Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Dublin celebrates its 25th anniversary

DECR Communication Service, 13/11/2025

On 9^th November 2025, 22^nd Sunday after Pentecost, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Dublin, Ireland.

Among his concelebrants were Archpriest Mikhail Nasonov, Dean of the Diocesan District of the Republic of Ireland and Rector of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Dublin; Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh; Archpriest Sergiy Ivanenko-Kolenda; Priest Sergiy Sokolov; Priest Ioann Kazadoev; Priest Grigory Oborochanu; Priest John Chernelevski; Deacon Sergiy Starovoitov; and Deacon Pavel Demyanovsky, website of the Sourozh Diocese reports.

After the Litany of Fervent Supplication, Bishop Matthew said a prayer for peace.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, the hierarch and his concelebrants lifted up prayers of praise before an icon of the Holy Righteous Olga of Kwethluk (Alaska). In June 2025, Bishop Matthew had taken part in the celebrations in Anchorage, Alaska, USA, marking her glorification. St. Olga is commemorated in the Orthodox Church in America on 9^th November according to the New Calendar. The name of the saint was included in the church calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church by the decision of the Holy Synod of 30^th October 2025.

Archpriest Mikhail Nasonov, Rector of Sts. Peter and Paul Church, warmly greeted Bishop Matthew and thanked him for his archpastoral visit and the joy of concelebration. On behalf of the local clergy and parishioners, Father Mikhail presented the hierarch with a mitre on the occasion of the forthcoming 10^th anniversary of his episcopal consecration.

Bishop Matthew thanked Father Mikhail and the clergy of the Irish Deanery for their pastoral labours and delivered a homily. He congratulated all those present on the 25^th anniversary of the establishment of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Dublin, making a special mention of the missionary efforts of the clergy of the Sourozh Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church who have been serving in the Irish land for a quarter of a century. Over the past years, with benefactors’ support, the parish has purchased and reconstructed a church building. Now it has its church education centre and a Sunday school, and offers theological courses. Bishop Matthew noted with satisfaction that two Divine Liturgies are celebrated in the church on Sundays, which are attended by a large number of parishioners.

On the occasion of the parish’s 25^th anniversary, Bishop Matthew presented to Archpriest Mikhail Nasonov a palitsa with an embroidered image of St. Tikhon the Patriarch of All Russia. With the blessing of Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, who also serves as Acting Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, such palitsas had been embroidered in limited quantities with the assistance of the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Nicholas in New York City, USA, to mark the centenary of the repose of the Holy Patriarch Tikhon.

After that, Patriarchal and Episcopal awards were presented to the clergy and laity of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Dublin.

To commemorate his visit, Bishop Matthew presented to the church a liturgical Gospel published in the English language by the Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate with the assistance of the Diocese of Sourozh.

All parishioners received small icons of the Holy Righteous Olga of Alaska, whose commemoration day was celebrated on 9^th November for the first time since her canonization.

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Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Dublin celebrates its 25th anniversary

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