On February 23, 2025, His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain participated in the consecration of the newly established St. John of Rila Bulgarian Orthodox Church in London. This significant event marked the inauguration of the first Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, fulfilling a long-held aspiration of the Bulgarian Orthodox community.
The consecration ceremony was led by His Holiness and Beatitude Patriarch Daniil of All Bulgaria, who was on his inaugural official visit abroad since his election in June. The church, situated within the premises of the Bulgarian Embassy in London, was filled with clergy and faithful from various Orthodox presence in the UK. Archbishop Nikitas concelebrated alongside Patriarch Daniil, Metropolitan Antonii of Western and Central Europe, Metropolitan Pahomii of Vidin, and other esteemed hierarchs. The service was conducted in both Bulgarian and English, symbolising the unity and inclusivity of the Orthodox faith.
The previous evening, Patriarch Daniil presided over the Vespers at the Church of St. John of Rila. In addition to the Bulgarian hierarchs, the service was attended by His Grace Bishop Nektarije of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of the UK, His Grace Bishop Irenei of the local ROCOR diocese and clergy from the Greek Orthodox, Antiochian, Serbian, and ROCOR dioceses. The gathering reflected the shared commitment of Orthodox communities in Britain to unity and prayerful cooperation.
In his address, Patriarch Daniil emphasized the church’s role as a spiritual haven and a center for uniting believers:
“From today on, this temple of God begins its actual blessed life, as a place for worship and prayers, as a spiritual oasis amidst the vanity of the world, and the spiritual heart of all our Orthodox fellow citizens here, who wish to participate in worship in their native language.”
The Great Vespers of Consecration was attended by representatives from various Orthodox Churches, including the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), as well as dignitaries such as the Lord Mayor of Westminster, officials from the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches, and members of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Corps.
The participation of Archbishop Nikitas in this historic occasion underscores the commitment of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain, an Eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to fostering inter-Orthodox relations and supporting the spiritual needs of Orthodox Christians across the United Kingdom.
