Embassy, Emigrants, and Englishmen

Contents

Foreword

Maps

Introduction

1. 1713–1725: The Delegation from
Alexandria

• The Archives
• Metropolitan Arsenius and the Non-Jurors
• Russian Support for the Church in London

 

2. 1725–1780: The Beginning of Orthodox Church Life in
London

• The Graeco-Russian Church at York Buildings
• First Russian Clergy: Father Stephen Ivanovsky and the Move to
  Clifford Street
• The Ludwell and Paradise Families
• Archpriest Andrew Samborsky

 

3. 1780–1840: Archpriest James Smirnove

• A Priest and a Diplomat
• The Russian Church Community in London
• The Earl of Guilford: An Extraordinary Convert
• Woronzow, Paradise, Father Smirnove, and the Crisis of
  1791
• The “Priest of Many Parts”
• The New Church at Welbeck Street
• Blindness and Death of Father James Smirnove

 

4. 1842–1875: Father Eugene Popoff, Pastor of the Embassy
Church

• The Priest and People of the Embassy Church
• The Crimean War Prisoners
• Rebuilding the Church at Welbeck Street
• The New Chapel of the Russian Embassy

 

5. 1842–1875: Father Eugene Popoff, Pastor to
English-Speaking Converts

• The Anglican Movement Toward Orthodoxy
• Stephen Hatherly and the Missionary Plans of Counts Alexander and
  Dimitry Tolstoy
• Dr Joseph Overbeck and Plans for Western Rite
  Orthodoxy
• Death of Father Eugene Popoff: Father Basil Popoff as
  Rector

 

6. 1877–1919: Archpriest Eugene Smirnoff

• The Embassy Church and Its People
• Contact with Orthodox in Other Countries
• A ssistance to Orthodox Missions in the Americas,  India, and
  Spain
• Contact with Anglicans
• World War I

 

7. 1919–1922: The Church in Exile

• The Revolution and Civil War
• The Formation of the Parish in London
• The Beginning of Parish Life
• The Evacuation of Southern Russia and the Beginning of the Church
  Abroad
• The Arrival of Father John Lelioukhin
• The Parish and the Church Hierarchy
• St Philip’s Church

 

8. 1923–1927: St Philip’s Church

• Parish Life: 1923–1925
• The 1,600th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea
• A Definitive Statement on Anglican–Orthodox Relations
• Archbishop Seraphim of Finland
• The Schism in Western Europe

 

9. 1928–1932: Bishop Nicholas (Karpoff)

• The Arrival of Archimandrite Nicholas
• Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky): Impressions of  Abbess
  Elisabeth
• The Consecration of Bishop Nicholas
• Parish Life Under the Leadership of Bishop Nicholas
• Bishop Nicholas: A Spiritual Portrait
• The Death and Testament of Bishop Nicholas

 

10. 1933–1938: Archpriest Boris Molchanoff

• A New Rector Comes from France
• Visits from Archbishop Seraphim of Western Europe
• A Closer Acquaintanceship with Father Boris Through His
  Writings
• Visit of Archbishop Nestor and Arrival of Father Nicholas
  Gibbes
• Miraculously Renewed Icons of St Savva and St Nicholas
• Departure of Father Boris Molchanoff

 

11. 1938–1948: Archpriest Michael Polsky

• Recollections of Melvin Mansur
• Father Michael’s Life in Russia
• Father Michael in London
• World War II
• In Memory of Father Michael Polsky

 

12. 1945–1950: The Second Wave of Emigrants

• The Great Betrayal
• The Fischbeck Displaced Persons Camp
• Soviet Interference in the Life of Russian Churches Outside
  Russia

 

13. 1948–1951: Archimandrite Vitaly (Oustinow)

• Departure of Father Michael Polsky
• Pastor of Displaced Persons
• Recollections of Paul Uspensky
• The Orthodox Review
• Visit by Metropolitan Anastassy and the Miraculous Kursk
  Icon
• Consecration as Bishop and Departure for Brazil

 

14. 1951–1959: Archbishop Nikodem: The Preston Diocese

• Bishop Nathaniel of Preston and The Hague
• A rchimandrite Nikodem: Life Before Coming to England
• Development of the Parish and Diocese Under Archimandrite
  Nikodem
• Russian London in the 1950s
• I mpressions of a Visit to St Philip’s by Timothy Ware
• A rrival of the Nuns from Palestine
• A rchbishop John (Maximovitch) in England
• Consecration of Archimandrite Nikodem as Bishop of
  Preston
• Wanderings in the Wilderness

 

15. 1959–1976: Archbishop Nikodem: Emperor’s Gate

• Opening of the New Church at Emperor’s Gate
• Development of Parish Life at Emperor’s Gate
• Establishment of the Convent of the Annunciation in
  Willesden
• Ecumenism and Mission
• Archbishop Nikon’s Visit to England
• Galina von Meck
• Gerald Palmer
• Father George Cheremetieff as Convent Priest
• The Last Years of Archbishop Nikodem

 

16. 1976–1989: The Last Years at Emperor’s Gate

• Archimandrite Alexis as Diocesan Administrator
• Bishop Constantine
• The Russian Dissident Movement
• Bishop Mark of Berlin, Germany, and Great Britain
• Leaving Emperor’s Gate

 

17. 1990–2009: Building the New Cathedral at Harvard Road

• Moving to Harvard Road
• Architectural Design and Fund-Raising
• Building the New Church
• Convent of the Annunciation: Repose of Abbesses Elisabeth and
  Seraphima
• Water Damage and Interior Finishing of the Lower
  Church
• Reconciliation with the Moscow Patriarchate
• Finishing the Upper Church: Installing the New
  Iconostasis

 

Appendix 1 Guidance from Metropolitan
Philaret of Moscow Regarding English Converts to Orthodoxy

Appendix 2  Individuals Glorified as
Saints

Appendix 3  List of Bishops and Priests of
the London Russian Orthodox Church

Appendix 4   Ecclesiastical Ranks in the
Orthodox Church

Notes

Sources

Acknowledgement

Index