« Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the all-night vigil with the rite of the Burial of the Most Holy Mother of God at the Bishop's metochion in Rocks Farm, Bodiam »

On August 31, 2024, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the all-night vigil with the rite of the Burial of the Most Holy Mother of God at the bishop’s St. Elizabeth metochion in Rocks Farm, near the town of Bodiam in the county of East Sussex.

At the entrance to the house church, Bishop Matthew was met with a bouquet of flowers by the senior sister of the Compound, Nun Martha (Persianinova).

His Grace was assisted at the all-night vigil by Secretary of the Sourozh Diocese Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, Priest Sergiy Fedorenko and Deacon Alexander Kapustin.

The liturgical hymns were performed by a combined choir under the direction of Marina Bezmenova-Nikolau.

During the evening service, Bishop Matthew performed the rite of the Burial of the Mother of God. In front of the shroud with the image of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, installed in the center of the church, the clergy read the verses of the 17th kathisma with praises dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God.

After the great doxology, accompanied by the ringing of bells and the funeral chant "Holy God", the Archpastor led the procession with the shroud around the territory of the metochion.

Then the shroud was placed in the center of the house church, and the faithful venerated it, like the Mother of God lying in the tomb.

At the end of the divine service, Bishop Matthew addressed the clergy, pilgrims and parishioners of the metochion with a hierarchical word.

At the end, a meal was offered to all those gathered.

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