Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Parish of St. Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg in Leeds »
11-10-2025 
On October 11, 2025, while on an archpastoral visit to the Northern England Deanery, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Parish of St. Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg in Leeds.
His Grace was assisted by Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh and Dean of the Northern England Diocesan District; Archpriest Zharko Nedić, Rector of the Church of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity in Bradford (Serbian Orthodox Church); Priest Anatoly Vikhrov, Rector of the Parishes of St. Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg in Leeds, of the Nativity of Christ in Hull, of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen in York and oh the Meeting of the Lord in Bradford, Priest Neil Lyubchenko Rector of St. Kentigern of Strathclyde Parish in Glasgow; and Protodeacon Vadim Santsevitch, cleric of the Dormition Cathedral in London.
After the litany of fervent supplication, Bishop Matthew offered a prayer for the granting of peace.
Following the Liturgy, the Archpastor and concelebrating clergy performed a prayerful glorification before the icon of the Hieromartyr John (Pommer), Archbishop of Riga and Latvia (+1934), whose feast day is celebrated on October 12.
The parish rector, Priest Anatoly Vikhrov, warmly greeted Bishop Matthew, thanked him for his visit and the joy of their shared prayer, and presented him with a bouquet of flowers and a commemorative gift on behalf of the parishioners.
In turn, Bishop Matthew expressed gratitude to Father Anatoly for his pastoral work in the parishes he oversees and thanked the co-serving clergy.
In recognition of his diligent work for the good of the Holy Church, Herman Rosenfeld, warden of the parish of St. Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg, was awarded a blessed episcopal certificate.
The Archpastor presented a bouquet of flowers and an icon of St. Gabriel (Ugrebadze) of Samtavro (+1995) to Archbishop's Subdeacon Vadim Polishchuk, who is celebrating his 50th birthday this day.
Bishop Matthew then addressed the clergy and parishioners with words of sermon and spiritual edification. As a memento of his visit, the Archpastor presented a liturgical Gospel, published in English by the Moscow Patriarchate Publishing House with the participation of the Diocese of Sourozh.
All participants in the service were given icons of the recently glorified Saint Olga of Kvetluk (Alaska), whose glorification celebrations Bishop Matthew hosted from June 18 to 22, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska, USA.
After the divine service, His Grace spoke with the parishioners over tea.