WESTERN EUROPEAN DIOCESE: 14 July 2023
Feast day at SS Peter and Paul Church in Luxembourg

On July 11-12, 2023, divine services of the great feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul were celebrated in Luxembourg, in the beautiful temple dedicated to their honor, led by His Grace Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe.

Not only were the festivities augmented by the archpastor’s visit, but the parish also marked an important moment in its life: after the festal Divine Liturgy on Wednesday morning, the Very Reverend Archpriest Ioann Grigori?a was formally installed as Rector of the Luxembourg Parish, and prayers were lifted up to Almighty God for the receipt of many divine blessings upon his new role. Fr Ioann’s appointment coincided with the retirement of Priest Georges Machtalère for reasons of health, at his request, and the parish expressed its deep thanks to Fr Georges for his years of service, dedication and love shown to the Luxembourg faithful, presenting him with an icon of the Apostles and many words of gratitude.

The festal Divine Services were headed by Bishop Irenei, co-served by Archpriest Ioann and Priest George, together with clergy who had come to Luxembourg for the festivities: Archpriest Stefan Weerts (from the Brussels Resurrection Parish), Priest Alexander Machtalère (Diocese of Korsun), and Priest Timothy Kitnis (Parisian Archdiocese of the MP), and Protodeacon Alexandre Boldyreff (from the Meudon Parish).

At the Hours before the Liturgy, the faithful layman of the Parish, Alexei Kolodkin, was tonsured a Reader and ordained as Subdeacon.

In his homily for the feast, Vladyka Irenei called to mind the example of the repentance of both St Peter and St Paul. "My brothers and sisters, behold the true glory that we celebrate today! Broken men, sinful men, men who have done truly evil things, respond to the love of God and are transformed by repentance into shining stars in the heaven of Orthodoxy! The love of God has this power. It can make the worst men into saints. It can soften the hardest heart. It can bring peace where there is only division and sorrow and despair."

Following the Divine Liturgy and procession of the cross, Vladyka warmly congratulated the parish, its new Rector and its outgoing Rector, with the grace of the day. A festive meal was then served in the open air, at which children performed a small program of readings for the feast, and clergy and faithful discussed spiritual matters with their Archpastor throughout the afternoon.

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