Gibraltar, November 3, 2025
orthodox-europe.org
The British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar recently celebrated a significant milestone with the first Divine Liturgy of a new diocesan parish, held in the presence of the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, the chief spiritual treasure of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.
Fr. Pavel Golynsky of the St. Nicholas Church in Basel, Switzerland, transported the sacred icon from the Netherlands to Gibraltar, arriving on Friday evening. Upon arrival, a moleben was served with an akathist to the Theotokos, reports the ROCOR Diocese of Great Britain and Western Europe.
The Kursk Root Icon began an 8-week journey through Western Europe in mid-October.
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The following morning, with the icon enshrined in the new parish’s temporary space within the Catholic Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned, the Divine Liturgy was headed by Hieromonk Theodore (Stanway), together with Fr. Pavel and other visiting clergy. This marked the first liturgical celebration of the new parish, which has been in formation over the past year.
The Gibraltar Chronicle newspaper reported ahead of the event that “Gibraltar is set to welcome a rare and historic visitor: the Kursk Root Icon of the Theotokos of The Sign, one of the Russian Orthodox Church’s most venerated miracle-working icons. Making its first appearance here on November 1, 2025, this sacred artifact will be housed at the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned. This event, drawing Orthodox faithful from the neighboring region, marks a significant moment for our small community.”
Following the service, a meeting of the new parish took place to discuss plans for the developing liturgical and pastoral life of the community.
According to holytrinitygibraltar.org, there is no Orthodox church building on the Rock, but Russian and Greek Orthodox services are held in various venues.
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