Gravesend, England, September 10, 2025
roarch.org.uk
A Romanian Orthodox community in Greater London celebrated the opening of a new parish on Saturday, September 6, serving the faithful in Dartford and Gravesend, areas in London’s eastern suburbs.
His Eminence Archbishop Atanasie of Great Britain and Northern Ireland presided over a solemn Te Deum service at the newly established parish of The Sunday of St Thomas the Apostle, the Archdiocese reports.
This latest addition brings the total number of Romanian parishes in the London metropolitan area to twelve, serving an estimated 500,000 Romanian citizens who currently reside in the capital and its surrounding areas.
roarch.org.uk
During the service, Abp. Atanasie officially installed Fr. Alin Lazăr Zegrean as the parish priest of the new community. In his address, the Archbishop emphasized the spiritual dimensions of priestly service, stating that “a parish priest is called to be a spiritual father for the entire community, to care for every soul, and to labor with love and self-sacrifice in the building up of Christ’s Church.”
Fr Alin Lazăr Zegrean expressed his appreciation to Abp. Atanasie for entrusting him with this responsibility and thanked the community for its warm reception. He committed to serving with dedication, responsibility, and love to foster the spiritual development of the parish.
The Romanian Orthodox Church has been experiencing significant expansion in the British Isles in recent years. Previous developments include the establishment of a new parish in England in May 2024, the acquisition and restoration of buildings in March and April of this year, and efforts by a parish in Ireland to acquire a former Anglican building, as reported in August.
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