The Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church in Great Britain visited a church in Reading for a major celebration.
The town’s Greek Orthodox community worships at St Mark’s Church in Cranbury Road, West Reading.
Last Sunday, the community celebrated the saint’s day of Prophet Elias, the feast day for their church.
Elias, more commonly known as Elijah, lived some 900 years before Jesus Christ.
The celebration was attended by Nikitas Loulias, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Great Britain and Alice Mpofu-Coles (Labour, Whitley), the Mayor of Reading.
A post by the church committee states: “We would like to extend our deepest thanks to all who joined us for the blessed feast day of our beloved church.
“We are especially honoured and grateful to His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas for blessing us with his presence and leading us in such a beautiful and uplifting liturgy.
“Your words and prayers inspired us all.
“To our priests, chandlers, and all formal guests—thank you for your presence, your assistance, and your reverence. Your contributions added deeply to the spiritual richness of the celebration.”
Greek Orthodox worship in Reading is attended by people of a wide range of nationalities, including Slovaks, Poles, Romanians, Cypriots, Brits and Lebanese people among others.
The church committee post continues: “To our dear parishioners—your presence, prayers, and unwavering support are the heart and soul of our community. Thank you for standing by us, for helping before, during, and after the service, and for offering your time, your hands, and your love so generously.
“A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped prepare for the day—from the flowers and the food, to the liturgical setup and the countless details behind the scenes. And to those who stayed behind to clean and tidy after the service—your quiet work did not go unnoticed. We are grateful beyond words.”
The Greek Orthodox Community is currently seeking a new church to worship in as they share St Mark’s with the Church of England.
