oliverbrotchie

On Sunday 31 May 2026, the Great Feast of Pentecost, His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain visited our community. He presided at Matins and the Divine Liturgy at Chapel Street, and led the Festal Vespers of the Holy Spirit that followed.

After the services, the community gathered for a fellowship lunch at Craigmillar Park Church. The Archbishop spoke to those newly received into the Church and to the whole community. About 150 people took part. Parishioners contributed food and drink, and volunteers helped organise the meal.

His talk

He spoke about the number of people received into the Church in Edinburgh this year, and he encouraged the use of English in the services.

When he had finished, he invited questions from those there. One person asked which book of the Bible he liked best, and he named Tobit among his favourites in the Old Testament. Another asked about artificial intelligence, and he said that it can be used in moral ways. A third asked about Orthodoxy online, and he spoke negatively about it, saying that it is disjointed from the real spirit of Orthodoxy, which is handed on through grace-filled elders.

From Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd March 2026, His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain visited the Orthodox communities in Scotland. The visit began in Glasgow on the Friday evening, where the Archbishop presided at the Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos at St Luke’s Cathedral, together with Archimandrite Mark Mitchell. Bishop Raphael joined in prayer from the altar.

On the Saturday, the clergy serving Scotland and the north of England gathered in Edinburgh for a Synaxis. The Archbishop sat with them to talk about the life of the parishes, the challenges we face, and the pastoral care of the region. He was joined by Bishop Raphael, who oversees our area. That evening the Archbishop attended Vespers at Meadow Lane.

On Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of the Fast and the Sunday of St John Climacus, the Archbishop presided at Matins and celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Chapel Street. The church was full, with people of all ages and from many different backgrounds. During the service three milestones were marked. Daniel Nicholls was ordained to the rank of Reader. Fr Caius Gurgu was elevated to the rank of Oeconomos. The Very Reverend Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Antonios Kakalis was appointed as a confessor.

At the end of the Liturgy, a Doxology was offered for the Feast of the Annunciation and for Greek Independence Day. Mrs Melpomeni Papaioannou Plevri, the Honorary Consul of Greece in Edinburgh, gave the address for the day.

The Archbishop then joined the community for a meal at Craigmillar Park Church Hall, where he had time to talk with parishioners and share in the life of the community. That evening he presided at the Vespers of Compunction at Chapel Street.