Orthodox Parish of St Silouan, Southampton

In 2006, with the blessing of Archbishop Innokenty of Korsun, a small group of Orthodox Christians in Southampton began to meet in a side chapel of St. Michael and All Angels church in the city to pray the Jesus Prayer. Responding to their request that this nascent Orthodox community be established around the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence, Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh made a missionary visit to Southampton on Saturday 13th March 2010, and served the Liturgy, attended by Archpriest Vadim Zakrevsky and Archdeacon Dmitry Nedostupenko. A congregation of more than fifty people was present from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. The service took place in the church rooms of St. Boniface R.C.Church, in the Shirley district of the city.

His Eminence announced to the faithful present on that occasion that the Liturgy would now be served regularly in the city. Following the continued good response of people from Southampton and its surrounding area, the mission was included by the Holy Synod, in May, as a new parish within the Diocese of Sourozh, with St. Silouan of Mount Athos as patron saint. It is the first Orthodox parish in Great Britain dedicated to St. Silouan.

The appointed Rector of the parish is Fr Joseph Skinner, priest of the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God and All Saints. Fr Joseph celebrates the Liturgy in both English and Church Slavonic, each month, in the hall of Holy Trinity Church, Millbrook Rd., Southampton.

The parish celebrated its first patronal festival on Saturday 25th September, the day following the feast of St Silouan. A festal meal after the Liturgy was enjoyed by all.