts, Christians must overcome divisions and work together to build unity.

Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veria thanked the Primates of the Local Churches for sending their delegations. He noted that the presence of hierarchs from across the Orthodox world was “a visible testimony to the unity of Orthodoxy around the common apostolic tradition.”

During the service, the faithful venerated a relic of the Holy Apostle Paul, which is permanently preserved in the Veria Eparchy. Following the Divine Liturgy, the hierarchs served a memorial litiya for the late Metropolitans Paul of Veria and Paul of Drama.

As the UOJ reported, Greece is hosting a major international forum dedicated to the legacy of the Apostle Paul.

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