« Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated a moleben at the relics of St. Andrew the First-Called »
30-11-2025 
On November 29, 2025, as part of his archpastoral visit to the diocesan district of Scotland, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated a moleben before a reliquary containing a particle of the relics of St. Andrew the First-Called, which is kept in St. James Catholic Church in St. Andrews, Scotland.
On Monday, November 30, according to the New Style calendar, Scotland celebrates the feast day of St. Andrew the First-Called, the patron saint of Scotland, who, according to tradition, preached throughout this land.
His Grace was assisted at the service by Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh; Priest Alexander Menshikov, Dean of the Diocesan District of Scotland; and Protodeacon Vadim Santsevitch, a cleric of the Dormition Cathedral in London.
More than 30 Orthodox believers venerated the holy relics of the Apostle Andrew and his icon, which were held by the clergy at the end of the service.
Following the service, Bishop Matthew addressed the pilgrims with a sermon in Russian and English. His Grace thanked The Most Reverend Leo William Cushley, Catholic Archbishop of St Andrews & Edinburgh, and Fr. Patrick Burke, Rector of St. James's Church, who is also the Honorary Roman Catholic Chaplain of the University of St. Andrews, for the opportunity to celebrate an Orthodox moleben to the patron saint of Scotland at his holy relics.
Bishop Matthew also spoke with The Revd Dr Donald MacEwan, the current Chaplain to the University of St. Andrews, who attended the service.