« On the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Dormition Cathedral in London »

On the night of January 6-7, 2026, the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Dormition Cathedral in London.

His Grace was assisted by Archpriest Maxim Nikolsky, Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, Archpriest Nikita Kozlov, Priest Vasily Gandzyuk, Priest Alexander Kapustin, Protodeacon Vadim Santsevitch, and Deacon Viktor Nikiforov.

The liturgical hymns were performed by the Dormition Cathedral Choir under the direction of Dmitry Tugarinov. During the Small Entrance, in recognition of his zealous pastoral labours, Bishop Matthew awarded Priest Alexander Kapustin, a cleric of the Dormition Cathedral in London, the right to wear the nabedrennik.

Following the communion verse, Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko and Protodeacon Vadim Santsevitch read the Christmas message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' to the archpastors, pastors, deacons, monastics, and all the faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church, in Russian and English languages.

Following the prayer after the communion, the Archpastor and concelebrating clergy performed a prayerful magnification to the feast of the Nativity of Christ.

At the conclusion of the divine service, His Grace addressed the faithful with a sermon and spiritual edification.  The translation into English was provided by protodeacon Vadim Santsevitch.

Christmas gifts were distributed to young parishioners. Everyone in the church was offered a festive treat.

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