Sts. Peter and Paul parish in Portsmouth, UK, celebrates 30th Anniversary

DECR Communication Service, 15.07.2025

On July 13, 2025, the Feast of the Synaxis of the Glorious and All-Praised Twelve Apostles, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Parish of the Holy Preeminent Apostles Peter and Paul in Portsmouth (Hampshire County, United Kingdom). On this day, the parish marked the 30th anniversary of its founding.

Concelebrating with the hierarch were: Archpriest Joseph Skinner, dean of the South West England deanery and rector of the parish; Protodeacon Vadim Santsevich, cleric of the Cathedral of the Dormition in London; and Deacon Victor Nikiforov, cleric of the Portsmouth parish.

Liturgical hymns were sung by the parish choir under the direction of Sarah Skinner, reports the website of the Diocese of Sourozh.

Following the augmented litany, Bishop Matthew offered a prayer for the restoration of peace.

During the Communion verse, the hierarch awarded Nikolai Makarov - the altar server of the Cathedral of the Dormition in London and of the parishes in Portsmouth and Southampton - the right to wear the orarion in recognition of his diligent service to the Church.

After the postcommunion verse, Bishop Matthew and the concelebrating clergy chanted the festal magnification.

At the conclusion of the service, Rector Archpriest Joseph Skinner addressed Bishop Matthew with a word of greeting. In response, the bishop thanked Fr. Joseph for his pastoral labors in developing parish life in the region and offered the faithful words of a sermon and spiritual exhortation. In honor of the patronal feast and the parish’s anniversary, Protodeacon Vadim Santsevich intoned the Polychronion (Many Years).

The celebration concluded with a fraternal festive meal organized by the parishioners of the church.

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Sts. Peter and Paul parish in Portsmouth, UK, celebrates 30th Anniversary

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons