ROCOR (An)

From the website of Abp Anthony of Beltsk and Moldova's Parish in England

The Podvorie of St. Seraphim of Sarov, in Birmingham, Great Britain, was founded on 28 October 1986 with the blessing of His Grace Bishop CONSTANTINE (Jesensky) of Richmond and Great Britain.

Since that time it has remained a monastic centre and preaches the Gospel of Christ and the richness of the orthodox faith, thereby strictly adhering to the pre-revoiutionary tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church, rejecting the heresies of ecumenism and Sergianism.

After the betrayal and the forcible unification of the historic Russian Orthodox Church Abroad with the Patriarchate of Moscow, which proceeded despite protest raised by clergy and parishes in May 2007, our community decided to remain faithful to the legal First Hierarch METROPOLITAN VITALY of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. We are now under the omophorion of His Grace ANTHONY, Archbishop of Beltsy and Moldavi. We believe that divine providence has preserved the existence and continuation, of the genuine Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia: The Lord himself, Jesus Christ, has granted us His blessing to follow the narrow path of salvation.

Our Podvorie exists as a Russian Centre which caters for the spiritual needs of the many Russians coming to Birmingham for business and for Russian students studying at Birmingham University. It is also a centre of spiritual advice for all who are searching for traditional Orthodoxy which has been lost during the spiritual darkness of the Soviet period. We are also quite often been asked by the British authorities to provide help with translations for asylum seekers from the former Soviet Union.

Our monastic premises may be small and humble, but it is with love that we endeavour to preach the Gospel of truth within a world full of hatred and unbelief. We pray and hope that Christ the true Light, who enlightens and sanctifies every man may guide our steps in keeping His commandments.