« Bishop Matthew of Sourozh led the patronal feast celebration at the community of St Cedd in Southgate »

On November 7, 2026, on St.Demetrius Parental Saturday, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh led the patronal celebrations at the community of St. Cedd of Lastingham in the London suburb of Southgate.

At the entrance to the church, His Grace was greeted by Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh, as well as Victor Levin and Matushka Anna Baska, who presented the Archpastor with bread and salt and flowers.

At the Divine Liturgy, His Grace was assisted by Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, rector of the community Priest Nektarios Baska, and Deacon Cosmas Fratyanou, a cleric of the parish of St. Ephraim the Syrian in Cambridge.

The parish choir, directed by Elena Davydova, performed the liturgical hymns.

At the litany for the departed, Bishop Matthew offered prayers for the ever-memorable founder of the Diocese of Sourozh, Metropolitan Anthony (Bloom), and the newly departed Schema-Metropolitan Platon (Udovenko).

Following the prayer after the communion, the Archpastor and concelebrating clergy performed a hymn before the icon of Saint Cedd of Lastingham.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Priest Nektariy Baska, the rector of the parish, addressed Bishop Matthew with a welcoming address. Father Nektariy warmly thanked Vladyka for his archpastoral visit and the joy of Eucharistic communion on this patronal feast day, and presented him with an icon of Saint Cedd.

In his response, Vladyka thanked the clergy and parishioners for their shared efforts and prayers, congratulated those present on the feast day, and addressed the flock with a word of spiritual edification in English.

His Grace Bishop Matthew presented the community with a liturgical Gospel in English, published by the Moscow Patriarchate Publishing House with the participation of the Diocese of Sourozh.

With the blessing of the ruling bishop, commemorative icons were distributed to all participants in the service. The conversation with the Archpastor continued over a festive meal prepared by the parish community.

Saint Cedd (+26 October/8 November 664) was a missionary bishop who lived and spread the Christian faith in England in the 7th century. Born in 620 to a large family in the kingdom of Northumbria (now a territory in southern Scotland and northern England), he was the eldest of four brothers, all of whom later became priests.

In 653, he was consecrated bishop and founded many churches and monasteries, including Laestingaeu Monastery, now called Lastingham, in Yorkshire.

He became the monastery's first abbot, continuing his episcopal duties. Immediately after the Council of Whitby (664), he visited Lastingham, where he died of the plague on October 26 (November 8), 664.

The relics of Saint Cedd of Lastingham, Bishop of Wessex, are preserved and rest in a vault in the church of the village of Lastingham.

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