DECR Chairman celebrates Liturgy at St. Nicholas Church in Rome

DECR Communication service, 05/25/2025

On May 25, the Sixth Sunday after Pascha (Sunday of the Blind Man), Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, and Metropolitan Nestor of Korsun and Western Europe, Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Church in Rome.

The occasion also marked the 25th anniversary of the return of one of the oldest Russian Orthodox parishes in Italy from the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople—which the community had been forced to join in the 20th century—back to the Russian Orthodox Church.

Concelebrating with the hierarchs were Hieromonk Ambrose (Matsegora), Secretary of the Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Parishes in Italy; Archpriest Sergei Voronin, rector of St. Nicholas Church; Priest Gleb Krupnov, a cleric of the church; and Priest Nikolai Vasin, Secretary to the DECR Chairman.

Following the Eucharistic Canon, Metropolitan Nestor ordained subdeacon Adriano Friski to the diaconate.

At the conclusion of the service, a procession of the cross was held around the church.

Addressing the faithful, Metropolitan Anthony conveyed the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' and emphasized the historical significance of the 2000 decision by the parish council of St. Nicholas Church to return to the bosom of the Mother Church. The DECR Chairman gratefully recalled the contributions of Archpriest Mikhail Osorgin and Countess M.A. Fersen, who played a decisive role in restoring historical justice.

Metropolitan Nestor also delivered an archpastoral address to the parishioners.

Afterward, Archpriest Sergei warmly greeted the hierarchs and thanked them for the joy of shared prayer.

The clergy and parishioners continued their fellowship over tea in the church courtyard.

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DECR Chairman celebrates Liturgy at St. Nicholas Church in Rome

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons