Dear brothers and sisters,
Greetings for the Sunday of the Ascension, and thanks to parishioners for making the day such a joyous and social celebration, at the end of a busy few days of services and travels.
It was good to have Father Mark the Younger back from his Canarian holiday, especially on a day with such a joyful Liturgy. I am very grateful that he was with us, given a night of only a few hours sleep.
Our after-feast celebration follows our Liturgy in the Oratory Church on Thursday, after which we enjoyed a festal meal, before chanting the funeral service for our newly-departed sister, Lyudmila. We also chanted the litia for the departed after compline and the akathist to the Mother of God, the Increase of Reason in the evening, and a panikhida in the Oratory on Friday afternoon.
I am very happy that yesterday’s baptismal Liturgy in Lazarica, in Bournville, afforded Macarius (Chris) the opportunity to receive Holy Baptism before his return to the north of England for the academic summer holiday.
Ideally his baptism would have been in Cardiff, surrounded by parishioners, but lingering illness made that impossible. We congratulate him, and Joseph, who was unexpectedly called upon by Father Nenad to be his sponsor at the font.
Thanks to those from Cardiff, who supported Macarius on such an important day, and to Father Nenad, for the incredible warmth with which our parishioners are always welcomed to St Lazar’s.
Vidovdan, the commemoration of the battle of Kosovo, falls on Saturday 28 June. Celebrating the martyric sacrifice of the Holy Great-Martyr, Prince Lazar, and his Serbian Christian army by the Ottomans on 15 June 1389, some of us will make a pilgrimage-visit for the Divine Liturgy in Bournville. There will be a hierarchical Liturgy the following day.
Father Nenad would very much like to welcome Cardiff visitors to the weekend’s celebrations.
Our next Cardiff baptism, later this month, at 19:00 on Friday 20 June, will see Adam and Serwa enter the waters of baptism, and I hope that local parishioners will be able to be with them for this important step on their spiritual-journey.
Tomorrow sees Lyudmila’s non-Church funeral at the Briwnant Chapel of Thornhill Crematorium, at noon. Her daughter has asked us to let parishioners know that they are very welcome, and that anyone wishing to see the ceremony remotely may do so online.
Website: https://watch.obitus.com
Username: kosu9344
Password: 365725
Please continue to pray for Lyudmila, Leonid, Irina, all newly-departed, and for the servant of God, Alexey (Liza’s father).
This week will see our usual Thursday evening akathist in Nazareth House at 18:00, and I will be available to hear confessions before and after the service
We will have devotions before the relics of the Precious Cross in the Oratory at 15:00, on Friday, and I will again be available for confessions.
Your prayers are asked for Artur, Sarah and their son, Matthew, who will be baptised in Llanelli, on Saturday.
Please continue to pray for Tara, Annie, Olyenka, Stefan and Panagiotis as they continue their exams.
Finally, just to remind you that next Sunday is Trinity-Pentecost, and vespers will immediately follow the Divine Liturgy. Given the kneeling prayers and the lack of hassocks to kneel on in our minimalist, protestant setting, please bring a cushion for your knees!
As posted on WhatsApp, on this day it is our custom to hold posies of flowers during Pentecost vespers, and we encourage parishioners to offer to make five or six posies of flowers and greenery, so that between a small group of people, we have sufficient flowers for everyone.
This shares responsibility and makes light the preparation for the feast. Greenery for the feast will also be most welcome. Please let Branka know if you are able to help.
Given the pressure of time next Sunday, I suggest that we only have drinks and finger-food snacks after Vespers, and we must keep a far more focussed eye on the clock!
