May 31 — June 1, 2024 Archbishop Tikhon of Ruz, Administrator of the Berlin-German Diocese, paid an archpastoral visit to Lippstadt, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Lippstadt (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany), where he performed the rite of the great consecration of the church in honor of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of All Russia, and led the service of the Divine Liturgy in the newly consecrated church, according to eparchial website.
Diocesan website.
On the evening of May 31, Archbishop Tikhon and the clergy prayed in the church for the evening service. Vespers, Matins, the first hour and the water-sanctifying prayer service, which were according to the statutes, were celebrated outside the altar by Archpriest Vladimir Neumann, acting rector of the parish, and Deacon Michael Koch.
Acting rector of the parish, Archbishop Tikhon and the clergy prayed at the evening service.
On the morning of June 1, Archbishop Tikhon led the rite of the great consecration of the church. Around the church was made a procession with a part of the relics of the holy martyr Vladimir Chetverin (†1918). Then the relics were placed in the throne of the newly consecrated church.
After the great consecration, Vladyka, accompanied by the clergy of the diocese, celebrated the Divine Liturgy. His Eminence was served by Archpriest Sergius Baburin, dean of the Hamburg district, Archpriest Vladimir Neumann, Priest Vadim Abramov from Dortmund, Priest Alexander Maslennikov from Trier, Priest Theodore Freiberger from Rostock, Priest Alexei Tereshchenko from Hanover, Priest Alexei Veselov from Krefeld, Priest Igor Shchirovsky from Dortmund, Protodeacon Vitaly Sadakov, Protodeacon Archil Chkhikvadze, Deacon Michael Koch, Deacon Peter Bravermann from Rostock, Deacon Nikita Priymak from Ninburg.
The service was sung by a mixed choir conducted by Pavel Lavreshchuk, regent of the choir of the parish of St. Tamara, Queen of Georgia in Aachen.
Participants in the festive celebration were parishioners who came to Lippstadt from Düsseldorf, Hanover and Rostock.
At the end of the Liturgy, Archbishop Tikhon of Ruzsk congratulated the participants of the service on the consecration of the church and addressed the audience with an archpastoral word, noting: «May this holy temple, created for prayer, listening to the word of God, performing the sacraments, revive and sanctify the souls of people, lead them to God, Who is the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6). Let the temple serve as a place of education for children, as a comfort for the grieving, as a support for the elderly and the old. God grant that the temple, this school of piety, according to the words of the Holy Fathers, served to strengthen faith in us, the gateway to the Kingdom of Heaven, to eternal life.
Ladyka Tikhon thanked Archpriest Vladimir Neumann and members of the parish community for preparing the church for consecration. Alexander Angolt was presented with a Patriarchal Diploma, and a number of parishioners were honored with bishop's letters. The ruling bishop expressed his special gratitude for his help in purchasing the church to the Catholic dean of Lippstadt, Thomas Wolf, and presented him with an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a memento.
Archpriest Vladimir Neumann addressed the archpastor with words of gratitude. He gave a gift to Vladyka Tikhon specially written for the day of the consecration of the church an icon of Blessed Grand Duke Demetrius of Don, whose memory was celebrated on June 1.
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In memory of the great consecration of the temple to all participants of the festive celebration were distributed images of St. Tikhon.
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The newly consecrated church in honor of St. Tikhon was purchased in 2022 by the Berlin-German Diocese from the Catholic Archdiocese of Paderborn.
EVCS Communication Service/Patriarchy.ru
