DECR Deputy Chairman Bishop Mark of Yegorievsk visits Ireland

Bishop Mark of Yegorievsk, deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, visited Ireland from May 9 to 14, 2006. M.Ilyichev, the DECR legal adviser, accompanied him.

Bishop Marl met with the President of Ireland Mary McAleese, the Catholic archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin, papal nuncio Giuseppe Lazzarotto, Anglican archbishop of Dublin John Neel, deputy prime minister of Ireland Thomas Keith and his counselor on international affairs John Kennedy. Taking part in the meetings were the rector of Ss Peter and Paul parish in Dublin archpriest Mikhail Gogolev, parish priest Georgy Zavershinsky and chairman of the parish council Vladimir Yelets.

The registration of the Russian Orthodox Church and its stavropegic parish in Ireland and the ways of cooperation with the main Christian communities and the state bodies of Ireland were discussed, as well as a purchase of the Anglican Church building with the adjoining territory on Harold-Cross in Dublin leased to the Russian orthodox parish over four years ago. This matter was discussed with the legal adviser of the parish Richard Lyddy, manager of the United Bank of Ireland Coleman Stanley, and the lawyers of the Anglican Church in Ireland.

On May 13 and 14, Bishop Mark celebrated in the Ss Peter and Paul church – the Patriarch’s representation church in Dublin.

Four acolytes were made readers during the All-Night Vigil. After the service Bishop Mark answered many different questions asked by the clergymen and parishioners about parish life and liturgical practice. The reunion with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was also discussed. An interesting talk with the bishop lasted till midnight.

On May 14, the Sunday of the Paralytic, Bishop Mark celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Ss Peter and Paul church together with Rev. Georgy Zavershinsky, Rev. Godfrey O’Donnell of the Rumanian Orthodox Church and deacon Nikolai Yevseyev. A reader was made sub-deacon during the service. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican priests Patrick Comeford and Neel McKendu, Ambassador V.O.Rakhmanin of the Russian Federation to Ireland and counselor of the prime minister of Ireland on international affairs John Kennedy were among the guests of honour. After the Divine service, the parish gave a reception. On May 15, Bishop Mark departed for Moscow.