When Pope Benedict created the Ordinariates as an ark for the Anglican Patrimony in the Catholic Church, he referred to it as “A gift for all”. As a result of “The Empire on which the Sun did not set” the Anglican Patrimony was spread around the world which resulted in groups that have sort to be recognized by the Church as descended from the Anglican Patrimony outside the established Ordinariates: in South American, Africa, India, the Philippines, New Zealand etc.

Although this brings us to the curious case of the Ordinariate Support Group in Moscow. Comprising of 9 Russian cradle Catholics and 1 member of the Our Lady of Walsingham Ordinariate, they have been gathering regularly in the chapel of a Franciscan Monastery in Moscow to pray Evensong (once I figure out how to share the video I was sent, I will share their beautiful singing). They are hoping to one day have a Divine Worship celebrated for them.

This is an example of a group that is not trying to claim an Anglican heritage, but if I may be forgiven for using the term Anglophiles. Our Catholic Church is vast and covers many nations and it is not unknown to develop a fondness for another area of the church’s worship. I know many people of an Anglo background who attend and adore Ukrainian Catholic services.

If you are ever in the neighborhood (and who does not want to take a trip to Moscow?), and get the right Saturday evening, please contact Ivan via fadeyev(at)unavoce.ru or fadeyev.ivan(at)yahoo.co.uk to join them for Evensong.

Below are photos taken of their first Evening Song from April 29th, 2017