« On the Name's Day of Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, a conciliar divine service was celebrated at the Dormition Cathedral in London »
30-11-2021 
On November 29, 2021, on the day of commemoration of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew (60), His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Dormition Cathedral in London.
The Right Reverend Archpastor was assisted by the Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh, priest Dimitry Nedostupenko, Dean of the Diocesan District of South-East England, archpriest Vitaly Polishchuk, Dean of the Diocesan District of South-West England, archpriest Joseph Skinner, Dean of the Diocesan District of Scotland and Northern Ireland, archpriest Georgy Zavershinsky, Sourozh diocese clergy from England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
The deacons rank was headed by protodeacon Vadim Santsevitch.
Liturgical hymns were performed by the choir of the Dormition Cathedral in London under the direction of the choir master Dmitry Tugarinov.
The divine service was broadcast live on the diocesan page Life of Sourozh on the social network Facebook.
At the small entrance, taking into account the zealous pastoral ministry for the benefit of the Church of Christ, liturgical and hierarchical awards of the Russian Orthodox Church were awarded to Archpriest Mikhail Gogolev - the right to celebrate the Divine Liturgy with open Royal Doors until the Cherubic Hymn, to archpriest Georgy Zavershinsky and archpriest Gregory Butler - the right to wear an epigonation (palitza), and to priest Anatoly Vikhrov - the right to wear a kamilavka.
Upon the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Vladyka and the concelebrating clergy celebrated a short moleben to the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew. At the litany, petitions were raised for the health of Vladyka.
After the dismissal, His Grace Vladyka addressed the clergy and parishioners with words of a sermon and spiritual edification.
Then the Secretary of the Sourozh diocese, priest Dimitry Nedostupenko read out congratulations to His Grace on the occasion of his Name’s Day:
"Your Eminence, dear Vladyka and loving father!
On behalf of the clergy, monastics and laity of the Sourozh diocese, the Patriarchal parishes in the United States and Canada, let me, with great joy, congratulate you with your Name’s Day!
On this solemn day, clerics and parishioners of the Sourozh diocese gathered under the arches of the London Cathedral to share with you the joy of the Divine Liturgy. Many of those who love you are busy today with daily work and responsibilities, someone stayed at home because of sickness or old age, clergy and flock of the New World, your relatives and friends are thousands kilometers away from the center of the Russian Orthodoxy in the British Isles, but today they are all prayerfully with you, dear Vladyka!
This year is special for you, a jubilee year. 50 years is truly a biblical anniversary! Paying attention to the life path that you have travelled to this significant day, we all see that the Lord has chosen you from your youth to serve at the Throne of God. From then until now, you have invariably strived to "serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling" (Psalm 2:11).
Six years ago, a special grace of the apostolic ministry became for you a new opportunity to testify, with even greater zeal for the glory of God, the eternal truths of the Gospel, to set an example of fervent faith, active love and fatherly way of caring for the clergy and flock entrusted to you by God.
Allow me, dear Vladyka, as a sign of our filial gratitude and love, to present to you, on behalf of the clergy, parishioners and the churchwarden of the Dormition Cathedral in London, a holy panagia and a holy cross in memory of your anniversary and your Name’s Day.
We prayerfully wish you strong health and God's all-generous help in your archpastoral ministry for many years! "
On behalf of the clergy, parishioners and the ktitor of the Dormition Cathedral, Vladyka Matthew was presented with a memorial panagia, cross and a bouquet of flowers.
The clergy and laity of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States sent Vladyka an artistically decorated flower arrangement and a congratulatory address.
At the end of the divine service, a festive meal and a meeting of the clergy of the Sourozh diocese took place.