« The ruling bishop of the Diocese of Sourozh visited Ireland »

On the 5th and 6th of September, His Grace Elisey, Bishop of Sourozh, has visited Ireland. Vladyka arrived to the stavropegical parish of St. Peter and St. Paul in Dublin with a reliquary with parts of the relics of the Righteous Martyrs Grand Duchess Elizabeht and nun Barbara. At the airport Vladyka was met by priest Michael Gogolev, Rector of the parish, and representatives of the Russian Embassy in Dublin.

Vladyka celebrated all-night-vigil in St. Peter and St. Paul church, many believers from Dublin and other Irish towns have attended the service. After the service His Grace held a discussion with the acolytes, among other matters, about the distance church education and its popularity in the parish.

On the following day, Vladyka has celebrated the Divine Liturgy. The following parish clergy concelebrated the Liturgy: archpriest Michael Gogolev, priest Georgy Zavershinskiy, priest Nikolay Efseev as well as priest Andrey Efseev, a cleric of the Cathedral of the Entry into the Temple of our Most Holy Lady Mother of God (Cheboksary, Chuvashiya), protodeacon Dmitry Nedostupenko and hierodeacon Seraphim (Shemyatovsky). The Divine Liturgy began with the blessing of the renovated icon screen. New icons of the Savior, the Mother of God and Annunciation (on the Royal Doors) as well as the gate icon were painted and installed prior to the hierarch’s visit. The icon screen renovation was performed by hierodeacon Seraphim (Shemyatovsky). After the Liturgy a moleben for the Righteous Martyrs was served with the assistance of the rector, clergy and guests of the parish.

After moleben Vladyka Elisey addressed the congregation and clergy. In his address Vladyka congratulated those who received Holy Communion and thanked everyone for their prayer, adding that there is a special feeling of warmth and devoutness in the church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Dublin. Vladyka also congratulated archpriest Michael Goglev with his 60th birthday, marking his efforts in development of the parish and expansion of Orthodoxy in Ireland with a memorable pectoral cross.

His Grace has also thanked priest Georgy Zavershinsky, who had been serving for a long time in the parish of St. Peter and St. Paul and who is now leaving Ireland to serve in the Department of External Church Relations in Moscow, for his efforts in mentoring, educating and spiritually guiding Orthodox congregation in Ireland.

Vladyka has wished God’s help to the newly consecrated priest Nikolay Evseev and stressed the importance of selfless service and sacrifice made by Orthodox shepherds.

Among those present at the service and at the festive meal in honour of the visit of the ruling Bishop of the Diocese of Sourozh, were Mikhail Timoshin, Russian ambassador to Ireland, and Vladimir Kutz, First Secretary of the Russian Embassy.

After the reception the clergy of the parish served an Akathist for the Righteous Martyrs.

In the evening Vladyka has returned back to London with the Holy Relics.

During his pastoral visit His Grace was accompanied by protodeacon Dmitry Nedostupenko from the London Cathedral.