Representatives of eight Eastern Orthodox Churches joined in a solemn Divine Liturgy in the northern Greek city of Veria on June 29, marking the conclusion of the annual Pavleia 2026 celebrations honoring the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.

According to the Greek news agency Romfea, the service took place in Veria's Old Metropolitan Cathedral, traditionally regarded as the site where the Apostle Paul preached during his missionary journeys.

The Divine Liturgy was led by Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden, representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Hierarchs from the Orthodox Churches of Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Georgia also participated, together with representatives of the Churches of Greece, Albania, and Cyprus. The service was attended by local officials, clergy, monastics, and large numbers of pilgrims.

In his homily, Metropolitan Cleopas conveyed the blessing of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and described the Apostles Peter and Paul as enduring examples of faith, repentance, and missionary witness for Christians around the world.

He said that amid contemporary wars, social conflicts, and spiritual challenges, the apostles' message highlights the importance of peace, unity, and overcoming divisions.

Following the liturgy, Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veria, Naousa, and Kampania thanked the delegations from the various Orthodox Churches for participating in both the forum and the liturgical celebrations. He said the presence of representatives from different countries demonstrated the unity of global Orthodoxy around its shared apostolic tradition.

The annual Pavleia festival has been held for more than three decades and typically includes theological conferences, liturgical celebrations, and cultural events dedicated to the memory of the Apostle Paul.

During the liturgy, worshippers were also able to venerate a relic of the Apostle Paul preserved by the Metropolis of Veria. After the service, the participating hierarchs celebrated a memorial service for the late Metropolitans Paul of Veria and Paul of Drama.