« The 25th anniversary of the founding of the parish was celebrated at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Dublin »
10-11-2025 
On November 9, 2025, the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Dublin, Ireland.
At the entrance to the church, the Right Reverend Archpastor was greeted with flowers and bread and salt by Archpriest Mikhail Nasonov, Dean of the Diocesan District of the Republic of Ireland and Rector of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Dublin, and by churchwarden Alexei Gaskov.
His Grace was assisted at the Liturgy by Archpriest Mikhail Nasonov, Dean of the Diocesan District of the Republic of Ireland and Rector of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Dublin; Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh; Archpriest Sergiy Ivanenko-Kolenda; Priest Sergiy Sokolov; Priest Alexander Kazadoev; Priest Grigory Oborochanu; Priest John Chernelevski; Deacon Sergiy Starovoitov; and Deacon Pavel Demyanovsky.
The parish choir, under the direction of Tamara Butkovskaya, performed the liturgical hymns.
After the litany of fervent supplication, Bishop Matthew offered a prayer for peace.
Following the Liturgy, the Archpastor and concelebrating clergy performed a prayerful venetation before the icon of Saint Olga of Kwethluk (Alaska), whose glorification celebrations were held by Bishop Matthew from June 18 to 22, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska, USA. Saint Olga is commemorated in the Orthodox Church in America on October 27/November 9, the day after her blessed repose, as the feast day of Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki is celebrated on the same day. By decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on October 30, 2025 (Journal No. 102), the name of Saint Olga of Alaska was included in the calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The rector of the church, Archpriest Mikhail Nasonov, warmly welcomed Bishop Matthew, thanking him for his archpastoral visit and the joy of their shared prayer. On behalf of the clergy and parishioners of the church, in anticipation of the 10th anniversary of his episcopacy, Father Mikhail presented Bishop Matthew with a mitra.
In turn, Bishop Matthew expressed gratitude to Father Mikhail and the clergy of the Irish deanery for their pastoral labours and delivered a sermon and words of spiritual edification. Congratulating all those present on the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Dublin parish, Bishop Matthew noted the special missionary work of the clergy of the Diocese of Sourozh, who have laboured and continue to labour for a quarter of a century in Ireland for the benefit of the Russian Orthodox Church. During this period, with the support of philanthropists, the church was acquired and renovated. It now houses a successfully operating church education center, a Sunday school, and theological courses. His Grace noted with satisfaction that two Divine Liturgies are currently celebrated in the church on Sundays, which are attended by a large number of parishioners.
In connection with the commemoration, Bishop Matthew presented Archpriest Mikhail Nasonov with a palitsa embroidered with an image of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of All Russia. With the blessing of Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, who also serves as acting administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, these palitsa were embroidered in limited quantities for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the repose of St. Patriarch Tikhon, with the assistance of the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Nicholas in New York City, USA.
Next, the clergy and laity of Sts. Peter and Paul's Church in Dublin were presented with patriarchal and episcopal church awards.
The medal of the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov was awarded to the church's steward, Valery Pastushenko. The medal of the Order of St. Euphrosyne of Moscow was awarded to the director of the church parish school, Yulia Sokolova. The altar servant Yuri Kozharsky was awarded the Patriarchal medal "In memory of the 100th anniversary of the restoration of the Patriarchate in the Russian Orthodox Church". A patriarchal certificate was presented to Deacon Sergiy Starovoitov, a cleric of the church.
In recognition of their diligent work for the good of the Holy Church, Subdeacon Leonid Gontmakher, Elena Pozdnyakova, Anna Blinova, and Tatyana Pastushenko were awarded episcopal certificates of blessing.
As a memento of his visit, Vladyka presented the church with a liturgical Gospel, published in English by the Moscow Patriarchate Publishing House with the assistance of the Diocese of Sourozh.
All parishioners were given icons of Saint Olga of Alaska, whose memory is celebrated today for the first time since her glorification.
A communal festive meal concluded the event.