« Celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the parish of the Russian Orthodox Church in Cambridge »

On December 2, 2023, celebrations were held dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the founding of the parish of the Sourozh diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church in honour of St. Ephraim the Syrian in Cambridge, UK.

Regular Orthodox services in Cambridge were initiated in 1973 by Metropolitan Anthony (Bloom) of Sourozh, who visited the University of Cambridge in connection with the awarding of an honorary doctorate (honoris causa). During the visit, Metropolitan Anthony celebrated the first Divine Liturgy for a small number of Russian Orthodox Christians living in Cambridge.

The anniversary celebrations were led by His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh. During the Divine Liturgy, His Grace was assisted by Archpriest Joseph Skinner, Dean of the diocesan district of South-West England, Archpriest Gregory Butler, Rector of the Church of St. Aidan and Chad in Nottingham, Priest Evgeniy Selensky, Dean of the diocesan district of East Anglia, Protodeacon Vadim Santsevitch, cleric of the Dormition Cathedral in London, and Deacon Cosma Frateanu, clergyman of the parish of St. Ephraim the Syrian in Cambridge.

The divine service was celebrated in English and Church Slavonic language.

Liturgical hymns were performed by the parish choir under the direction of Anna Pechenyuk.

Representatives of the Church of England were present in the church - vicar Andrew Day, Rector of the church of St. Clement's, which is rented for Orthodox services, and churchwarden Barry Johnson.

After the dismissal of the Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh addressed those present with words of spiritual edification. Congratulating the clergy and parishioners on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Orthodox Cambridge community, the Archpastor especially noted the great contribution to the development of parish life of its long-time Rector, Archpriest Raphael Armour, who died this year.

Dean of East Anglia, Priest Evgeny Selensky, warmly thanked Vladyka Matthew for the visit and the joy of spiritual communication with the ruling bishop.

In memory of his visit to the community, Bishop Matthew donated an image of the Most Holy Mother of God, and the parishioners were given icons of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker - copies of the locally revered icon of St. Nicholas, staying in the Dormition Cathedral in London.

At the end of the service, His Eminence Vladyka awarded blessed bishop’s certificates to Valentina Futoryanova, churchwarden of the parish of St. Ephraim Sirin in Cambridge, Tatyana Butler, assistant churchwarden, Simon Connell, parish treasurer and reader Peter Cremer.

A festive meal and anniversary concert, organized by the community, took place in the parish hall.

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