Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) – For the first time ever the Catholic Cathedral of Westminster in London will host a Russian Orthodox liturgical service. This is one of several initiatives planned by Westminster archdiocese for the annual Week of Prayer for Unity, 18-25 January marked by Christians the world over. On Saturday 17 January at 3pm Russian Orthodox Great Vespers, sung by Choir and clergy of the Russian Cathedral of the Dormition and All Saints in London, will be presided by Bishop Basil Osborne of Sergievo, ruling Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church in Britain and Ireland. Coptic and Armenian Bishops will also be present and special guests will include the Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom H. E. Grigory Karasin and the Lord Mayor of London. The service marks a breakthrough in relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and Catholic Church leaders in Britain which have been strained in recent years.
The Greek Orthodox community in London has also accepted an invitation to Westminster Cathedral as part of initiatives for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. On Sunday 18 January Greek Orthodox Archbishop Gregorius will give the homily during the principle Mass at 10.30am. Later that day Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, will join the Anglican Bishop of London to preside Evensong (Anglican Vespers) at the Tower of London and unveil a plaque in memory of St John Fisher and all Britain’s Christian Martyrs. Father Michael Seed, Secretary of Westminster Diocese’s Ecumenical Commission told Fides that these ecumenical events are a sign of growing awareness of the common heritage of Christians and the treasured values of Christianity. “The celebration of Russian Orthodox Vespers at Westminster Cathedral is certainly a breakthrough, unthinkable only a short time ago” he said. The Anglican Vespers will be sung instead in the Chapel Royal of St Peter in the famous Tower of London where many holy men and women were imprisoned and executed because of their faith in Jesus Christ. PS (Fides Service 17/1/2004 EM lines 27 Words: 351)
