« Bishop Matthew of Sourozh participated in the patronal celebrations of the Church of the Archangel Michael in Altea, Spain »
22-11-2025 
On November 21, 2025, the feast day of the Archangel Michael and the other Bodiless Powers of Heaven, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, assisted Metropolitan Mark of Ryazan and Mikhailovsk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Western Europe and the Spanish-Portuguese Diocese, at the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Archangel Michael in Altea, Valencia Province, Spain.
The Archpastors were assisted by the church's Rector, Priest Yaroslav Pirkovsky; Archimandrite Seraphim (Pavlov), Dean of the Spanish Parishes; Archpriest Yaroslav Dibach; Archpriest Sergiy Prosandeyev; Priest Valery Baidak; Priest Viktor Dorofeyev; Priest Sergiy Stopuryak; Priest Mikhail Hellenbrand; Deacon Gleb Zaika, Secretary of the Spanish-Portuguese Diocesan Administration; and Deacon Alexei Vedyashkin.
Following the dismissal, a procession around the church and a service of praise before the icon of Archangel Michael were held.
Metropolitan Mark then addressed the concelebrating clergy and congregation with a sermon and congratulated the church's founders, including Mikhail Botsko, on their name day.
Bishop Matthew, on behalf of those present, warmly congratulated Metropolitan Mark on the 35th anniversary of his ordination, which he was celebrating that day, and presented him with a holy panagia. In memory of their shared prayer, Bishop Matthew presented the church with an icon of Saint Pitirim, Bishop of Tambov.
In his response, the church's rector, Priest Yaroslav Pirkovsky, thanked Metropolitan Mark for his archpastoral visit and presented the hierarchs with copies of the church's icon of the Archangel Michael, which belonged to the holy passion-bearer Emperor Nicholas II.
The meeting continued over a festive meal.