On the evening of Monday, 4 November 2024, with the blessing and encouragement of Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain, a delegation of parishioners from the Church of St Nektarios in Battersea, London, led by their clergy, the Revd Protopresbyter Christodoulos Christodoulou and the Revd Stephen Morys Ireland, accompanied the grace-filled relics of St Nektarios the Wonderworker to the Archdiocesan Headquarters. The holy relics and icon of the ‘Saint of the 20th century’ were received by the V. Revd Archimandrite Nephon Tismalis, Protosyncellus, the Revd Stephen Minic, and the Revd Archdeacon Dr George Tsourous, and were welcomed into the chapel by nearly one hundred faithful.
The Paraklesis, or Service of Supplication, was led by the Battersea clergy and chanted by a choir from the same parish. At the conclusion of the service, Protopresbyter Christodoulos addressed the Protosyncellus and the faithful present, expressing his unwavering support for the Archdiocese, as well as his desire to inaugurate a tradition of commencing the celebrations for his parish’s patronal feast each year at the Archdiocesan Headquarters. The Protosyncellus, Fr Nephon, warmly welcomed the visiting clergy and all those present, sharing the deep gratitude of Archbishop Nikitas, and conveying His Eminence’s archpastoral commendation for the very thoughtful and encouraging gesture demonstrated by the entire St Nektarios community. Fr Nephon congratulated the parish for their various dynamic ministries, and encouraged all those present to transcend the limited mindset of parochialism by cultivating an ethos of interparish solidarity, with an emphasis on the importance of celebrating unity in our diversity and focusing on the oneness of the whole Body of Christ, the Church.
At the end of the homily, the faithful venerated the holy relics and were given holy oil from the lamp of the Saint as a blessing.
Following the Service of Supplication, a reception was held at the Archdiocesan Headquarters.
