« On Tuesday of the Bright Week, the Right Reverend Matthew, Bishop of Sourozh, prayed at the divine service and congratulated Archpriest Maxim Nikolsky, cleric of the London Cathedral, with his 80th anniversary »

On April 30, 2019, on Tuesday of the Holy Week, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh prayed at the divine service and headed playful glorification to the Iberian Icon of the Mother of God at the Dormition Cathedral in London.

The Divine Liturgy was led by Archpriest Maxim Nikolsky, a cleric of the church, in co-celebration with Archpriest Joseph Skinner, Dean of the Diocesan District of the South-West of England, and Deacon Victor Nikiforov.  Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich, deputy Chairman of DECR of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archpriest Vitaly Polishchuk and Priest Dimitry Nedostupenko, Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh, prayed in the altar of the Cathedral.

At the end of the service, His Grace addressed the oldest cleric of the Cathedral Father  Maxim was warmly congratulated on his 80th birthday.  Vladyka Matthew presented the jubilant with a high Patriarchal award -  Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, II degree.

The order of St. Seraphim of Sarov is awarded to hierarchs, clerics, monastics and laity for their special contribution to the revival of monasteries, churches, for their pastoral and church-public activities.  Persons awarded with the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, are entrusted with the care of monasteries, orphanages and shelters, nursing homes and hospices.

The Archpastor thanked Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich, deputy chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, who is on a short trip to the UK, for his visit to the Diocese of Sourozh and the opportunity to communicate with him.

His Grace congratulated the clergy and all parishioners with the feast of the Resurrection of Christ and wished everyone to keep the Paschal joy of the Resurrection of Christ the Savior in their hearts.

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