London, January 28, 2025
Photo: orthodox-europe.org
Hierarchs, clergy, and faithful of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia came together for the patronal feast day of the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in London on Sunday.
Joining the His Grace Bishop Nektarije, newly enthroned hierarch of the Serbian Diocese of the United Kingdom, were His Grace Bishop Ilarion of Novo Brdo, vicar of the Serbian Patriarch, and His Grace Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, the ROCOR diocese reports.
The church was filled with Orthodox faithful, the majority of whom communed of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
At the end of the Liturgy, a slava—the Serbian Orthodox service in honor of patron saints—was celebrated by the hierarchs and clergy and sung by the people. Bp. Nektarije then presented Bp. Irenei with an icon of St. Sava in commemoration of his visit.
Photo: wp.com
In turn, thanking his host for the fraternal celebration, Bp. Irenei congratulated Bp. Nektarije and expressed the Russian Orthodox diaspora’s joy at having an archpastor dedicated to the Serbian diaspora’s spiritual life in the British Isles and Ireland.
Bp. Irenei also spoke about the deep spiritual bond between the Russian and Serbian Churches, saying that since the 1917 Russian Revolution, when Serbian Orthodox Christians generously welcomed fleeing Russian believers, the two communities became profoundly interconnected, with the Serbian Church nurturing many Russian hierarchs and clergy in exile, including notable saints like St. John (Maximovitch) the Wonderworker. He also spoke of the numerous Apostles, martyrs, and ascetics who have also walked on British soil since Christianity’s earliest days, and including St. Nikolai of Žiča. He emphasized his desire to maintain this century-old brotherhood between the Russian and Serbian diasporas, offering his prayers and support for the new ministry.
Following his remarks, Bp. Irenei gave Bp. Nektarije an icon of St. John the Wonderworker that was blessed on the saint’s relics in San Francisco.
The hierarchs then attended a concert in honor of St. Sava featuring performances by the Serbian cathedral’s Sunday School students and guest artists, followed by a festive banquet shared with numerous parishioners.
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