« Archbishop Elisey visited the Parish of St Nicholas in Oxford on the occasion of its Patronal Festival »
20-12-2012
;)
On Wednesday 19 December, the Parish of St Nicholas the Wonderworker in Oxford celebrated the patronal feast of its church. The festal divine liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence, Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh, assisted by the Rector of the parish, Archpriest Stephen Platt, Protopresbyter Ian Graham (Rector of the Greek Orthodox parish of the Holy Trinity in Oxford), Priest Gregory Butler, Hieromonk Tikhon (Vasiliev) and Protodeacon Dmitry Nedostupenko.
The archbishop was greeted on his arrival by the sound of the four new bells, given to the church from the diocese of Voronezh, which have recently been blessed and installed in the church tower.
Although a working day, the church was filled with a large congregation, nearly all of whom received communion of the Holy Mysteries.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Elisey preached a sermon in which he reminded the assembled faithful of the importance of true meekness and piety, of which St Nicholas is a shining example. He then lead a festal procession and molieben to St Nicholas, before greeting the rector and parishioners on the occasion of their feast day. In response, Fr Stephen thanked Vladyka Elisey for his continued prayers, love and pastoral care for the parish. He congratulated the archbishop on having celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of the diocese, as well as his own fiftieth birthday during the current year. In commemoration of these events, on behalf of the parish, Fr Stephen presented Archbishop Elisey with a set of embroidered sacramental veils. On behalf of the children of the parish, as has become traditional, the archbishop was presented with the new edition of the colour wall-calendar produced each year by the parish Sunday School.
The protodeacon then proclaimed 'Many Years' for the Patriarch, the Archbishop, the civil authorities and the rector and parishioners of the church.
A festive meal followed, at which the hierarch, clergy and all the assembled faithful continued the celebration of the parish feast.