« The Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh took part in the ceremonial events on the occasion of the visit of the Primate of the Malankara Church of India to the UK »

On May 25, 2024, with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh, Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, took part in the ceremonial events on the occasion of the visit of the Primate of the Malankara Church of India, His Holiness Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Matthews III to the UK, held in a public center near Coventry, West Midlands.

After the Liturgy celebrated by His Holiness the Catholicos in the concelebration of Metropolitan Abraham Mar Stefanos of Great Britain, Europe and Africa and of the council of clergy, at which a large number of parishioners from various communities of the British diocese of the Church of India prayed, a solemn religious procession took place. The procession, symbolising the common life path of believers and the Church, was attended by numerous representatives of Malankara parishes, who specially arrived for the feast. Each group of believers carried signs with the names of the communities and cities where they are located, crosses, icons, flags with images of saints, separate groups of participants played musical instruments and sang chants in their native language. Along the procession, images of significant events not only of the Malankara Church, but also of the Sister Churches were displayed: Libyan martyrs, icons of Armenian martyrs who suffered during the genocide, as well as an image of meeting of the heads of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. At the end of the religious procession, Metropolitan Abraham Mar Stephanos addressed the large congregation with a welcoming speech, noting the importance of the continuity of the apostolic mission in modern times. Finally, the Nicene Creed was read out.

Then the official ceremonial part took place, at which, after communal prayer and reading psalms, there were speeches by the Primate of the Malankara Church, the diocesan bishop, clergy and guests from among representatives of Christian denominations. On behalf of the Church of England, Bishop of Loughborough Saju Muthalaly addressed the Primate of the Malankara Church. Messages from representatives of the Coptic Church, Armenian Apostolic Church, Syro-Malabar Church, and the Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church were read out.

Representing the Russian Orthodox Church, Secretary of the Sourozh diocese, Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, announced a welcoming address from His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, which emphasized the importance of the established long-term friendly relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Church of India. The announcement of the decision taken by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' to award the Primate of the Malankara Church of India, His Holiness Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Matthews III, with the highest award of the Russian Orthodox Church - the Order"Glory and Honor" of the first degree in consideration of his personal contribution to the development of friendly relations between our Churches and in connection with the 75th anniversary of his birth, caused a prolonged ovation among those present. At the end of the speech, Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko presented His Holiness the Catholicos with the altar liturgical Gospel, published in English by the Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate with the participation of the Diocese of Sourozh.

At the end of the ceremonial part, there was a presentation of a new educational project of the Malankara Church in the UK - a certified course under the leadership of Dr. Elizabeth Joy: “On Nicene Faith”, dedicated to the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council (325). His Holiness the Catholicos delegated the honourary mission to present the official brochure of the course to Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko. 

At the end of the festive events, a cultural program was held, in which creative groups of the Indian diaspora took part. 

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