The Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr on Vspolye, which serves as the Moscow metochion of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), celebrated its patronal feast with a solemn Divine Liturgy. The service was presided over by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations.

The feast, dedicated to the memory of St. Catherine, brought together representatives of several Local Orthodox Churches. Among the concelebrants were Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis, representative of the Patriarch of Antioch in Moscow; Archbishop Irénée of Ottawa and Canada; and Bishop Gerasim of Fort Worth from the OCA.

Before the start of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Anthony consecrated the church’s new iconostasis. Former Russian ambassador to the Vatican, Alexander Avdeev, was also present. Portions of the service were conducted in English, Georgian, and Czech, reflecting the international character of the clergy and parish community.

After a prayer for Holy Rus’, the clergy performed a slavlenie before the icon of St. Catherine. The rector, Archpriest Daniel Andrejuk, expressed gratitude to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ for his support of the metochion. Bishop Gerasim conveyed greetings on behalf of Metropolitan Tikhon, the head of the Orthodox Church in America.

Addressing the faithful, Metropolitan Anthony conveyed Patriarch Kirill’s blessing and highlighted the rector’s contribution to strengthening ties between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in America.