On February 5, a Divine Liturgy and memorial service were held in the Turkish city of Antakya—ancient Antioch—among the ruins of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, which was destroyed by the earthquake in 2023. The service took place under a temporary canopy, in front of which an improvised iconostasis was set up, according to the press service of the Antiochian Patriarchate.

With the blessing of Patriarch John X of Antioch, the service was led by Archimandrite Paul (Ordologlu), concelebrated by several priests. At the end of the liturgy, a memorial service was held for the victims of the natural disaster.

The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul was built in 1340 and had suffered destruction multiple times throughout its history. In 1872, it was severely damaged by an earthquake, after which the Antiochian Patriarchate received permission to restore it.

The reconstruction was supported financially and technically by the Russian Empire. The cathedral was rebuilt in the 19th century using stone, blending local architectural traditions.

The devastating earthquake of February 6, 2023, once again reduced the cathedral to ruins. Antakya was one of the hardest-hit areas. On Easter 2023, Patriarch John X celebrated the liturgy at the site, expressing hope for the church’s restoration.