« His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh officiated the celebration of the diocesan Liturgy at the Intercession Church in Manchester »

On April 1, 2023, on the feast of the Praise of the Most Holy Mother of God (Saturday Akathist), His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God in Manchester.

His Grace was assisted by Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh, Dean of the Diocesan District of Northern England and Wales, Archpriest Vitaly Polishchuk, Dean of the Diocesan District of South East England, Archpriest Mikhail Nasonov, Dean of the Diocesan District of the Republic of Ireland, Archpriest Georgy Zavershinskiy, Dean of the Diocesan District of Scotland and Northern Ireland, and clergy of the Sourozh diocese.

The diaconal rank was headed by the cleric of the Dormition Cathedral in London, Protodeacon Vadim Santsevitch.

Liturgical hymns were performed by the combined choir of the parishes of the Sourozh diocese under the direction of Dmitry Tugarinov, choir master of the London Cathedral.

At the Small Entrance, in consideration of the diligent pastoral ministry, the following clerics of the diocese were awarded the Patriarchal and Bishop's liturgical awards of the Russian Orthodox Church:

- Archpriest Mikhail Gogoleff - the right to celebrate the Divine Liturgy with open Royal Doors until the “Our Father”.

- Hegumen Deiniol (Davies) - the right to celebrate the Divine Liturgy with open Royal Doors until the Cherubic Hymn;

- Priest Alexander Menshikov - the right to wear a kamilavka;

- Deacon Pavel Wood and Deacon Sergiy Starovoitov - the right to wear a kamilavka.

After the fervent supplication litany, the Archpastor offered up a prayer for the granting of peace.

At the end of the Liturgy, Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh, addressed His Grace on behalf of the concelebrating clergy and parishioners present, after which the Archpastor delivered a sermon and thanked the diocesan clergy and members of the Diocesan Assembly from among the laity for joint prayers on this feast.

After a common meal, the Diocesan Assembly of the Sourozh diocese took place.

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