His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America will lead an accompanying delegation from America, including several Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, to join His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in his apostolic visit to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican in celebrations marking the feastday of SS. Peter and Paul on June 27-29, 2008.

A special year dedicated to St. Paul will be inaugurated on June 28, with a Vespers service at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. Pope Benedict will preside at the service and His All Holiness will participate in the event to open the Pauline year and in specific commemoration of both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches’ Jubilee year celebration of the 2,000 anniversary of Saint Paul’s life and ministry.

On Sunday, June 29, a Pontifical Mass will be celebrated in the Basilica of Saint Peter in honor of the feastday of the Apostles Peter and Paul. Patriarchal Great Vespers will be held that evening in the Greek Orthodox Church of the Great Martyr Theodore the Tyro.

Accompanying Archbishop Demetrios will be Fr. Alex Karloutsos, Spritual Adviser to the Archons, along with several Archons including National Commander Anthony J. Limberakis, John Catsimatidis, George David, Peter Georgiopoulos, Dr. Antoine Harovas, Michael Jaharis, Dimitris Kaloidis, Andrew Manatos, George Marcus, Dennis Mehiel, John Paguidas, Panicos Papanicolaou, Dean Poll, and James Thomas.