« On the Feast of the Laudation of the Most Holy Theotokos, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Parish of St. Olga, Equal-to-the-Apostles, in Peterborough »
29-03-2026 
On March 28, 2026, Saturday of the 5th week of Lent, the Feast of the Laudation of the Most Holy Theotokos (Akathist Saturday), His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh made an archpastoral visit to the East Anglia diocesan district, where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Parish of St. Olga, Equal-to-the-Apostles, in Peterborough.
At the entrance to St. Margaret's Church, one of the city's oldest churches under the jurisdiction of the Church of England (first mentioned in 1086), His Grace the Archpastor was greeted by Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, Secretary of the Sourozh Diocese, and Yulia Gritsenko, Parish Warden, and young parishioners, who offered bread, salt, and flowers.
At the Divine Liturgy, His Grace was assisted by Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, Secretary of the Sourozh Diocese; Priest Evgeny Selensky, Dean of the East Anglia Diocesan District and Parish Rector; and Protodeacon Vadim Santsevitch, a cleric of the Dormition Cathedral in London.
The liturgical hymns were performed by the combined choir of the Eastern Deanery, under the direction of Anna Pechenyuk from St. Ephraim the Syrian parish in Cambridge.
Following the prayer after the communion, the Archpastor and concelebrating clergy served the funeral litany for the rector's son, Nikolai Selensky, who died suddenly five years ago. In conclusion, Priest Evgeny Selensky thanked Bishop Matthew for the long-awaited archpastoral visit and the joy of their shared prayer, presenting him with an icon of St. Olga.
In turn, the Archpastor warmly greeted Father Evgeny and the parishioners gathered for the Feast of the Laudation of the Most Holy Theotokos. In memory of the visit, he presented the parish with a liturgical Gospel in English, published by the Moscow Patriarchate Publishing House with the participation of the Diocese of Sourozh.
All those present were given icons of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. In recognition of her diligent church work, Bishop Matthew awarded the parish warden, Yulia Gritsenko, a bishop's certificate of blessing.
The Archpastor, clergy, and parishioners continued their conversation over a shared meal.