The Feast of the Veneration of the Holy Chain of the Apostle Peter at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On Wednesday, 16th / 29th January 2025, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of the Veneration of the Holy Chain of the Apostle Peter at the Holy Monastery of Saint Nicodemus, the nocturnal disciple of Christ, also known as “of Phaki,” where meals of lentils (phaki) were distributed in times of famine during the Byzantine era.

On this feast, the Church remembers the imprisonment of the Apostle Peter by King Herod Antipas and his miraculous release from prison, with his chains being broken by a holy angel (Acts 12:1-19). The faithful venerate the chain of the Apostle’s bondage, asking through his intercessions that the chains of our sins, transgressions, and previous sinful lives may be broken.

For this feast, Vespers were celebrated in the evening at the Chapel of the Chain, and the Divine Liturgy was held the following day at the Holy Church of Saint Nicodemus. His Eminence Archbishop Theophanes of Gerash presided, along with Archimandrites Filoumenos and Christodoulos, other priests, and Hierodeacon Evlogios. The chanting was led by the First Cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Deacon Eustathios Tsoumanis, and Monk Ephraim.

After the Divine Liturgy, the Monastery’s hegumen, Archimandrite Makarios, hosted the Episcopal entourage and the congregation at the rectory.

From the General Secretariat

Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem