The history of the parish
The Romanian Orthodox Parish 'Saint Veronica' in Coventry, Great Britain, is under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Orthodox Church of Western and Southern Europe, Archdiocese of Great Britain - Archpriest being Father Petre Silviu Pufulete, and was established by the metropolitan court issued by His Eminence Metropolitan Father Iosif on June 19, 2014 and read on the patron saint's day on July 12, 2014. By the same official act it was called as parish priest Father Cornel Grecu.
Until the founding of the parish
Until the founding of the parish they took place five Saints Masses between March 20, 2010 and November 2012, by Father Mihai Novacovschi from the Romanian Orthodox Parish 'Saint Andrew the Apostle' in Birmingham. All these Holy Masses were celebrated in the chapels of the universities of Warwick (2) and Coventry (3) in the city of Coventry.
From November 18, 2012 until the founding of the parish, he worked in Coventry with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, The Romanian Orthodox Mission 'Saint Veronica' belonging to the Romanian Orthodox Parish 'Saint Andrew the Apostle' from Birmingham, Father Cornel Grecu serving regularly. Throughout this period, the Mission has leased, as at present, the space of the Anglican Church of Saint Anne and All Saints in Coventry.
On December 25, 2012, the choice of the patron saint was voted by those present. The following were proposed as potential patron saints: Saint John the Russian, Saint John the Wallachian, Saint John of Suceava, the Holy Martyrs of Niculitel and Saint Veronica. After reading the life of each of them, Saint Veronica was voted by secret ballot. The patron saint's proposal was then forwarded to His Holiness Joseph. On the Saturday of Lazar 2013, His Eminence Metropolitan Father Iosif communicated to us the approval of the patron Saint Veronica.
On Easter Sunday, 2013, the first service of the Resurrection in Romanian was performed by Father Cornel, with the participation of over 200 people.
On Saturday, July 13, 2013, we celebrated the first patron saint of the Mission, at that time, being invited by the entrustment of His Eminence Metropolitan Iosif, His Holiness Father Ignatie Mureasanul together with a council of priests and deacons. Present were: Father Constantin Popescu from Leeds Parish, Father Hieromonk Gavriil Marin from Oxford Parish, Father Sorin Chirila from Cardiff Parish, Father Mihai Razvan Novacovschi, Father Cornel Grecu and Father Archdeacon Paul from Mother Parish in Birmingham.
In December 2013, we started serving two Sundays a month, and since January 2014, with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, we have begun to serve three Sundays a month. Between May 16, 2013 and December 2013, 25 baptisms were performed, and since January 2014, the number of believers who regularly come to church has increased.
From September 2013 until January 2014, we managed to arrange the space we rent in the Anglican church by building and painting a movable iconostasis, the holy table and the Holy The cross. All these improvements have contributed to the creation of an atmosphere much closer to the Orthodox churches.
Easter 2014, occasioned the performance of all services during the Easter period in Coventry with a large participation both in the service of the denials, but especially at the Resurrection Service.
On May 26, 2014, on the occasion of the Birmingham Priestly Conference, His Eminence Metropolitan Father Iosif communicated to Father Mihai Novacovschi, the pastor of the Mother Parish in Birmingham, the elevation of the Coventry Mission to the rank of Parish.
Through the metropolitan grammar issued on June 19, 2014, the former Coventry Mission was raised to the rank of Parish, and the priest Cornel Grecu, the one who served throughout the Mission, to the rank of parish priest. This grammar was read on the patron saint of the new Parish.
On Saturday, July 12, 2014, we celebrated the second year since we were under the protection of Saint Veronica, this time as a Parish. Special guest from the entrustment of His Eminence Metropolitan Father Iosif, he was, as in the first year, His Eminence Bishop Ignatius, surrounded by priests and deacons. His Holiness, Father Mihai Razvan Novacovschi and Father Archdeacon Paul from Birmingham Parish, Father Cornel Grecu, Parish Deacon Gabriel Mandu from Oxford Parish, Father Deacon Andrei Dosoftei from Aberdeen Parish and Ipodiaconii Radu participated together with His Holiness Onofrei and Cornel Baciu.
Nothing could have been accomplished so far without God's help, the blessing of His Holiness, Metropolitan Father Joseph, and the regular participation in the services of the faithful.
We would like, in this way, to thank all those who attend our parish and support us.
On July 7, 2019, on the occasion of 5 years of existence as a parish and 7 years since the beginning of the mission, for the first time we had in our midst the Most Holy Metropolitan Father Iosif. On this occasion, Mr. Stefan Bogdan Topala was ordained a deacon, who has been the parish singer for the last 4 and a half years. Also on this occasion, the second patron saint of the parish was Saint Pious Herodion from Lainici - a part of his Holy relics being in our parish - and the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael as patron saint for our Branch in the city of Rugby.
Parish priest Cornel Grecu