GERMAN DIOCESE: 20 September 2024
Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany leads feast-day celebrations at St Elizabeth Church

On Tuesday, 17 September, 2024, His Eminence Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany arrived at the Parish of St Elizabeth in Wiesbaden, where he officiated at feast-day celebrations.

The church in Wiesbaden was consecrated in 1855 and owes its appearance to a profound human event. In his prime, barely 20 years old, Duke Adolf of Nassau lost his young wife Elizabeth, niece of Emperor Nicholas I, on January 26, 1845. The tomb of the prematurely deceased duchess is located in an annex on the north side of the majestic temple.

Concelebrating with His Eminence at the festal services were Priest Valery Mikheev, assistant rector of the church, and a multitude of clergy from nearby cities. At the minor entrance of the Divine Liturgy, Fr Valery, in accordance with the decision of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, was elevated to the rank of archpriest.

Despite the fact that it was a weekday, many parishioners and guests attended.

After Divine Liturgy and a festal luncheon, Metropolitan Mark and the clergy performed a litiya at the grave of Archbishop Agapit (Goracek) of blessed memory.

His Eminence then toured the nearly completed new parish house building and thanked all those involved in the construction.

"Herald of the German Diocese"