On Sunday, 24th March 2024, His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain presided over Matins and celebrated the Divine Liturgy for the first Sunday of Holy and Great Lent, known as the Sunday of Orthodoxy, at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Divine Wisdom in Bayswater, London. Concelebrating with His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas were His Eminence Metropolitan Athanasios of Colognia and His Grace Bishop Gregory of Mesaoria, of the Church of Cyprus. Also serving were the Very Revd Archimandrite Nephon Tsimalis, Protosyncellus of the Archdiocese; the Very Revd Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Theonas Bakalis, Priest-in-charge of the Cathedral; the Very Revd Archimandrite Aristarchos Grekas, of the Church of Greece; the Very Revd Archimandrite Leonidas Ebralidze, Chancellor of the Georgian Orthodox Eparchy of Great Britain and Ireland; the Revd Archdeacon Dr George Tsourous; and the Revd Deacons Andrea Matei, Dimitrios Mamouchas, and Georgios Ntallas.
Also attending the Divine Liturgy were His Excellency Yannis Tsaousis, Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic, and His Excellency Andreas Kakouris, High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, together with members of their diplomatic corps, and military attachés. Present as well were a number of Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Since the following day was the 25th of March, students from St Sophia’s School stood with Greek flags in anticipation of Greek Independence Day.
The traditional Sunday of Orthodoxy procession of the Holy Icons took place at the end of the Divine Liturgy and was led by His Grace Bishop Gregory of Mesaoria. The faithful commemorated the triumph of Orthodoxy through the restoration of icons and celebrated the unity and rich cultural heritage of the Orthodox Christian community in London.
