The Ecumenical Patriarch at the feast-day celebration of the Holy Church of the Twelve Apostles, Feriköy

On Tuesday, June 30, 2026, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Divine Liturgy at the namesake parish church in Feriköy, celebrating the Feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Apostles. The sermon was delivered by Patriarchal Deacon Fr Photios Poulopoulos.

In his address following the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Ecumenical Patriarch referred to the previous day’s Feast of the First Apostles Peter and Paul, the Patronal Feast of the Church of Rome. He added that, for this reason, a three-member Patriarchal Delegation had been dispatched, headed by Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon. The delegation was received by Pope Leo XIV today and is scheduled to hold talks with the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.

In another part of his address, the Ecumenical Patriarch recalled that his late predecessor, Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios, had served in the Church of the Holy Apostles — first as parish priest and later as hierarchical superior — and that this year marks 35 years since his death.

He also expressed the Mother Church’s gratitude towards the Metropolitan of Kallioupolis and Madytos, Stephanos, Overseer of the Region of Tatavla, and the…