« The parish school at the Dormition Cathedral in London hosted a celebration dedicated to the Slavonic Literature and Culture Day »

On May 18, 2024, a feast dedicated to the Slavonic Literature and Culture Day was held at the parish school of the Dormition Cathedral in London. 

The theme of the annual event was the celebration of the 160th anniversary of the birth of the Holy Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna (1st November 1864 - 18th July 1918).

“The Holy Martyr Elizabeth in her life was able to unite the holiness of the blessed princess, the venerable righteous woman and martyr for Christ and left us an example of life according to the Gospel.  Her sacrificial service to the poor, sick, orphans, her sincere love for God and for the Orthodox Church are capable today of awakening the souls of many of our compatriots from sinful oblivion, reminding rich people of the need to serve the poor and disadvantaged, and those in power - of the special responsibility before God and their people.  A believing heart cannot be indifferent to the glory of the Church of Christ, therefore suffering for it cannot be forgotten..." - from the message of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus', 2004. 

Schoolchildren and their parents presented the audience with the play “Faith without good deeds is dead,” dedicated to the childhood of Grand Duchess Elizabeth, the founder of Russia’s first monastery of mercy. The stage director of the play is N.I. Larina. 

After the performance, Easter hymns were performed by the junior and senior choirs of school students under the direction of M.V. Bezmenova-Nikolau. 

At the end of the feast, school director E.N. Poplavskaya invited to the stage the children who took part in the exhibition “We Draw Flowers,” dedicated to the Saint’s birthday. The school's teachers were presented with books about the life of the Holy Martyr Elizabeth Feodorovna, the contents of which the teachers will introduce to students during thematic classes at the school. 

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