Pokrov parish news, and events related to Orthodox Christianity

Visit of the relics of the New Martyrs Grand Duchess Elizabeth and Nun Barbara to Manchester:

[SS Elizabeth and Barbara]

On Saturday 1 August [19 July] and Sunday 2 August [20 July] 2009 the relics of the New Martyrs Grand Duchess Elizabeth and Nun Barbara visited our church. They arrived on Saturday from Birkenhead (where they were visiting the parish of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad dedicated to St Elizabeth) brought here by Fr Nicholas Savchenko, the rector of the parish of the Dormition and the Holy New Martyrs of Russia in London. All-Night Vigil was celebrated by Archbishop Anatoly and Fr Nicholas. The service was also attended by Fr Paul Elliot from the Birkenhead parish and Fr Gregory Hallam from St Aidan's parish in Manchester, together with pilgrims who came from various places to venerate the relics. On Sunday there was a Divine Liturgy followed by a short intercession service to St Elizabeth and St Barbara. The holy relics were venerated by the parishioners and pilgrims. Later the same day the relics departed to London, carried by Archbishop Anatoly. The New Martyrs Grand Duchess Elizabeth and Nun Barbara are the principal among the Alapayevsk martyrs. Some information about them can be found here (in Russian).

Visit of the miracle-working Kursk-Root icon of the Theotokos "the Sign" to Manchester:

[The Theotokos of

Курская Коренная икона Божией Матери Знамение.
Kursk-Root icon of the Theotokos "the Sign"


     Thursday 22 November [9 November old style] 2007. The Odighitria (i.e., the way-leader) of the Russian Diaspora, the miracle-working Kursk-Root icon of the Mother of God visited the Manchester Pokrov parish. The icon arrived from Birkenhead (where there is a parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad) and was brought here by Fr. Jaroslav Belikov, who had been appointed recently to the London cathedral of the Russian Church Abroad. Fr. Jaroslav celebrated a Molieben with Akathist to the Mother of God. Numerous faithful venerated the icon. After the service a meal was offered at the parish hall. See some pictures here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (you can see Fr. Jaroslav giving a sermon; parishioners venerating the icon; Fr. Jaroslav addressing the congregation in the parish hall).

Pannikhida
     Friday 23 November [10 November] 2007. Pannikhida for our parishioner, Vera Puninskaya, who died on 12/15 October 2007, was held in the Pokrov church. Memory eternal!

Patronal Feast and visit of Bishop Elisei
     Sunday 14 October [1 October old style] 2007. A joyful celebration of the Patronal Feast took place at the Manchester Pokrov parish. This year there was a Divine Liturgy, celebrated by Archbishop Anatoly with concelebration of Bishop Elisei of Bogorodsk. Many people attended the service and then participated in the festal meal in the parish hall. The visit of Bishop Elisei came as a surprise for us; nevertheless, it was very nice to have such a guest for our parish feast. It seems that His Eminence liked what he saw in Manchester. See a report (in Russian) that appeared at the Sourozh Diocese website.

Some previous news and events.


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Webmaster. 3 (16) April 2010