On the eve of the 5th Sunday of Great Lent, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the evening service at the parish of St. David of Wales in Derby »

On March 28, 2026, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh began his archpastoral visit to the diocesan district of Central England. Following the Divine Liturgy at the parish of St. Olga, Equal-to-the-Apostles, in Peterborough (Eastern Deanery of the Diocese of Sourozh), Bishop Matthew and his entourage arrived in Derby.

The evening service was celebrated at the parish of St. David of Wales. His Grace was assisted by Archimandrite Daniel (Davies), Dean of the Diocesan District of Wales; Archpriest Stephen Platt, Dean of the Diocesan District of Central England; Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh; Priest Jonathan Cowley, a cleric of the Archdiocese of Western European Parishes of the Russian Tradition; and Protodeacon Vadim Santsevitch, a cleric of the Dormition Cathedral in London.

The liturgical hymns were performed by the parish choir under the direction of Yulia Zakharova.

At the Little Entrance, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Archpriest Daniel Joseph, now a retired cleric of the Diocese of Sourozh, was awarded a high liturgical award for his zealous and long-standing pastoral service as rector of the Derby parish—the right to celebrate the Divine Liturgy with the Royal Doors open until the Cherubic Hymn.

Following the service, Bishop Matthew, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', presented Archpriest Daniel Joseph with the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, 3rd Degree, of the Russian Orthodox Church, in honour of his 75th birthday. Churshwarden Reader John Paul Keene and choirmaster Yulia Zakharova were awarded episcopal blessing certificates.

Archpriest Stephen Platt then addressed His Grace with a welcoming address. On behalf of the clergy and parishioners, Father Stephen warmly thanked Bishop Matthew for his archpastoral visit and the awards presented. Special words of gratitude were extended to Giles Orton, rector of St. Anne's Anglican Church, who was present at the service and who graciously offered his church, which accommodates a large congregation, for the Orthodox service.

In his response in English, Bishop Matthew thanked the concelebrating clergy who had come from various parts of the country for today's service and the numerous parishioners for their participation in the shared prayer. Noting the many years of pastoral work and significant missionary contributions of Archpriest Daniel Joseph as rector of the parish, the Archpastor wished Father Daniel spiritual and physical strength and God's help.

With the blessing of Bishop Matthew, all those present in the church received icons of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

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