London, September 2015. On Sunday 13 September 2015 a Divine Liturgy and Investiture ceremony followed by a celebratory lunch was held at The Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile, London W1. The Bishop of the Eparchy of New Westminster (Canada) of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, The Most Rev Kenneth Nowakowski was invested to the honour and dignity of Ecclesiastical Knight Commander of Grace of the Constantinian Order, having been earlier decreed by the HRH The Duke of Castro, Grand Master.
This high award was granted to Bishop Kenneth because of his worthy efforts to promote the principals of the Christian faith, to defend the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and to further charitable endeavour in favour of those less fortunate in society in Ukraine, Canada and the wider Commonwealth. Previously, The Rt Rev Hlib Lonchyna, eparchial Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Holy Family of London, was invested in 2013 as an Ecclesiastical Knight Commander of Grace of the Constantinian Order and is a chaplain to the British & Irish Delegation.
During his speech, the British and Irish Delegate of the Constantinian Order, Anthony Bailey said: “I’m delighted in the name of the Grand Master to be able to honour Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski today and to renew once again the strong links between the Order and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.”
Today though my thoughts and prayers, like those of so many millions, are focused on the Ukrainian people who at this time see their beloved homeland under occupation and annexation and with the ongoing associated political turmoil.
I remember too the great struggles which your community suffered after the Second World War. And like so many others I reflected on the ongoing plight of the refugees forced out of Syria and other nations and the need for all of us in this country to step up, as this country always has, and offer the hand of Christian friendship and Christian solidarity to those in their time of need.”
To download the speech of the British and Irish Delegate, Anthony Bailey click here. To download the speech of Bishop Kenneth click here.
Several hundred people attended the Divine Liturgy and Investiture including Her Excellency Ms Asta Skaisgirytė-Liauškienė, Ambassador of Lithuania to the Court of St James’s.
Among members of the Order’s delegation who attended were The Rt Rev Hlib Lonchyna who hosted the occasion and HSH Princess Marie-Therese von Hohenberg Lady Bailey, Prince Don Cristoforo Rocco di Torrepadula, Mr William Jeffcock, Mr Andrew Rogers, Mr Kevin Hart, Mrs Anna Hodson-Pressinger and Dr Xhoana Papakostandini.
The Eparchy of Holy Family of London is an eparchy for Ukrainian Greek Catholics in Great Britain. It is the only Eastern Rite Catholic diocese in Britain. In 2013, the Exarchate was elevated to the rank of the Eparchy by Pope Benedict XVI.
For more information on the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, please click here.