All Saints Church in Strasbourg celebrates 5th anniversary of its consecration

DECR Communication Service, 25/12/2023

On 24^th December, Sunday of the Holy Forefathers, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Stauropegial Church of All Saints in Strasbourg, France, marking the 5^th anniversary of its lesser consecration.

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, officiating at the divine service was Metropolitan Nestor of Korsun and Western Europe, Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe.

Among his concelebrants were Archimandrite Philip (Ryabykh), rector of All Saints Parish; Protosynkellos Maxim Ilic, rector of the Church of Archangel Michael of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Mulhouse, France; Deacon Roman Onika; clerics of the All Saints Church; and ordained guests.

Attending the Liturgy were Mr Vladislav Pavlov, Russia’s Consul General in Strasbourg, and Mr Ilya Subbotin, Counsellor-Minister of the Russian Embassy in France, website of the Korsun Diocese reports.

At the Lesser Entrance, the Patriarchal Exarch read out His Holiness Patriarch Kirill’s decree awarding Priest Yevgeny Makushkin, a cleric of the All Saints Church, with a pectoral cross.

Numerous parishioners and pilgrims were praying at the Liturgy; over one hundred and twenty people partook of the Holy Communion.

After the service, Metropolitan Nestor handed over to Archimandrite Philip (Ryabykh), rector of the All Saints Parish, a Patriarchal letter of commendation on the occasion of the parish’s 20^th anniversary celebrated in 2023.

In his archpastoral homily, His Eminence noted that the two Sundays preceding Christmas – commemorating the Holy Forefathers and the Holy Church Fathers – help Christians prepare for the Feast of the Divine Incarnation, and added that the holy forefathers serve as a model of strong faith in the True God and His plan for the salvation of humankind.

Later, the archpastor examined interior decoration plans for the church, including a wall-paintings project, and was informed about various activities of the All Saints Parish.

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The lesser consecration of the Church of All Saints in Strasbourg took place on 25^th December 2018. The rite was celebrated by Bishop (now metropolitan) Nestor of Korsun.

The great consecration of the church took place on 26^th May 2019. The rite was celebrated by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’.

The construction of the Church of All Saints and the parochial religious and cultural centre began in December 2013 and lasted for five years. The plot of land was granted to the Russian Orthodox community on lease by the city of Strasbourg. Construction works were completed thanks to private donations. The project was designed by a Russian architect, Dmitry Pshnichnikov, and carried out by a French architect, Michel Arnold. The building works were done by local Alsace factories. The tent-shaped church, 41 metres high, is designed to accommodate 300 worshippers.

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All Saints Church in Strasbourg celebrates 5th anniversary of its consecration

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