Schweinfurt, Germany, November 22, 2022
Abp. Tikhon of Ruza (left), Abp. Michael of Prague (right). Photo: rokmp.de
On Friday, November 18, His Eminence Archbishop Michael of Prague of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia returned to a parish in Germany where he served as rector for several years to celebrate its 15th anniversary.
His Eminence celebrated the event at the Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in Schweinfurt, Germany, together with its ruling hierarch, His Eminence Archbishop Tikhon of Ruza of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Diocese of Berlin and Germany.
The night before, the archbishops visited the Church of St. Nektarios of Aegina in Bischofsheim in der Rhön and served a memorial litia at the grave of the parish founder, Igumen Theodore (Hölldobler), the diocese reports.
Photo: rokmp.de
The Liturgy on Friday was also attended by local and visiting clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate, the Czech-Slovak Church, and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
Prayers for peace were offered during the Liturgy.
Following the service, Vladyka Tikhon offered an archpastoral word and welcomed Abp. Michael, who was the first rector of the parish. In turn, Abp. Michael thanked the Russian hierarch for the joy of prayerful communion and presented him with a memorial cross and episcopal Panagia.
The celebration ended with a festive meal for all.
Abp. Michael was appointed the rector of a Russian parish after serving at the Czech-Slovak Church’s representation in Moscow for several years. He was tonsured a monk at the Athonite representation church in Moscow on July 15, 2004, and in October 2007, he was appointed rector of the Russian Church of St. John in Schweinfurt, where he served until 2014. He was consecrated to the episcopacy in Prague on March 14, 2015.
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