Pan-Orthodox vespers celebrated at the Sourozh diocesan Cathedral of the Assumption in London

The Pan-Orthodox Vespers was celebrated on the Sunday of Orthodoxy 13 March 2011 in London. Among those who arrived at the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Russian Orthodox Church’s diocese of Sourozh were Archbishop Gregory, head of the Theatyra diocese, and Bishop Athanasios of Tropaeou (Patriarchate of Constantinople). They were welcomed by Archbishop Yelisey of Sourozh and Archbishop Anatoly of Kerch (Moscow Patriarchate). Gathering around the altar of the cathedral were clergy of the Patriarchates of Constantinople, Antioch, Moscow, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

The service was adorned by the singing of several choirs who sang church hymns in their own languages – Greek, Georgian, Arabic, Church Slavonic and Romanian, the website of the Diocese of Sourozh reports.

Hieromonk Nicholas (Sakharov) of the Monastery of John the Baptist in Essex explained in his sermon the meaning of the Sunday of Orthodoxy. The joint singing of the Lord’s Prayer in English symbolized the unity of those present in the Orthodox faith.

After the service the congregation shared a Lenten meal.

DECR Communication Service