GOCYORK Welcome to the home page for the
Orthodox Community Of Sts. Constantine & Helen in York.
The community of Sts Constantine & Helen is the longest established Orthodox congregation worshiping in the ancient city of York. The parish is part of the Oecumenical Patriarchate’s Archdiocese of Thyateira & Great Britain.
We normally gather for the Divine Liturgy at 11am on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at the mediæval church of St. Mary, Bishophill Junior YO1 6EN [which is off Micklegate / Priory Street].
Click here for location information.
Click here to go straight to the service list.
The liturgy is usually preceded by the 3rd and 6th hours. Our congregation is pan-Orthodox [made up of people from various Orthodox traditions] and it is therefore served mainly in English, with some Greek and Slavonic. After the liturgy, we stay behind for refreshments and the chance to chat.
Services are also held on some of the traditional Holy Days, please look out for announcements about these. You may wish to note that the parish uses the new (Revised-Julian) kalendar, in line with the majority of the Archdiocese.
All are welcome to any of our services, whether you are already Orthodox or non-Orthodox and wish to learn more about the Orthodox way. Students studying in York are especially welcome to come and keep up with their faith whilst away from home.
If you want to enquire about having one of what – in English – we call the Occasional Offices (Baptisms / Weddings / Funerals etc.) then please ask the priest at the end of the Sunday liturgy or use the contact form and a meeting can then be set up to discuss arrangements.
Confessions can be heard prior to the Holy Liturgy or separately, by prior arrangement. Please ask the priest about this.
FUTURE SERVICES : Following on from the updated guidance from HM Government and the Archbishops of Thyateira & York in July, it is now possible for Orthodox church services to resume in York.
As always, all Orthodox Christians are invited to join us and, at this time, especially any whose own congregations have not yet resumed public worship. Sunday services will be at the normal time of 11am on the 2nd and 4th Sundays.
NOTE THAT, in accordance with the current rules, social distancing and other measures will be in place in the church. Please respect the notices and other instructions given, in particular everyone attending will need to ;
- to maintain a suitable distance (currently 1-2m) at all times
- use hand sanitizer on arrival
- wear a face covering whilst in the church building
- provide a name & contact telephone number for NHS tracing purposes, if it should become necessary.
The guidance still says that anyone over the age of 70 should still not attend church services – if you are over 70 and would like to attend, please contact Fr.David to discuss this. There is different/extra guidance for the Occasional Offices, if you wanted to request one of these, please contact Fr.David to discuss this. The full government guidance can be accessed through this link ;
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-from-4-july .
Fr.David.
Service List
Here is the latest list of planned services ;
13 September
After the liturgy, 1st Evensong for Holy Cross Day
27 September
11 October
The Fathers at the 7th Council
25 October
8 November
Synaxis of the Archangel Michæl & all angels
22 November
Entry of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the Temple
13 December
Fr. David -priest in charge of the community- also serves at the Church of St. Nicholas, Blackley, Manchester M9 7AT.
