Bishop Matthew of Sourozh visited the Republic of Ireland

DECR Communication service/
Website of the Diocese of Sourozh 20.11.23

On 17-19 November 2023, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh made an archpastoral visit to the Republic of Ireland. He was accompanied on the trip by the Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko and his personal secretary N.V. Trubnikov, reports the diocesan website.

At the Knock international airport, Bishop Matthew and his entourage were met by the cleric of the Sourozh diocese, Priest Ioann Kazadojev, Rector of the parishes of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of All Russia, in Castlebar, of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Galway and of the diocesan community of St. Attracta of Killaracht in Sligo.
On the way to Castlebar, His Grace visited one of the most revered Christian places in modern Ireland - the Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Knock, where on August 21, 1879, a group of people consisting of men, women, teenagers and children, whose ages ranged from 5 to 75 years, witnessed the appearance of Jesus Christ in the form of the Lamb, and the Most Holy Mother of God, in the company of St. Joseph the Betrothed and the Holy Apostle John the Theologian.

On November 18, 2023, on the day of remembrance of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (election to the Patriarchal throne in 1917), His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh headed the patronal celebration in the diocesan community of St. Tikhon in Castlebar, Republic of Ireland.During the Divine Liturgy, His Grace was assisted by the Secretary of the Sourozh diocese, Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, Rector of the community, Priest Ioann Kazadojev, clergy of St.Peter and St.Paul Church in Dublin, Deacon Sergiy Starovoytov and Deacon Ioann Chernelevsky.

Liturgical hymns were performed by the chamber choir of St Peter and St. Paul Church in Dublin under the direction of Tamara Butkovskaya.
At the small entrance, in recognition of his diligent pastoral efforts, Bishop Matthew awarded Rector of the community, Priest Ioann Kazadojev, with a liturgical and hierarchical award of the Russian Orthodox Church - the right to wear a golden pectoral cross.
Following the prayer behind the ambo, Right Reverend Vladyka and the concelebrating clergy performed prayerful glorification in front of the the icon of St. Tikhon, after which Father Ioann turned to Vladyka Matthew with words of gratitude and, on behalf of the parishioners, expressed gratitude for the visit and for the joy of joint prayer with their Archpastor.

In turn, Vladyka Matthew congratulated the Rector and parishioners on the patronal celebration, wished the community God's help in developing and strengthening the parish life, and, in memory of his visit, donated an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
For his diligent church work, A.S. Kuznetsov, altar helper of the church, was awarded a bishop's blessed letter.
Next, the clergy and parishioners took part in a common festive meal.

On the next day, the 24th Sunday after Pentecost, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Liturgy at the Church of Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Dublin, Republic of Ireland.

His Grace was assisted by Dean of the diocesan district of the Republic of Ireland, Rector of the Church of Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Dublin, Archpriest Mikhail Nasonov, Secretary of the Sourozh diocese, Archpriest Dimitry Nedostochenko, and clergy of the Irish deanery of the Sourozh diocese.
The diaconal rank was headed by Deacon Sergiy Starovoytov.

The liturgical hymns were performed by the parish choir under the direction of Tamara Butkovskaya.

At the small entrance, in recognition of his diligent pastoral labours, Bishop Matthew awarded priest Sergiy Sokolov, cleric of St. Peter and St. Paul Church in Dublin, with a liturgical-hierarchical award of the Russian Orthodox Church - the right to wear a golden pectoral cross.

After the augmented litany, the Right Reverend Vladyka proclaimed a prayer for the granting of peace. During the Liturgy, Bishop Matthew ordained Deacon Ioann Chernelevsky, clergyman of St.Peter and St.Paul Church in Dublin, to the rank of presbyter.

At the communion verse, the Archpastor awarded the right to wear the orarion to the altar servant of the church, Yuri Kozharsky.
At the end of the Liturgy, prayerful glorification was performed in front of the icons of the Resurrection of Christ and of Archangel Michael.
Archpriest Mikhail Nasonov warmly welcomed His Grace and, on behalf of the clergy and parishioners of the Irish Deanery, thanked Vladyka for his archpastoral visit and the joy of joint prayer. Bishop Matthew addressed those present at the divine service with words of sermon and spiritual edification. Translation into English was provided by Priest Ioann Kazadojev.

At the end of the divine service, church awards of the Russian Orthodox Church were presented as follows: In connection with the 50th anniversary of his birth, Archpriest Mikhail Nasonov was awarded the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, III degree; hepatologist at the general clinic in Naas, Ion Cretu, was awarded the medal of the Order of St. Luke, Archbishop of Crimea; in connection with the 50th anniversary of the birth, church warden A.P. Gaskov was awarded the Patriarchal honour letter .
Archpastoral honour letters were also awarded to employees of St.Peter and St.Paul Church in Dublin N.N. Starovoitova, S.V. Smirnova, and O.V. Lopalo.
All participants in the divine service were presented with icons of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker - copies of the locally venerated icon of St. Nicholas, which is kept in the Dormition Cathedral in London.

After the divine service, a festive meal took place.

On the same day, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, and those accompanying him, departed for London.

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Bishop Matthew of Sourozh visited the Republic of Ireland

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