On the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Intercession in Manchester »
02-11-2026 
On November 1, 2026, on the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Intercession in Manchester.
At the entrance to the church, the Archpastor was greeted with bread and salt and flowers by Nun Tikhona (Esina), Deputy Warden, and young parishioners.
At the Divine Liturgy, His Grace was assisted by Priest Anatoly Vikhrov, Acting Warden of the Church of the Intercession in Manchester.
The parish choir, under the direction of Apollinaria Postlethwaite, performed the liturgical hymns.
After the litany of fervent supplication, Bishop Matthew offered a prayer for peace.
During the communion verse, Bishop Matthew awarded altar server Radenko Blažić the right to wear a cassock.
Following the dismissal of the Liturgy, Priest Anatoly Vikhrov addressed His Grace with a welcoming address. Father Anatoly heartily thanked the Archpastor, on behalf of the clergy and parishioners, for his visit and presented him with a bouquet of flowers.
Bishop Matthew, in turn, addressed the faithful with words of sermon and spiritual edification. His Grace presented the parish with an icon of St. Job of Pochaev and an icon of the Foot of the Mother of God from the Pochaev Lavra.
In recognition of his many years of diligent service to the Russian Orthodox Church and on the occasion of his 90th birthday, Bishop Matthew presented Arthur Thomas (George) Dance, former treasurer and honorary trustee of the Church of the Intercession, with a high Patriarchal award - the Order of the Holy Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow, 3rd degree.
The festivities concluded with a communal meal hosted by the parish community.