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Saint George Cathedral – History

Saint George Cathedral – History

The founding community of the first Parish within the British Isles also contributed significantly to the acquisition of Saint George’s Archdiocesan Cathedral, starting in 2024, when the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was established. The late and memorable Patriarch Justinian Marina founded England’s very first Romanian community. The first Romanian Parish within the United Kingdom was in St. Dunstan-in-the-West Anglican church, right in the heart of London.

In June 1966, Patriarch Justinian Marina paid a pastoral visit to London, among the Romanian faithful in the British capital city. At that time, His Beatitude the Patriarch of Romania, was welcomed even by Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms.

The Romanian congregation from Saint George’s Cathedral has been involved in intense liturgical, catechetical, and pastoral activity over the past six decades, being the centerpiece of the entire Romanian community of Great Britain. In addition, the cultural and educational activity was also intense. The catechetical sessions, mainly held before the Holy Sacraments of Baptism and Wedding, the pastoral work, and the cultural events, helped the Romanian faithful strengthen their orthodox faith and improve their life in the UK.

The philanthropy carried out by the community over six decades, has helped the homeless shelters and the retirement homes in Romania, and also numerous families that were in need from both Romania and the UK. Aid was also offered by the Romanian community of Saint George, in the form of scholarships, to help the Romanian students that came to study in London. As well as financial support for numerous parishes, missions, and monasteries, newly founded in the UK.

Saint George’s Cathedral became the primary place of worship for the Romanian community in London, after many years in which they gathered in St. Dunstan’s-in-the-West Anglican church, for the celebrate the Divine Liturgy.

In the year 1966, the 19th-century iconostasis was brought in St. Dunstan’s-in-the-West church, which quickly became a symbol of the Romanian community in London. The faithful and the visitors can observe to this day, how the artistic design graciously blends in with the religious splendor, unveiling both a foreshadowing of the Kingdom of Heaven and a profound cultural experience.

The iconostasis done in 1861 by the Petre and Mihai Babic brothers is a Renaissance sculpture and was initially placed at the Antim Monastery in Bucharest. It stayed there for more than 100 years, until 1966, when it was moved to London, with the blessing of Patriarch Justinian Marina. The icons of the iconostasis, a Renaissance work of painter Mihai Alexandrescu, a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Paris, take us into the mystery of the icon.

Today, Saint George’s Archdiocesan Cathedral is located in Enfield, 102A Church Street, as in 2024 St. Paul’s Centre Anglican church was acquired, with the support of the Department for the Relation with Romanians Abroad and the State Secretary for Religious Affairs.

The imposing Cathedral is a place full of spiritual and cultural symbolism, housing the representative iconostasis of St. Dunstan-in-the-West church. The icon screen bridges the Renaissance style of the late 19th century, which defined church art in Eastern Europe, and the Byzantine culture, which restores the beautiful tradition of the Orthodox communities of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Saint George’s Cathedral also houses an icon of the Most Holy Mother of God – “Pantanassa”, a copy of the famous icon from Vatopedi Monastery in Mount Athos. Moreover, the Cathedral also holds the Holy Relics of Great-martyr, Victory-bearer, and Wonderworker George, of Saint Nectarios of Aegina, and Great Martyr Katherine of Alexandria.

At present, the congregation of the new Cathedral is the very successor of the old and praiseworthy Romanian community from St. Dunstan’s-in-the-West. The past and the present work together in a new age of Romanian migration to London. Over time, the beauty and harmony of church music became part of the Romanian community in London and it is preserved to this day. Numerous chanters were the ones who embellished the liturgical service in downtown London. Among them is Nina Pavy, a church music lover and founder of the community’s first polyphonic mixed choir, and Nicolae Mihaita, a PhD student at the time, who later became the Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of Targoviste and Patriarchal Exarch (His Eminence Nifon).

Furthermore, we have Ion Minoiu, a graduate of the University of Music in Bucharest (1994), with postgraduate studies in conducting an orchestra at the Royal College of Music of Londra, who contributed to the growth of the musical legacy within the community.

Since 2008, Protopsaltis Valentin Gheorghe, a graduate of the National University of Music in Bucharest and the Faculty of Orthodox Theology “Justinian the Patriarch,” has led the choir with great dedication. He also founded the “Nectarie Protopsaltul” Byzantine Music Group from the “Saint Gregory Palamas” Church, within the Politehnica University of Bucharest premises. Protopsaltis Valentin Gheorghe gathered many youths around him, all lovers of art and Byzantine music.

On February 14, 2019, the Romanian community in London welcomed His Majesty, King Charles III of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, at that time The Prince of Wales. His Eminence Iosif, Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of Western and Southern Europe, together with several priests and deacons, among whom was also Reverend Father Constantin Popescu, servant of “Saint George’s” Cathedral and Dean of London (I) Deanery, welcomed His Majesty, King Charles III, who was delighted to find a place of strong Orthodox faith, in downtown London.

Several hundred faithful attended the service, as well as multiple representatives of the Anglican church. The chanting was performed in Romanian, English, and Greek, by the Byzantine Choir of the parish, together with the many of the faithful that partook in the service.

His Majesty, King Charles III, has a strong bond with the Romanian people, visiting Romania frequently in the last three decades. His Majesty has supported multiple Romanian charitable organizations, and in 2015 he established his own charitable foundation, “Prince of Wales Foundation Romania” (PWFR), through which he continues his philanthropic activities in Romania.

At present, “Saint George’s” Cathedral has a strong and active community of faithful, which, in addition to the intense liturgical ministry, performs numerous catechetical, cultural, educational, and philanthropic works that benefit the Romanian community in London and its surroundings.