SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER / 12 OCTOBER 2020: His Grace Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe travelled to Belfast, Northern Ireland, to celebrate a weekend of Divine Services in honour of the Altar Feast of the Parish: the uncovering of the incorrupt relics of our Father amongst the saints, St John the Wonderworker.
Established in the Diocese of Great Britain and Western Europe five years ago, the mission parish of St John, Belfast, has swiftly come to be a spiritual home for a growing community of dedicated Orthodox faithful from Belfast itself, as well as the surrounding regions in the north of the island of Ireland. His Grace arrived on Saturday morning, in order to precede the evening services with a day of pilgrimage excursions to holy sites in the area. These included a visit to Downpatrick, where the grave of St Patrick of Ireland was venerated by the Bishop and fellow pilgrims, as well as the holy wells in Struel, sanctified by St Patrick, located nearby. In the evening, following the Divine Services, parishioners gathered for spiritual talk with Bishop Irenei.