« On the 95th anniversary of the birth of Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov), Bishop Matthew of Sourozh served a panikhida in the Dormition Cathedral in London »

On October 15, 2024, on the 95th anniversary of the birth of Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov), His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, served a panikhida for the ever-memorable hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Dormition Cathedral in London.

At the panikhida, prayers were also offered for the repose of the ever-memorable parents of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' - Archpriest Mikhail and Raisa Vladimirovna Gundyaev.  October 13, 2024 marked the 50th anniversary of the death of Archpriest Mikhail Gundyaev (1907-1974).

After the panikhida, Bishop Matthew addressed the audience with a speech in which he noted the important moments in the life of Vladyka Nikodim and his selfless feat of serving the Church. Bishop Matthew drew attention to the fact that in March 1970, Metropolitan Nikodim, who then held the position of Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, was entrusted with the temporary administration of the Patriarchal Parishes of North and South America. In April 1970, in the United States, Bishop Nikodim signed an agreement with Metropolitan Ireneus (Bekish) of New York on the conditions for granting autocephaly to the American Metropolis, becoming the originator of the new church life in North America.

In September 1974, Metropolitan Nikodim, despite his deteriorating health, assumed the post of Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe. As Exarch of Western Europe, Bishop Nikodim continued to pay great attention to the development of spiritual life in the countries of the far abroad and in Great Britain in particular.

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