A Jubilee of the Serbian church in Birmingham, England
On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Church of Birmingham and 50 years since the consecration of the Church of the Holy Prince Lazarus in Birmingham, His Holiness Serbia Patriarch Irinej will officiate the solemn holy Liturgy in the magnificent church known as the Birmingham Lazarica the October 7, 2018.
His Holiness Patriarch will be concelebrated by hierarchs of several Orthodox Churches: Archbishop of Great Britain Grigorius, Romanian Archbishop Mark, Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb-Ljubljana and the Bishops Dositej of Britain-Scandinavia and Arsenije of Nis (Serbia) as well as by Andrej of Austria-Switzerland.
On Friday, October 5, 2018, a solemn welcome act is planned for participating hierarchs. In the evening, doxology will be served in the church, after which the second Festival of Orthodox Spiritual Music will be held, featuring, among others, the “Branko” choir from Niš, the choir of the local church of Holy Prince Lazarus, the vocal Ensemble “Polaris”, the choir “Mozaik” and the Greek Choir Saint Andrew.
On the second day of the celebration, on Saturday, October 6, 2018, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej is expected. There will be a meeting between Patriarch Irinej and Bishop Jonathan Goodall of Ebbsfleet, a deputy of the Archbishop of Canterbury and a visit to the Cathedral in Coventry, Belgrade's sister-city.
The Patriarchal Liturgy is to be celebrated on Sunday, October 7, 2018, and a panichida (memory-rite) for the founders, great benefactors, sponsors and donators of this holy church, the Birmingham Lazarica. In the afternoon, a solemn academy is planned, featuring a documentary film about the Lazarica church and a rich cultural and artistic program.
Programme of His Holines Serbian Patriarch Irinej’s visit to the UK
(50th anniverasry of consecration of St Lazar Church, in Birmingham)
Friday, 5 October 2018
- 12.30 Welcome at the Heathrow Airport
- 13.15 Departure to Birmingham
- 16.00 Lunch
- 18.30 Doxology for the Patriarch, at St Lazar Church
- 19.002nd Festival of the Liturgical Music, at St Lazar Church
- 21.00 Dinner
Saturday, 6 October 2018
- 10.00 The Holy Liturgy at St Lazar Church, served by the Patriarch (Guest from the Church of England: The Rt Revd Jonathan Goodall, Bishop of Ebbsfleet)
- 12.00 Lunch at the Dining Hall, in the churchyard of St Lazar Church
- 15.00Visit to the Coventry Cathedral (host: The Rt Revd Dr Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry + Lord Mayor of Coventry)
- 17.00 Departure to Stratford-upon-Avon (possible change)
- 20.00 Dinner (possible change)
Sunday, 7 October 2018
- 9.30 Arrival of the Patriarch and Bishops to St Lazar Church and The Holy Liturgy
- 12.30 Commemoration of the Church’s patrons
- 14.00 Arrival to the Chateau Impney
- 14.30 Gala Lunch at the Chateau Impney
- 16.30 Solemn Academy at the Chateau Impney
- Early evening Return to the hotel in Birmingham
Monday, 8 October 2018
- 10.00 Departure to the Heathrow Airport
