« On the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Dormition Cathedral in London »
28-12-2025 
On December 28, 2025, the 29th Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers, the feast day of St. Stephen the Confessor, Archbishop of Sourozh (8th century), His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Dormition Cathedral in London.
His Grace was assisted by Archpriest Vitaly Polischuk, Dean of the Diocesan District of South East England; Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh; Archpriest Nikita Kozlov; Priest Sergiy Fedorenko; Priest Vasily Gandzyuk; Priest Alexander Kapustin; Protodeacon Vadim Santsevitch; and Deacon Nektariy Baska.
The liturgical hymns were performed by the Dormition Cathedral Choir under the direction of Dmitry Tugarinov.
Before the beginning of the Liturgy, a reliquary containing great Christian relics—a particle of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord, the Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos, and particles of the holy relics of chosen saints—was brought from the altar to the center of the church.
After the litany of fervent supplication, Bishop Matthew offered a prayer for the granting of peace.
Following the prayer after the communion, the Archpastor and concelebrating clergy performed a prayerful magnification before the icon of St. Stephen of Sourozh containing a particle of his holy relics.
Following the dismissal of the Liturgy, Bishop Matthew addressed the clergy and parishioners with words of sermon and spiritual edification. Simultaneous translation into English was provided by Protodeacon Vadim Santsevitch.
Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh, Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, warmly congratulated His Grace the Archpastor on the eighth anniversary of his appointment to the Diocese of Sourozh, which occurred precisely on the feast day of St. Stephen of Sourozh. On behalf of the clergy, staff, and parishioners of the Dormition Cathedral in London, a bouquet of flowers was presented to Bishop Matthew.
On the same day, the annual parish meeting was held in the church hall, chaired by the Rector of the Dormition Cathedral in London, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh.