« On the 29th Sunday after Pentecost, after the Nativity of Christ, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Liturgy in the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin in Manchester »

On January 12, 2025, on the 29th Sunday after Pentecost, after the Nativity of Christ, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Liturgy in the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin in Manchester.

His Grace was assisted by Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh, the sacristan of the church, Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, Dean of the Diocesan District of Wales, Hegumen Deiniol (Davies), Dean of the Diocesan District of South-West England, Archpriest Joseph Skinner, Protopresbyter-Stavrophore Aleksandar Ilic (Serbian Patriarchate), Priest Anatoly Vikhrov and Priest Nil Lyubchenko.

The deacon's rank was headed by Protodeacon Vadim Santsevitch.

The liturgical chants were performed by the choir of the Church of the Intercession under the direction of the choirmaster of the Dormition Cathedral in London, Dmitry Tugarinov.

At the Little Entrance, in recognition of their zealous pastoral work, the Archpastor awarded Rector of the parishes of St.Ksenia of St Petersburg in Leeds, of the Nativity of Christ in Kingston upon Hull, of the Meeting of the Lord in Bradford, and of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen in York the right to wear a golden pectoral cross, and Rector of the parish of St. Kentigern in Glasgow, Priest Neil Lyubchenko, the right to wear a nabedrennik.

After the litany of fervent supplication, Bishop Matthew proclaimed a prayer for the granting of peace. At the funeral litany, prayers were offered for the ever-memorable Archbishop Anatoly (Kuznetsov) and Marianne Greenan, the long-time churchwarden, through whose efforts the Church of the Intercession in Manchester was built.

During the Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Matthew ordained Deacon Lazarus Jones, a cleric of the Church of All Welsh Saints in Blaenai Fistiniog, Wales, to the rank of priest.

After the dismissal of the Liturgy, Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko addressed the Right Reverend Vladyka with words of greeting and gratitude for the archpastoral visit. Father Dimitry cordially thanked Bishop Matthew for his special love and care for the Manchester parish and presented a bouquet of flowers on behalf of those gathered for the service. In turn, Bishop Matthew expressed gratitude to the clergy and parishioners for the warm welcome received. Vladyka noted the importance of joint prayer and fraternal concelebration and fellowship of the clergy, expressing gratitude to the concelebrating clergy and addressed the worshipers with words of sermon and spiritual edification. The Archpastor warmly congratulated Archpriest Joseph Skinner on his name day and the newly ordained priest Lazarus Jones and presented them with icons of the Protection of the Holy Mother of God and of St.Seraphim of Sarov.

In conclusion, Bishop Matthew blessed those present with an icon of Saint John, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco, with a particle of his holy relics, given to the Diocese of Sourozh by Archbishop Kirill of San Francisco and Western America (ROCOR). All parishioners were given icons of the Nativity of Christ.

The Archpastor, clergy and parishioners shared a festive meal during which Christmas carols were sung in Russian, English, Moldovan and Ukrainian.

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