Welcome to our parish website. We are a large, diverse, and friendly community of Orthodox Christians from many different cultural backgrounds. Our services are in English, and everybody is welcome to come and experience them. (scroll down for service times)
We are part of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of the British Isles and Ireland, which is under the Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East; we operate under the omophorion if His Eminence Metropolitan Silouan (Oner). You can find more information about our parish and clergy in the About pages, including a brief introduction on the beliefs of the Orthodox Christian faith, and FAQ. Our parish also runs a monthly newsletter, which can be found in the relevant page.
In early 2022, the parish purchased historic St Martin’s church in West Stockwell St, Colchester (CO1 1HN). There, most of our main services are held. We also operate the small, ancient chapel of St Helen, in St Helen’s Lane, Colchester (CO1 1UB), a mere 200 metres away.
Regular Service Times
Saturdays: Great Vespers 4:30pm St Martin’s Church
Sundays: Matins & Holy Liturgy from 9:30am St Martin's Church
Services for Lent & Holy Week to Great & Holy Pascha 2026 | |
Wednesday 25 February | Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, 6pm St Martin’s Church |
Friday 27 February | Akathist, First Salutations, 6pm St Helen’s Chapel |
Saturday 28 February | Great Vespers 4.30pm, St Martin’s Church |
Sunday 1 March | First Sunday of Great Lent, Sunday of Orthodoxy Matins and Holy Liturgy from 9.30am St Martin’s Church. |
Wednesday 4 March | Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, 6pm St Martin’s Church |
Friday 6 March | Akathist, Second Salutations, 6pm St Helen’s Chapel |
Saturday 7 March | Great Vespers 4.30pm, St Martin’s Church |
Sunday 8 March | Second Sunday of Great Lent, St Gregory Palamas Matins and Holy Liturgy from 9.45am St Martin’s Church. |
Wednesday 11 March | Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, 6pm St Martin’s Church |
Friday 13 March | Akathist, Third Salutations, 6pm St Helen’s Chapel |
Saturday 14 March | Great Vespers 4.30pm, St Martin’s Church |
Sunday 15 March | Third Sunday of Great Lent, Veneration of the Holy Cross, Matins and Holy Liturgy from 9.30am St Martin’s Church. |
Wednesday 18 March | Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, 6pm St Martin’s Church |
Friday 20 March | Akathist, Fourth Salutations, 6pm St Helen’s Chapel |
Saturday 21 March | Great Vespers 4.30pm, St Martin’s Church |
Sunday 22 March | Fourth Sunday of Great Lent, St John of the Ladder Matins and Holy Liturgy from 9.30am St Martin’s Church. |
Wednesday 25 March | The Annunciation of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos, The Mother of God & Ever Virgin Mary, Hours 8:10am & Holy Liturgy 8:30am, St Helen’s Chapel (NO PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY) |
Friday 27 March | Akathist, Fifth Week, 6pm St Helen’s Chapel |
Saturday 28 March | Great Vespers 4.30pm, St Martin’s Church |
Sunday 29 March | Fifth Sunday of Great Lent, St Mary of Egypt Matins and Holy Liturgy from 9.30am St Martin’s Church. |
Wednesday 1 April | Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, 6pm St Martin’s Church |
Saturday 4 April | Lazarus Saturday Great Vespers 4.30pm, St Martin’s Church |
Sunday 5 April | Palm Sunday, Entry into Jerusalem Matins and Holy Liturgy from 9.30am St Martin’s Church. |
+Confessions on Saturday evenings after Great Vespers or by appointment.+
NB: If wishing to receive Holy Communion at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts on Wednesday evenings, the faithful should fast from 1pm onwards.
SERVICES FOR GREAT & HOLY WEEK AND HOLY PASCHA 2026
All Services in St Martin’s Church