« Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the all-night vigil with the rite of the Burial of the Most Holy Theotokos at the Bishop's Metochion in Rocks Farm, Bodiam »

On August 30, 2025, on the eve of the 12th week after Pentecost, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh made an archpastoral visit to the Elizabethan Bishop's Metochion in Rocks Farm, near Bodiam, East Sussex, where he celebrated the all-night vigil with the rite of the Burial of the Most Holy Theotokos.

At the entrance to the house church, Bishop Matthew was met by the Secretary of the Sourozh Diocese, Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, and the senior sister of the Metochion, Nun Martha (Persianinova).

During the all-night vigil, His Grace was assisted by Dean of the Diocesan District of South East England Archpriest Vitaly Polischuk, Secretary of the Sourozh Diocese Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, Priest Sergiy Fedorenko, Priest Alexander Kapustin and Protodeacon Vadim Santsevitch.

The liturgical chants were performed by a combined choir under the direction of Marina Bezmenova-Nikolau.

During the evening service, Bishop Matthew performed the rite of the Burial of the Mother of God. Verses from the 17th kathisma with praises dedicated to the Dormition were read before the shroud with the image of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, installed in the center of the house church.  After the great doxology accompanied by the funeral chant "Holy God", the Archpastor led the procession with the shroud through the territory of the metochion. 

Upon returning to the church, the shroud was placed for veneration on the tomb decorated with fresh flowers. 

At the end of the service, Bishop Matthew addressed the clergy, pilgrims and parishioners of the metochion with a hierarchical word. In memory of the visit, the Archpastor presented the church with a large service book of the analogion format, and icons were distributed to all those present. 

At the end, a common meal was held, organised by the sisterhood of the metochion. 

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