Archiepiscopal Divine Liturgy – Pastoral visit of Metropolitan Arsenios

On 28 September 2025, our monastery church had the privilege of hosting a special spiritual event: The Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy, celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Arsenios Kardamakis of Austria, filled the church with the beauty of the Byzantine rite and a profound atmosphere of prayer.

The pastoral visit was to the newly founded Greek parish of the Holy Three Hierarchs, which has found its home in our monastery church in Lauterach. Father Nebojsa Grdinic, the parish priest, celebrates the Divine Liturgy every two weeks for the Greek Orthodox faithful in Vorarlberg.

With great joy, we welcomed numerous guests:

· Fr. Ovidiu Cozma, a Romanian Orthodox priest whose congregation also celebrates the Divine Liturgy once a month in our church,

· Fr. Vadim Karpenko, a Ukrainian Orthodox priest from Lindau,

· Vicar Paul Riedmann, Ecumenical Representative of the Diocese of Feldkirch, attending on behalf of Bishop Dr Benno Elbs, who sent his warm blessings and expressed his gratitude for the growing presence of the Orthodox Churches in Vorarlberg,

· Faithful from Greece, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Ukraine and Austria, united in their common praise of God.

Our monastic community also took part in the celebration and was able to experience the spiritual depth and beauty of the liturgy. As a Catholic contemplative religious community, we are particularly delighted that our Orthodox brothers and sisters have found a home in our monastery church. Their presence enriches our community and reminds us of the healing power of unity in Christ.

Following the Divine Liturgy, everyone gathered in the monastery’s inner garden for a fraternal feast featuring Greek, Romanian and Serbian specialities. Joyful Greek dances lent the gathering a cheerful and festive atmosphere – a living sign of Christian fellowship transcending traditions and languages.