On October 4, 2023, leave-taking of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, discovery of the relics of St. Dimitry, Metropolitan of Rostov (1752), His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Dormition Cathedral in London.

On this day, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, celebrates the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.

Concelebrating at the Divine Liturgy with His Grace were Archpriest Maxim Nikolsky, Dean of the Diocesan District of South-East England Archpriest Vitaly Polishchuk, Secretary of the Sourozh Diocese Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, clergy of the UOC temporarily staying on the territory of the Sourozh Diocese and Protodeacon Vadim Santsevitch.

Liturgical chants were performed by the choir of the Dormition Cathedral under the direction of Dmitry Tugarinov.

At the augmented litany, special petitions of gratitude were proclaimed for the health of the Archpastor, then Fr. Dimitry Nedostupenko read a prayer of gratitude to the Lord Jesus Christ, our God, for the blessings to Bishop Matthew, who is now being honoured.

Following the prayer behind the ambo, prayerful glorification and veneration of the Cross of the Lord was performed, after which the Cross was brought into the altar.

At the end of the divine service, the Archpastor addressed those present with words of sermon and spiritual edification.  Simultaneous translation into English was provided by Protodeacon Vadim Santsevitch.

The Secretary of the Sourozh Diocese, on behalf of the clergy, employees, volunteers and parishioners of the Dormition Cathedral, warmly congratulated Vladyka Matthew on the 25th anniversary of serving at the Throne of God and presented Vladyka with a holy prosphora and a bouquet of flowers.

Then many years were proclaimed to the Right Reverend Vladyka.

In turn, Vladyka Matthew thanked those gathered in the church for the divine service and gave everyone his archpastoral blessing.

 

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