August 31, 2021 marks the 80th anniversary of the successful completion of the first ocean-going special Arctic convoy “Dervish”, sent to the USSR during World War II, with strategic cargo from the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition.

In support of the initiative of holding international events of the St. Petersburg regional public organization “Polar Convoy” on this memorable day, with the blessing of His Grace, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, in Orthodox churches of the countries of the Old and New World, which formed and carried out  during the war, Arctic convoys, memorial services were held and bells were ringing.

His Grace Vladyka Matthew served a panikhida for the sailors and participants in the Arctic convoys at the Dormition Cathedral of the Sourozh diocese in London, in collaboration with the church clergy – Archpriest Maxim Nikolsky, the secretary of the Sourozh diocese, Priest Dimitry Nedostupenko and Protodeacon Vadim Santsevitch. In the parishes of the Sourozh diocese, panikhidas were also served and bells were ringing in the church of St.  Nicholas the Wonderworker in Oxford – the rector of the church, Archpriest Stephen Platt, in the Intercession Church in Manchester – the cleric of the church, Priest Anatoly Vikhrov, in the Peter and Paul Church in Dublin (Republic of Ireland) – the rector of the church, Archpriest Mikhail Nasonov.

Overseas, funeral services and ringing took place at St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York, USA, the panikhida was led by the cathedral dean, Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov), co-served by the church clerics and at St. Barbara Cathedral in Edmonton, Canada, Albert province  the service was performed by the rector of the cathedral, Archpriest Igor Kisil.

After the panikhida, His Grace Vladyka made a speech in which he noted that “today we remember the events of 80 years ago, we pray for the sailors and participants in the Northern convoys.  This help, which led to the saving of many lives and the death of many people, is especially dear to us. Despite the past years, we cannot forget the feat of our peoples, we pray for all those who died and worked for our common Victory. Today we join  to the joint prayer, which sounds under the arches of the Stavropegic Nikolsky Naval Cathedral in the city of Kronstadt and in many churches of various countries associated with the organization of Arctic convoys, so that the Lord will receive in the villages of the righteous all those who suffered in those terrible years and all Orthodox Christians, about whom we are  prayed today, granted rest with the saints, and strengthened us all in our  ministry and sent peace to our countries, our peoples and all who have joined our prayer today in memory of the sailors and participants in the Northern convoys. ”

sourozh.org