OCA Metochion Celebrates Feast of St. Catherine the Great Martyr in Moscow

Met. Anthony is pictured at center, with Bsp. Gerasim visible at the far left and Abp. Irenee visible at the far right. Photo: OCA

MOSCOW — Hierarchs and clergy from several Orthodox churches gathered at St. Catherine’s representation church of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) on December 6–7, 2025, to celebrate the Feast of St. Catherine the Great Martyr and to consecrate the parish’s newly restored iconostasis.

According to a release from the OCA, the celebration opened with the All-Night Vigil, where Abp. Irénée of Ottawa and Canada presided at the Litya, and Bsp. Gerasim of Fort Worth led the Polyeleos with the reading of the Akathist to St. Catherine. Concelebrants included Archpriest Daniel Andrejuk, rector of the representation church, as well as clergy from multiple jurisdictions.

On December 7, Met. Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was joined by Met. Niphon of Philippopolis of the Patriarchate of Antioch, Abp. Irénée, Bsp. Gerasim, and clergy from the Georgian and Czech–Slovak representation churches. The service was celebrated in Church Slavonic, English, and Georgian.

Met. Anthony is greeted at St. Catherine's by a young parishioner and Archpriest Daniel Andrejuk. Photo: OCA

The church was filled beyond capacity at both the Vigil and Divine Liturgy, with the parish choir enhancing the festal services after extensive preparation. Prior to the Liturgy, Met. Anthony blessed the newly restored iconostasis.

Following the service, Bsp. Gerasim read a message from His Beatitude Met. Tikhon, conveying greetings for the patronal feast and the iconostasis consecration. Met. Anthony offered words of gratitude to Fr. Daniel for his pastoral work and efforts to beautify the church and strengthen ecclesial unity.

Previously, UOJ reported that the Russian Orthodox Church added St. Olga of Alaska to its liturgical calendar.

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