# 2026 Apostle Paul celebrations & Chios Festival > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/greek-orthodox-priest-ordinations > Updated: 2026-07-31T08:54:07.000Z. Sources: 20. Developments: 12. June‑July 2026 saw a series of liturgical and cultural events commemorating the Apostle Paul across Greece, South Africa, Cyprus and beyond. Deacon ordinations, name‑day liturgies for Metropolitan Ieronimos, and the PAULEIA 2026 festival in Corinth highlighted the religious observances, while parallel services in Veria, Crete and other locales involved hierarchs from the Orthodox world. The feast extended to South Africa, Athens and Rome, where Pope Leo XIV marked the Saints Peter and Paul celebration. A relic, the Chair of the Apostle Paul, was slated for transfer to Cyprus in October. The fifth‑anniversary Chios Festival opened on 13 July, linking historic memory with contemporary art. The festival continued into late August, running 25 August–4 September under UNESCO and the American‑Hellenic Chamber of Commerce. High‑profile guests—including Pope Francis, Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria, Greek Parliament President Nikitas Kaklamanis and Academy of Athens President Nikiforos Diamantourous—joined concerts, theatrical performances and documentary screenings. Leading scholars from Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Cambridge and the University of Geneva participated, underscoring the event’s blend of scientific dialogue, artistic expression and cultural heritage. ## Timeline ### 2026-07-31: Chios Festival Marks 5-Year Milestone with Global Scholars and Artists Greece's Chios Festival marks its 5‑year anniversary (25 Aug‑4 Sep) with UNESCO backing, featuring Pope Francis, Patriarch Theodore II, top Greek officials and leading international scholars and artists. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chios-festival-marks-5-year-milestone-with-global-scholars-and-artists ### 2026-07-13: Chios Festival 2026 draws international dignitaries to Greece The 2026 Chios Festival in Greece celebrates its five‑year anniversary with cultural evenings at Castelli, featuring the Pope, the Patriarch of Alexandria, Greek political leaders and leading academics. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chios-festival-2026-draws-international-dignitaries-to-greece ### 2026-07-04: Cyprus to Receive Apostle Paul’s Relic from Vatican in October 2026 Cyprus will host the Holy Relic of Apostle Paul, transferred from the Vatican for a temporary exhibition in Paphos in October 2026, following Pope Francis’s approval and Archbishop Georgios’s Rome visit. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cyprus-to-receive-apostle-pauls-relic-from-vatican-in-october-2026 ### 2026-06-30: Metropolitan Prodrōmos of Rethymno Leads Saint Paul Feast in Crete Metropolitan Prodrōmos of Rethymno led the Saint Paul feast on 28‑29 June 2026, conducting liturgies in Arcadia and Spili with multiple Greek Orthodox metropolitans and sermons on the apostle’s teachings. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/metropolitan-prodrmos-of-rethymno-leads-saint-paul-feast-in-crete ### 2026-06-30: Orthodox Feast of Peter and Paul Marked in South Africa and Greece Orthodox celebrations of the apostles Peter and Paul were held on June 29, 2026 in South Africa's Naoussa Metropolis and in Athens, Greece, featuring liturgies and sermons on the apostles’ legacy. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/orthodox-feast-of-peter-and-paul-marked-in-south-africa-and-greece ### 2026-06-29: Vatican honors Apostles Peter and Paul with Ecumenical Patriarchate delegation Pope Leo led a Vatican service honoring Saints Peter and Paul, with an Ecumenical Patriarchate delegation and Greek and Cypriot ambassadors; a private meeting is planned for the next day. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vatican-honors-apostles-peter-and-paul-with-ecumenical-patriarchate-delegation ### 2026-06-29: Veria celebrates feast of Saints Peter and Paul with multi‑episcopal liturgy On 29 June 2026 Veria’s Old Metropolitan Cathedral held a multi‑episcopal liturgy for Saints Peter and Paul, led by Metropolitan Clemens of Sweden and attended by hierarchs from numerous Orthodox Patriarchates. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/veria-celebrates-feast-of-saints-peter-and-paul-with-multiepiscopal-liturgy ### 2026-06-28: Vatican Holds Feast of Saints Peter and Paul Mass with Ecumenical Patriarchate Delegation The Vatican celebrated the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul with a Mass attended by a Patriarchate delegation and ambassadors, highlighting Christian unity and the apostles' historic martyrdom. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vatican-holds-feast-of-saints-peter-and-paul-mass-with-ecumenical-patriarchate-delegation ### 2026-06-28: Orthodox Festivities Honoring Apostle Paul and Saint Peter Across Greece Greece staged nationwide Orthodox celebrations June 28‑30 2026 honoring Apostle Paul and Saint Peter, with liturgies in Corinth and Veria attended by numerous Orthodox leaders. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/orthodox-festivities-honoring-apostle-paul-and-saint-peter-across-greece ### 2026-06-26: Church of Greece to honor Apostle Paul with major June 2026 celebrations Greece’s Orthodox Church will hold major celebrations for Apostle Paul on 28‑29 June 2026, while multiple funerals are set for 26 June 2026 in Patras. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/church-of-greece-to-honor-apostle-paul-with-major-june-2026-celebrations ### 2026-06-15: Greek Orthodox Church conducts multiple ceremonies across Greece in June 2026 Greek Orthodox events in June 2026 included a Saint Cosmas anniversary in Thermo, a polyarchiarchal liturgy in Crete, an ordination in Agrinio, and name‑day celebrations for Metropolitan Ieronimos of Kalavryta. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/metropolitan-damaskinos-ordains-ioannis-papakostopoulos-as-priest-in-agri-greece ### 2026-06-07: New Presbyter Ordained in Astrochorio, Arta, Greece On 7 June 2026, Metropolitan Kallinikos of Arta ordained Deacon Konstantinos Dimos as the new Presbyter of Astrochorio, Arta, Greece. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/new-presbyter-ordained-in-astrochorio-arta-greece --- Cite as: 2026 Apostle Paul celebrations & Chios Festival. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/greek-orthodox-priest-ordinations