On June 30, 2012, Bishop Nestor of Chersonese celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the church of St. Felix in Lisbon.
The church was handed over to Orthodox Christians living in the Portuguese capital for limitless and free use by the Patriarchate of Lisbon of the Roman Catholic Church, the website of the Diocese of Chersonese has reported. Thus, there are two liturgical facilities available now to the Russian Orthodox community in Lisbon.
Bishop Nestor’s concelebrants were Father Arseny (Sokolov), rector of the Parish of All Saints in Lisbon, Archpriest Ioann Gerbovetsky, rector of the Parish of Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg in Faro, Rev. Oleg Kyaburu, rector of the Parish of St. Andrew in Setubal, and other clergy of the Diocese of Chersonese serving in Portugal.
During the Liturgy, Rev. Oleg Kyaburu was elevated to the rank of archpriest.
Present at the service was Rev. Tito Espinheira, general vicar of the Patriarch of Lisbon.
On June 29, Bishop Nestor held a meeting of the diocese of Chersonese clergy who serve in Portugal, as part of this archpastoral visit to the country. The rectors of all the Portuguese parishes made reports, and prospects for further development of church life in Portugal were outlined.