HIS EMINENCE Archbishop Mar Athanasius, Patriarchal Vicar of the Syrian Orthodox Church in Britain, celebrated Lenten Vespers in Westminster Cathedral on March 10.
"We were delighted to welcome Archbishop Mar Athanasius and members of his church to Westminster Cathedral," said Fr Michael Seed, one of the cathedral chaplains.
"The Syrian Orthodox community is the smallest Christian group in Britain and Ireland and a collection was taken at Vespers to help them to create a cathedral church in London."
The service was celebrated in English and Aramaic, and during Vespers prayers were offered for peace and reconciliation in the Middle East. Auxiliary Bishop Bernard Longley of Westminster and Bishop Christopher Chessun, representing the Archbishop of Canterbury, took part in the service and were joined by His Eminence Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Britian.