EVENTS - 2026
CHRISTMAS
7 January 2026
It is with great joy that we celebrated the Nativity of our Lord in the presence of His Eminence Archbishop Athanasie. After the Hierarchical service, His Eminence blessed a cross raised in the church gardens to the Glory of God and in honour of all the anti-communist martyrs and confessors of Romania between 1948 and 1989.
A communal meal was then served in the church hall. This was followed by a nativity play performed by the children of the parish and an international Christmas carol concert by some members of the choir, in the presence of His Eminence.
O Lord, preserve His Eminence Archbishop Athanasie for many blessed years!
For ROARCH article (and photos) in English, see: https://tinyurl.com/jdxk5ex7
For ROARCH article (and photos) in Romanian, see: https://tinyurl.com/5n8rn85n
Visit of Bishop Nichifor of Iași (Romania)
29 March 2026
With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Atanasie, on Sunday 29 March, His Grace Bishop Nichifor Botoșaneanul, Vicar Bishop of the Archdiocese of Iași, officiated the Holy and Divine Liturgy at our parish.
O Lord, preserve his Grace Bishop Nichifor for many blessed years!
For further information, see ROARCH website:
In English: https://tinyurl.com/mc9vmtbh
In Romanian: https://tinyurl.com/586dcw23
Easter 2026
12 April 2026
CHRIST IS RISEN!
We all gathered together until the early hours of Sunday morning to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.
New schrine
24 May 2026
Today carpenter, Daniel Vlad, assisted by his wife Simona, set up the shrine for St John on the right-hand pillar at the front of the church, St John is dressed in his London cassock, which we obtained from the Russian church in London some 20 years ago, a pre-Revolutionary panagia and an Archbishop’s mantle, with the icon of St John’s face, painted by Antonie Brailescu. This icon and panagia, dated 1912 (bought in Estonia) were originally in the altar, the cassock was in one of the relic boxes and we bought the mantle new from St John’s homeland, the Ukraine, last year.
Thank you to Antonie and Daniel for their amazing work!
Renovation of chapel, with frescoes, completed
14 June 2026
The chapel in St John's Orthodox Church, dedicated to All the Saints Who Have Shone Forth in the Isles, has completed a major work of renovation with the installation of frescoes. The paintings depict the Twelve Great Feasts, the Mother of God and many saints of the British Isles, including St Helen of Colchester, St Cedd of Essex, St Felix of East Anglia, St Patrick, St David and St Columba.
We give thanks to Antonie Brailescu and Alban Phillips whose hard work and dedication have helped create a beautiful and prayerful home for the worship of God!
For further information on, and photos of, the chapel, click here
Ordination of Deacon Antonie Brailescu
20 June 2026
The faithful of the parish are celebrating the ordination of their new deacon, Deacon Antonie Brailescu, giving thanks to God for this significant blessing in the life of the parish in Colchester and the wider church.
While the ordination was celebrated away from Colchester, the parish has shared fully in the joy of the occasion. Please keep Deacon Antonie and his family in your prayers as he begins this new chapter of ministry.
May the Lord grant him wisdom, humility, strength and many blessed years of faithful service to His Holy Church!
EVENTS - 2025
CHRISTMAS
7 January 2025
We gathered together to celebrate the Nativity of our Lord.
Christ is born, glorify Him!
PARISH CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS AND NATIVITY PLAY
13 January 2025
The parishioners got together for a celebratory meal in the church hall after the Sunday liturgy. This was followed by a nativity play put on by the children, which ended with a special visit from Father Christmas!
SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY
Sunday 9 March 2025
Celebrating the Sunday of Orthodoxy. This ended with the traditional procession around the church, with parishioners carrying icons.
HOLY UNCTION
Saturday 12 April 2025
The priests performed the service of Holy Unction, anointing parishioners seven times
EASTER SUNDAY
Sunday 20 April 2025
CHRIST IS RISEN!
It was with great joy that we celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord!
ENTHRONEMENT OF ARCHBISHOP ATHANASIE
Saturday 10 May 2025
On Saturday 10 May, having been officially invited, the clergy of our parish went to the new Romanian Cathedral of St. George in Enfield, to participate at the liturgy and enthronement of our Archbishop Athanasie.
The clergy all communed along with many Bishops, including from different jurisdictions.
The event was followed by a fraternal dinner and reception, where we were able to talk to friends, fellow priests and various Bishops, particularly His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph as well as Archbishop Athanasie when we discussed plans for his upcoming visit to our parish in Colchester.
Every priest of the Romanian Archdiocese was presented with a special Grammata and pectoral cross to mark this momentous occasion.
We thank everyone who helped in the organisation of this joyous day and wish our Archbishop Athanasie many years!
HIERARCHICAL BLESSING AND ORDINATIONS
Sunday 15 June 2025
Today, His Eminence Athanasie celebrated the Divine Liturgy in our parish. On this joyous occasion, His Eminence appointed 6 readers, ordained Subdeacon Sergiu Novitchi to deaconate and ordained Deacon Serghei Smantana to priesthood to serve in our parish.
Many years to Archbishop Athanasie, Father Serghei and Father Deacon Sergiu!
For article in English, see https://tinyurl.com/krmwvs53
For article in Romanian, see https://tinyurl.com/2v6kyn92
PILGRIMAGE TO IASI (ROMANIA)
15 October 2025
All three priests of our parish, along with a group of parishioners, made the pilgrimage to Iași (Romania) for the feast of Saint Parascheva. Her Holy relics were venerated alongside the Holy relics of Saint Gregory Palamas which were specially brought from Greece. All priests celebrated the Holy Liturgy with Bishop Nichifor, vicar Bishop of the Iași Metropolia,
Holy Saint Parasheva and Saint Gregory pray to God for us!
