Liverpool, November 4, 2025
rocor-europe.org
A new Orthodox mission serving university students has been established in Liverpool, opening on the feast day of St Gabriel of Georgia.
This year’s feast of St. Gabriel marked the 30th anniversary of his repose in 1995, and in the three decades since, he has become one of the most beloved saints not only in his native Georgia, but throughout the Orthodox world.
The St. Gabriel of Georgia Mission, blessed by His Grace Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, celebrated its inaugural service with Vespers in the University Chaplaincy at St. Philip’s Catholic Church in central Liverpool, the diocese reports.
Archpriest Paul Elliott, Reader Serafim Williams, and choir members from the Parish of St. Elisabeth in nearby Wallasey led the service, joined by Fr. Alban Illingworth who traveled from Durham for the occasion.
The first service drew an encouraging turnout of students and young people, who joined together in prayer and venerated an icon of St. Gabriel that had been gifted to the St. Elisabeth’s Church. The icon contains a sacred relic of the saint.
The mission plans to hold regular services in the coming months. Orthodox students from Liverpool’s universities, as well as those interested in learning about Orthodox Christianity, can contact Reader Serafim Williams at matthew.owenwilliams2004@gmail.com for information about the mission’s activities.
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