From Diocese of Sourozh

Bishop Elisey visits the Oxford Parish

On the 19th of December Bishop Elisey of Sourozh paid an archpastoral visit to the parish of the Russian Orthodox Church in Oxford, which is dedicated to St. Nicholas .

Vladyka Elisey celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the patronal festival of the Community. Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia was praying at the service.

A memorial litia for the newly-departed Most Holy Patriarch Alexy was served after the Divine Liturgy, after which Bishop Elisey greeted Father Stephen, the congregation and guests on the occasion of the patronal feast. At the same time Vladyka noted the outstanding role granted to the reposed Patriarch by Divine Providence and called for everyone’s profound prayer so that the members of the forthcoming Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, would elect a worthy Primate.

Father Stephen, in response, thanked Vladyka for his special attention to the parish. The rector noted that it is becoming a tradition for the community to have a hierarchical celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the patronal festival, and hoped that with the Saint’s prayers the next service for the patronal feast might take place in a church belonging to the Community of St. Nicholas in Oxford.

During his visit to Oxford, Bishop Elisey was accompanied by Protodeacon Dmitry Nedostupenko and Reader Daniil Matrusov, both from the London Cathedral.