The Gathering of the Apostles in Tiberias (2016)
On Wednesday, the 30th of June/13th of July 2016, the Patriarchate observed the feast of the Gathering of the Twelve Apostles at the Monastery dedicated to them in Tiberias, on the west coast of the Tiberian Sea.
By “Gathering of the Holy Apostles” we mean the gathering of the faithful in order to honour the twelve Apostles for the dissemination of the truth they revealed about the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.
The divine Liturgy was led by H.B. Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, having as concelebrants Metropolitans Kyriakos of Nazareth and Joachim of Zambia, Hagiotaphite Archimandrites, led by Archimandrite Ieronymos, Archimandrite Sophronios, Hieromonks and Arabic-speaking Presbyters, Archdeacon Evlogios and deacon Anastasios. Archimandrite Philotheos, hegumen in Accra, sang for a congregation from the parishes of Nazareth and Galilee, as well as for Greek-speaking and Russian-speaking pilgrims.
In His sermon, Patriarch Theophilos spoke of the joyful event of the appearance of Jesus to his disciples in the Tiberian sea. “The Church of Christ”, said the Patriarch, “bestows special honours on the Apostles, namely Christ’s disciples, because on the one hand they became eye and ear witnesses of the incarnation of the Logos of God, and on the other hand they received the Holy Spirit (John 20, 22) and were sent by the Lord Himself to all nations in order to preach the Gospel of the Light of the truth: Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” [John 20, 21-23].
The divine Liturgy was followed by reception at the hegumeneion, and then lunch hosted by the hegumen, Archimandrite Dionysios.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
