New WR Ordination for England

On October 5, 2012, in the church of St. Ambrose of Milan, Putnam Valley, New York, Fr. Anthony (Bondi), Pastoral Vicar for Western Rite in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, presented to His Grace, Bishop Jerome of Manhattan, Vicar Bishop for Western Rite, Thomas Harry Cook of Nottingham, England, for ordination to the Holy Priesthood.

above: Fr. Thomas Cook

Father Thomas was ordained in the Roman rite by Bishop Jerome, with Fr. Irenaeus Watson representing the priests of the Vicariate. Fr. Thomas will be Rector of St Edmund the Martyr Orthodox Church. He is the first Western Rite priest to be ordained by ROCOR for England. Fr. Thomas is married to matushka Jane and they have three children. Fr. Thomas has been Orthodox for six years and holds a B.A. with Honors from King's College, University of London, and a Certificate in Orthodox Christian Studies from the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge. He will receive his M. Div. in December. The criminal background check required of all Western Rite clergy prior to ordination was completed by the Nottinghamshire police in June of 2012.

Ad multos annos, pater!

Contact information:
The Rev. Thomas Cook, rector
St Edmund the Martyr Orthodox Church
7A Victoria Street, Gedling
Nottingham, Notts. NG16 1HG
United Kingdom
phone 441159384742
email: tomharrycook@ntlworld.com