I’m very happy to have reached Somerset for a few days, from where I look forward to visiting some of our West of England faithful, as well as having time in Glastonbury – a place that is very special to some of our flock.
Today saw another well attended Liturgy in Nazareth House, and it was good to have so many new faces, with an influx of students, plus Ukrainian visitors. I was happy that most of our young people spent the afternoon after Liturgy in our local café, with plenty of lively conversation. We very much hope that our visitors will be with us again in the very near future.
Many thanks to our choir, whom Hierodeacon Avraamy has happily inspired and given confidence during our lean weeks, even when the kliros is reduced to a trio. Thanks to Olga, our regent, and to Father for exchanging the oltar for the kliros. Thanks also to our parish-sisters, who continue to adorn our icons with flowers, week by week.
As announced at Liturgy, I will hear confessions on Friday, as I will be staying in town overnight before our Saturday pilgrimage to Llancarfan.
Confession requests by noon on Thursday, please. Confessions will continue for as long as needed, and will be planned according to pastoral need. If needed, I will also hear confessions in Nazareth House on Saturday evening, as I will have to visit the convent church to set up for Liturgy.
As most of you will have seen from Karen’s post on WhatsApp, Friday evening will see the first meeting of the book club. To quote:
“Book club news!
We’ll be meeting for the first time this Friday 27th at 7pm, at the Wenvoe Arms, Old Port Road, Wenvoe, CF5 6AN.
and we plan on discussing the first sermon. All welcome.”
The Wenvoe Arms is on the 96 bus route from Cardiff to Barry. Thanks Karen!
Saturday’s pilgrimage – St Demetrios Saturday (commemoration of the departed) – will be in St Cadoc’s Church, Llancarfan, starting at 10:00 and we will celebrate the Hours and Divine Liturgy in this ancient church, with its wonderful medieval wall-paintings. Many thanks to the East Vale team ministry area. This comes on top of last Monday’s funeral in Peterston-super-Ely, and I’m pleased that we can build a relationship with Fr Martyn and the other area clergy.
As Deacon Mark announced at Liturgy, he will be away for half-term, so we will be very grateful for a concerted set-up before next Sunday’s Liturgy. The very late time at which mass ends is making set up very pressurised, with this morning’s mass not having finished until 10:50. I will speak to some of our young brothers, and hope that allocation of specific jobs will make things as smooth as possible. Hierodeacon Avraamy will oversee the operations, as I will be hearing confessions.
Thanks to all who are coming for Sunday confessions well before Liturgy, making it possible to fit in an hour’s confessions before the service. We are very grateful for your cooperation.
Towards the end of today’s Liturgy, it was unfortunately necessary to ask parishioners to remain quiet during the Thanksgiving Prayers, even though there should be NO talking at this time. It is regrettable that some of those who have been talking during the prayers, recently, have partaken of the Holy Mysteries and have every reason to concentrate on the Thanksgiving Prayers.
Please, do not talk during the prayers in which we thank the Lord for the gift of His Most Pure Body and Most Precious Blood. Let us listen to the prayers in gratitude, whatever language is being chanted.
As next Saturday’s Liturgy is on a soul-sabbath, commemorations for the departed will be welcome for the Liturgy.
At this time of great sorrow and suffering, whilst we pray for the peace of the Holy Land and for all who suffer the cruel effects of war, let us turn to St Porphyrios, begging his intercessions for those in besieged Gaza (starved of food, water, medicines and power).
It was in Gaza that St Porphyrios laboured for the Lord and the Christian Faith, fighting the falsehood of paganism with the truth of Faith, his sacred relics lying in the now bomb-damaged monastery that bears his name, and which has sheltered local people regardless of religion – a citadel of humanity, mercy and Christian love for all.
We beseech his prayers and protection for all of the Christians of the Holy Land – a threatened minority facing persecution, hardship and constant violence and hate.
Saint Porphyrius, Archbishop of Gaza, was born about the year 346 at Thessalonica. His parents were people of substance, and this allowed Saint Porphyrius to receive a fine education. Having the inclination for monastic life, he left his native region at twenty-five years of age and set off for Egypt, where he lived in the Nitrian desert under the guidance of Saint Macarius the Great (January 19). There he also met Saint Jerome (June 15), who was then visiting the Egyptian monasteries. He went to Jerusalem on pilgrimage to the holy places, and to venerate the Life-Creating Cross of the Lord (September 14), then he moved into a cave in the Jordanian wilderness for prayer and ascetic deeds.
After five years, Saint Porphyrius was afflicted with a serious malady of the legs. He decided to go to the holy places of Jerusalem to pray for healing. As he lay half-conscious at the foot of Golgotha, Saint Porphyrius fell into a sort of trance. He beheld Jesus Christ descending from the Cross and saying to him, “Take this Wood and preserve it.”
Coming out of his trance, he found himself healthy and free from pain. Then he gave away all his money to the poor and for the adornment of the churches of God. For a time he supported himself by working as a shoemaker. The words of the Savior were fulfilled when the saint was forty-five years old. The Patriarch of Jerusalem ordained Saint Porphyrius to the holy priesthood and appointed him custodian of the Venerable Wood of the Cross of the Lord.
In 395 the bishop of the city of Gaza (in Palestine) died. The local Christians went to Caesarea to ask Metropolitan John to send them a new bishop who would be able to contend against the pagans, which were predominant in their city and were harassing the Christians there. The Lord inspired the Metropolitan to summon the priest Porphyrius. With fear and trembling the ascetic accepted the office of bishop, and with tears he prostrated himself before the Life-Creating Wood and went to fulfill his new obedience.
In Gaza there were only three Christian churches, but there were a great many pagan temples and idols. During this time there had been a long spell without rain, causing a severe drought. The pagan priests brought offerings to their idols, but the woes did not cease. Saint Porphyrius imposed a fast for all the Christians; he then served an all-night Vigil, followed by a church procession around the city. Immediately the sky covered over with storm clouds, thunder boomed, and abundant rains poured down. Seeing this miracle, many pagans cried out, “Christ is indeed the only true God!” As a result of this, 127 men, thirty-five women and fourteen children were united to the Church through Holy Baptism, and another 110 men soon after this.
The pagans continued to harass the Christians. They passed them over for public office, and burdened them with taxes. Saint Porphyrius and Metropolitan John of Caesarea journeyed to Constantinople to seek redress from the emperor. Saint John Chrysostom (September 14, January 27 and 30) received them and assisted them.
Saints John and Porphyrius were presented to the empress Eudoxia who was expecting a child at that time. “Intercede for us,” said the bishops to the empress, “and the Lord will send you a son, who shall reign during your lifetime”. Eudoxia very much wanted a son, since she had given birth only to daughters. Through the prayer of the saints an heir was born to the imperial family. As a result of this, the emperor issued an edict in 401 ordering the destruction of pagan temples in Gaza and the restoration of privileges to Christians. Moreover, the emperor gave the saints money for the construction of a new church, which was to be built in Gaza on the site of the chief pagan temple.
Saint Porphyrius upheld Christianity in Gaza to the very end of his life, and guarded his flock from the vexatious pagans. Through the prayers of the saint numerous miracles and healings occurred. The holy archpastor guided his flock for twenty-five years, and reposed in 420 at an advanced age.
The Canon to St Porphyrios of Gaza
The composition of George, in Tone IV
Ode I, Irmos: Having traversed the depths of the Red Sea with dry-shod feet, Israel of old vanquished the might of Amalek in the wilderness by Moses’ arms stretched out in the form of the Cross.
Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.
The Church, adorned today with thy teachings as with royal purple, O Porphyrios , is made splendid thereby, and hymneth the Lord of all.
Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.
Having shone forth in divine discourses during thy life, thou hast been shown to be a beacon for all men, ever illumining them with thy deeds and teachings, and enlightening the ends of the earth.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Cleansed by the sprinkling of the Holy Spirit and arrayed in a garment of divine virtues, O Porphyrios, thou didst enter into hallowed places to minister as a priest unto Him Who anointed thee.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The Son of God, wishing to speak to those who are on earth of His ineffable love for mankind, which passeth understanding, O Bride of God, was born of thee in the flesh, granting regeneration unto the faithful.
Ode III, Irmos: Thy Church rejoiceth in Thee, O Christ, crying aloud: Thou art my strength, O Lord, my refuge and my consolation!
Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.
Beneath thy feet didst thou lay low the arrogance of the godless who spake against the God of all Himself.
Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.
With the fire of thy words didst thou wisely consume the kindling of Manes, and to the faithful didst thou extend the enlightenment of thy doctrine.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Setting the feet of the faithful firmly upon a steadfast rock, O Porphyrios, thou didst shake the foundation of the godless from its very footing.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
All the earth is full of the true knowledge and ineffable glory of thy Son and God, O pure one.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Sessional hymn, Tone III: Thou didst shine forth in thy deeds like the morning star and didst drive all heresy from the Church, O holy hierarch Porphyrios; and thou didst enlighten the hearts of the faithful, that they might hymn and glorify the Lord. Wherefore, celebrating thy memory today, we cry out to thee: Entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: He Who alone is Lord, without separating from His divine nature, yet taking flesh in thy womb, remained God though He became a man, preserving thee after thy birth-giving an immaculate Mother and Virgin as thou wast before giving birth. Him do thou entreat, that we be accorded great mercy!
Stavrotheotokion (in place of the Theotokion on Wednesdays and Fridays): The unblemished ewe-lamb of the Word, the incorrupt Virgin Mother, beholding Him Who sprang forth from her without pain hanging upon the Cross, lamenting maternally cried out: “Woe is me, O my Child! How is it that Thou dost suffer Who art to deliver man from the indignity of the passions?”
Ode IV, Irmos: Beholding Thee lifted up upon the Cross, O Sun of righteousness, the Church stood rooted in place, crying out as is meet: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!
Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.
Having within thy soul the Sun of righteousness and the most radiant splendour of the Faith, O Porphyrios, thou didst illumine all the fullness of the Church with thy discourses.
Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.
Made steadfast in the love of God the Word, O Porphyrios, thou didst disdain all the allurement of visible things. Wherefore, we honour thee as an equal to the angels and an honourable and holy hierarch.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As thou didst partake of the ineffable Mysteries, O Porphyrios, thou didst preserve them by thy pure actions in a pure and ineffable manner, as a worthy initiate of the mysteries.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Gloriously is the Church adorned with thy divine magnificence, O pure one; and, manifestly embellished thereby, it doth glorifieth thee with love, hymning thy birth-giving.
Ode V, Irmos: Thou hast come, O my Lord, as a light into the world: a holy light turning from the darkness of ignorance those who hymn Thee with faith.
Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.
With thy words of truth thou didst break the chains of the rhetors, O Porphyrios, establishing the dominion of faith in all ways.
Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.
Having drawn forth the Comforter on earth, O venerable one, thou didst pour forth bountiful rivers of the teachings of piety, O Porphyrios.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having dried up the torrents of ungodliness with the fire of thy words, O Porphyrius, thou didst enlighten men with the proclamation of piety.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Strengthened by thee, O all-pure one, with the power of the Spirit we vanquish the adverse foes of the truth of Christ.
Ode VI, Irmos: I will sacrifice to Thee with a voice of praise, O Lord, the Church crieth unto Thee, cleansed of the blood of demons by the blood which, for mercy’s sake, flowed from Thy side.
Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.
O Porphyrios, we all truly have thee as a spiritually animate image of the virtues ever shining forth unto divine deeds; wherefore, we honour thee.
Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.
Robed in the power of the Comforter as are those who behold the Word face to face, thou hast been shown to be invincible to the foe, driving away and cutting down their impiety.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Renewing men by the water of baptism and adoption, thou didst lead them forth as children of the Creator, and didst present them pure and immaculate, O Porphyrios.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Mindful of thy divine mysteries and ineffable glory, which transcend recounting, we who boast in thee, O all-pure one, unceasingly glorify thee as the true Theotokos.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone II: Adorned with thy most sacred ways, thou wast resplendent in the vesture of the priesthood, O all-blessed, divinely wise Porphyrios; and by thine exaltations thou dost spread beauty of healings, praying unceasingly in behalf of us all.
Ode VII, Irmos: The children of Abraham in the Persian furnace, afire with love of piety more than with the flame, cried out: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!
Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.
The Church of Christ, assailed by contrary winds and assaults, O father, didst thou firmly establish with might; and it chanted unto Him: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!
Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.
With valour didst thou triumph over the assemblies of heretics, O wise father, arrayed in the armour of the Word; and thou didst cry out to Christ in thanksgiving: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst enter into the paradise of noetic virtues, where thou didst pluck beauteous flowers of truth, with which thou hast shed a sweet fragrance throughout the world, O father Porphyrios.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Virgin, the mighty Word of God, Who was born of thee, hath given thee as strength and dominion unto all the weak who cry out: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!
Ode VIII, Irmos: Stretching forth his hands, Daniel shut the lions’ mouths in the pit; and the young lovers of piety, girded about with virtue, quenched the power of the fire, crying out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!
Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.
With thy words didst thou arm and establish the Church of Christ, O wise one. Wherefore, it doth ever triumph over the assault of heresies and doth chant victoriously unto Christ, crying out: Bless the Lord, O ye works of the Lord!
Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.
Having thy mind continually on heaven, O Porphyrios, thou didst ineffably obtain a divine release unattainable by the senses; and beholding the mysteries of Christ with faith, thou didst cry out to Him: Bless the Lord, O ye works of the Lord!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
By thy prayers, O Porphyrios, thou didst stop the mouths of the noetic lions that were wickedly roaring forth blasphemies; and with the mighty darts of thy divine words thou didst crush their jaws, earnestly crying out to Him Who made thee strong: Bless the Lord, O ye works of the Lord!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
He Who sitteth upon the throne of the Father’s glory, His Son and Word, Who was born of thee in the flesh, O pure one, hath made thee a divine chariot and a most glorious throne, who alone art hymned by all mortals as their Mistress.
Ode IX, Irmos: Christ, the Chief Cornerstone uncut by human hands, Who united the two disparate natures, was cut from thee, the unquarried mountain, O Virgin. Wherefore, in gladness we magnify thee, O Theotokos.
Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.
As precious gifts thou didst bring to the munificent Master thy God-pleasing virtues, and those who have been delivered from heresy by thee, magnifying the Creator of all, O venerable father.
Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.
With the showers of thy tears thou didst quench the flame of the passions; thou didst serve the Creator with dispassion, and hast been vouchsafed greater glories, O Porphyrios, ever hymning and magnifying Him.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Joining chorus with the angels, saints and the venerable on high, O father Porphyrios, entreat the Lord and Benefactor in behalf of those who hymn and praise thee with faith.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The Master, Who for our salvation became a man, hath given thee, O pure one, as a mediator, protection and healing, unto all who glorify thee with faith and magnify Him with love.
Troparion, Tone IV: The truth of things revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, a model of meekness and teacher of abstinence; wherefore, thou hast won the heights by humility and riches by poverty. O father Porphyrios, entreat Christ that our souls be saved!
The Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus in Syria were appointed to high positions in the army by the emperor Maximian (284-305), who did not know that they were Christians. Envious people informed Maximian that his two trusted counsellors did not honor the pagan gods. This was considered to be a crime against the state.
The emperor, wanting to convince himself of the truth of the accusation, ordered Sergius and Bacchus to offer sacrifice to the idols, but they replied that they honored the One God and worshiped only Him.
Maximian commanded that the martyrs be stripped of the insignia of military rank (their belts, gold pendants, and rings), and then dressed them in feminine clothing. They were led through the city with an iron chains around their necks, and the people mocked them. Then he summoned Sergius and Bacchus to him again and in a friendly manner advised them not to be swayed by Christian fables, but to return to the Roman gods. The saints refuted the emperor’s words, and demonstrated the folly of worshiping the pagan gods.
The emperor commanded that they be sent to the governor of the eastern part of Syria, Antiochus, a fierce hater of Christians. Antiochus had received his position with the help of Sergius and Bacchus. “My fathers and benefactors!” he said. “Have pity on yourselves, and also on me. I do not want to condemn my benefactors to cruel tortures.” The holy martyrs replied, “For us life is Christ, and to die is gain.” The enraged Antiochus ordered Bacchus to be mercilessly beaten, and the holy martyr surrendered his soul to the Lord. They shod Sergius with iron sandals with nails in their soles and sent him to another city, where he was beheaded with the sword.
Canon of the martyrs, the acrostic whereof is: “I hymn Sergius the athlete and the ever-memorable Bacchus”, the composition of Theophanes, in Tone I
Ode I, Irmos: Thy victorious right arm hath in godly manner been glorified in strength; for as almighty, O Immortal One, it smote the adversary, fashioning anew the path of the deep for the Israelites.
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
O Sergius, thou favorite of Christ, taking the ever-memorable Bacchus as thy fellow intercessor and helper, with him thou didst with godly wisdom endure your agonies to the end. Grant a wise discourse unto me who hymn you.
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
Having set yourselves steadfastly upon the immovable rock of the Christian Faith, O holy martyrs, ye were shown to be a rampart and towers of piety established firmly upon a firm foundation.
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
Believing the words of Christ and looking toward Him with unwavering gaze, ye spat upon all transitory glory, O holy ones, and were wounded with the love of everlasting glory.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having divested yourselves of family, homeland and honor for Christ’s sake, ye were filled with gladness; and when ye were clad in women’s garments ye put on the robe of incorruption with splendor and manly wisdom.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Mother of God, entreat the Word, to Whom thou gavest birth and Who came to us in the flesh, that He be merciful and well-disposed towards the faithful; for thee have we acquired as our intercessor and salvation.
Ode III, Irmos: O Thou Who alone hast known the weakness of human nature, having in Thy mercy formed Thyself therein: Gird me about with power from on high, that I may chant to Thee: Holy is the living temple of Thine ineffable glory, O Thou Who lovest mankind!
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
He Who, as God, alone knew all things before they came into being, seeing now your offerings to Him, hath filled you abundantly with the wisdom of discourse, divine knowledge and steadfast thought, for ye are His warriors, O blessed ones.
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
O martyred athletes, favorites of Christ, desiring to suffer lawfully, with love for the Creator and divinely wise understanding ye spurned corruptible and transitory glory, this world and the prince thereof.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Standing before the Lord in the all-pure thoughts of your mind, and filled thence with splendor, and manifestly delighting in ineffable blessedness, deliver from dangers those who honor you, O athletes.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Adam, the first to come under the dominion of death, hath now been delivered by thy birthgiving, O only Bride of God; for in manner transcending nature thou gavest birth to the truly hypostatic Life united to the flesh hypostatically, O pure one.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Sessional Hymn, Tone VIII, Spec. Mel. “Of the Wisdom…”: Come, ye who love the martyrs, and let us honor the holy athletes Sergius and Bacchus, the noetic pearls of the Lord, for they manfully trampled the falsehood of the enemy underfoot and destroyed all the might of the idols; wherefore, having received crowns of victory from heaven, as is meet, they join chorus with the angels. With them let us all cry out: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of transgressions unto those who with love honor your holy memory. (Twice)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: Having fallen into greatly tangled perils from enemies visible and invisible, and been beset by the tempest of my countless offenses, O pure one, I flee to the haven of thy goodness as to my fervent help and protection; wherefore, O all-pure one, earnestly entreat Him Who became incarnate of thee without seed, in behalf of all thy servants who unceasingly praise thee, ever beseeching Him, O all-pure Theotokos, to grant remission of offenses unto those who fittingly hymn thy glory.
Stavrotheotokion (in place of the Theotokion on Wednesdays and Fridays): The Ewe-lamb, beholding the Lamb, Shepherd and Deliverer upon the Cross, exclaimed, weeping, and bitterly lamenting, cried out: “The world rejoiceth, receiving deliverance through Thee, but my womb doth burn, beholding Thy crucifixion, which Thou endurest in the loving-kindness of Thy mercy. O long-suffering Lord, Abyss and inexhaustible Wellspring of mercy, take pity and grant remission of offenses unto those who hymn Thy divine sufferings with faith.
Ode IV, Irmos: Habbakuk, gazing with the eyes of foresight upon thee, the mountain overshadowed by the grace of God, prophesied that the Holy One of Israel would come forth from thee, for our salvation and restoration.
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
Two beacons shining forth from the West, holding the land against the ungodly and undertaking a journey, have arrived at Thee, the radiant East of salvation, O Christ.
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
Neither fire, nor sword, nor persecution, nor wounds were able to separate you from the pious thought of God; for, for His sake, ye despised this life which endeth, O right glorious ones, and have received blessed and imperishable delight.
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
The truly unwavering luminaries enlighten the firmament of the Church of Christ with the light of divine effulgence and gladden the souls of the pious, emitting rays of miracles.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The godly Bacchus and the excellent Sergius in yearly cycle spiritually summon the lovers of piety and of the martyrs to a feast, offering them their valiant deeds.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The sword which guardeth the portal of Eden now withdraweth before the faithful; and it receiveth them with splendor, beholding them marked with the precious Blood of Him Who was born of thy womb, and with grace.
Ode V, Irmos: O Christ Who hast enlightened the ends of the world with the radiance of Thy coming and hast illumined them with Thy Cross: with the light of Thy divine knowledge enlighten the hearts of those who hymn Thee in Orthodox manner.
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
Driving away falsehood with the sword of truth and mightily enduring the tyrants’ wounds, ye became victors; and, crowned by Christ, ye now rejoice, as is meet.
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
Strengthened by the invincible power and grace of the Trinity, the two martyrs cast down the prince of darkness and those in thrall to him; wherefore, with honor they are called blessed.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
With endurance, spiritual courage and resolute intent, the two glorious martyrs transcended all the bitter fury of the tormenters and make their abode with the angels.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Mother of God, like the dawn thou hast shone forth the never-setting Sun of true righteousness, bearing Him in thine arms united hypostatically to the flesh; wherefore, we all glorify thee.
Ode VI, Irmos: The uttermost abyss hath surrounded us, and there is none to deliver us. We are accounted as lambs for the slaughter. Save Thy people, O our God, for Thou art the strength and correction of the weak!
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
The relics of the martyrs pour forth streams of healings in abundance. O ye faithful, let us therefore fervently draw forth therefrom and bless the athletes, the glorious Sergius and the ever-eloquent Bacchus.
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
Hating the abodes of the iniquitous and setting at nought their deception, Sergius and Bacchus made the journey to heaven in right orderly fashion and have reached the calm haven of Christ.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The portals of heaven are thrown open to the martyred athletes, rendering homage to their honorable suffering, which was like unto the grace-bearing passion of our God, and which driveth away legions of the demons.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
With wisdom we proclaim thee truly to be the Mother of God, O all-pure one; for thou, O Virgin, didst ineffably give birth to the only-begotten Son Who is without beginning and Who shone forth from the Father before time began.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone II, Spec. Mel. “Seeking the highest…”: Manfully arming your mind against the enemy, O most lauded martyrs, ye destroyed all their falsehood, receiving the trophy of victory from on high, and crying out with oneness of mind: How good and joyous it is to be with God!
Ikos: In that Sergius and Bacchus dwell in the heavens and are filled with divine light by Thee, O Christ, go Thou quickly before me who walk in the darkness of ignorance, and rescue me from the passions, O only Immortal One, sending down upon me the vesture of repentance, that with radiant mind I may hymn their splendid feast and cry out, rejoicing: How good and joyous it is to be with God!
Ode VII, Irmos: O Theotokos, we, the faithful, perceive thee to be a noetic furnace; for, as the supremely Exalted One saved the three youths, in thy womb the praised and most glorious God of our fathers wholly renewed the world.
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
Rejoice, ye two glorious athletes! Rejoice, ye who splendidly overcame the threat of the tyrants! Rejoice, ye who finished the good race! Rejoice, food that remaineth ever within us! Rejoice, O blessed of God, who manifestly intercede before God!
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
Walking upon the earth, O most radiant martyrs, ye darkened the eyes of the demons and the faces of the persecutors with the light of grace and the rays of your suffering, hymning our praised and all-glorious God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Being animate and living temples of the living God, O most blessed athletes, truly strengthened by the power of God ye vanquished hordes of the enemy, in hymns praising God Who is mighty in battles.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O blessed and most pure Mistress, thou wast an all-pure temple and an all-holy ark, having received the infinite Creator, God, the only-begotten Word, in thy womb, containing the Unapproachable One.
Ode VIII, Irmos: The children of Israel in the furnace, shining more brightly than gold in a crucible in the beauty of their piety, said: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
O Thou Who of old didst cool the flame with dew for the youths, Thou didst strengthen Thy martyrs, who stood firm amid struggles and sang: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
Wisely did the athletes reject the poisonous and spiritually harmful blandishments of the tyrants, crying out to Christ and saying: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
Christ hath shown Sergius and Bacchus, who are truly crowned, to be our true preservers, who protect us and chant: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Through the prayers of the martyrs, O Christ our Master, guide my steps to the virtues and vouchsafe that I may readily cry to Thee: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
I bless thee, the true Mother of our God, O pure and most immaculate Mistress, offering thee “Rejoice!” with the angel; for thee do all the works of the Lord unceasingly chant and exalt supremely for all ages.
Ode IX, Irmos: The bush which burnt with fire yet was not consumed showed forth an image of thy pure birthgiving. And now we pray that the furnace of temptations which rageth against us may be extinguished, that we may magnify thee unceasingly, O Theotokos.
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
Ye have wholly acquired Christ, for ye forsook the whole world for His sake; and now ye dwell in the heavens with the choirs of the heavenly hosts, beholding the splendors of the blessed.
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
O excellent twain, from on high ye impart grace and remission of transgressions unto those who with love offer you praises. Entreating Him Who alone is merciful, and hastening to Him, ye paid no heed to those things which drag men down.
Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.
Illumined with the splendor of the thrice-radiant Godhead, O invincible martyrs, ye rejected the deluding ungodliness of polytheism and fear of the tormenters; and ye now delight in the incorruptible delight of paradise.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having finished your good race, striving to preserve the Faith of piety, O all-glorious martyrs, ye have been vouchsafed to receive the immovable kingdom, crowned with wreaths of beauty and majesty.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Thy wonders which pass understanding! For thou alone, O Virgin Mother, in manner transcending nature, gavest birth to God the Word become flesh, Who wisely sustaineth and nurtureth all things by His will.
Troparion, Tone IV: In their sufferings, O Lord, Thy martyrs received imperishable crowns from Thee, our God; for, possessed of Thy might, they cast down the tormenters and set at nought the feeble audacity of the demons. By their supplications save Thou our souls.
Another troparion, Tone V: O much-suffering Sergius and all-glorious Bacchus, ye adornment of Christian athletes and eye of the Church of Christ, enlighten the eyes of our souls. Entreat the Lord, that we may escape the darkness of sin and may be shown to share in the never-waning light, through your supplications, O saints.
Though we were still a bit short of singers and servers for Sunday Liturgy, it was good to see things settling down to a normal sized congregation, and to have new visitors, whom we hope will return in the future. It was lovely to welcome some of the students from neighbouring Newman Hall, and to be able to chat to them afterwards – on subjects both theological and feline.
We were pleased to have a handful of visitors from our Llanelli mission, making the geographical span of worshippers reach from Carmarthen to Warminster! It’s good to see parishioners car-sharing and ensuring that the maximum number of parishioners are able to reach Liturgy from the further limits of our South Wales and Wessex pastoral area.
With no trapeza at the moment, a good number of parishioners enjoyed social time across the road in Brodie’s café, where we seized the opportunity to discuss plans for a forthcoming pastoral visit to our Wessex parishioners and the need to find a place for Wiltshire Liturgies.
After yesterday’s Liturgy, I was heartened to hear expressions of interest in our pilgrimage to Llancarfan to honour St Cadoc on Saturday 28th October. Our intention is to celebrate the Divine Liturgy at 10:00. Anyone interested should contact Tracy: t_sbrain@yahoo.co.uk
Our 2022 pilgrimage was very enjoyable and informative, and the welcome we received was warm and generous. See: https://russianorthodoxchurchcardiff.com/celebrating-st-cadoc-at-llancarfan
Today saw me in one of the other churches in the same ministry area as Llancarfan, with a funeral in the medieval church in Peterston-super-Ely. I am indebted to Canon Martyn Davies, the rector, and to the Anglican diocesan authorities for allowing an Orthodox funeral in the village church, and for his generous welcome. It was a pleasure to celebrate in such a wonderful setting, and to chant the ancient words of our funeral hymns in a church that has been a local place of worship and prayer since the Celtic Age of the Saints. For most of the congregation, it was the first Orthodox service they have ever attended and people were very positive and appreciative. Please remember the newly-departed Irina in your prayers. Memory Eternal!
Yesterday’s confessions were certainly numerous, though I think we need to be very clear that Sunday confessions (with great time-pressure) are not the time to discuss general personal or family problems, but the time in which we approach Christ in repentance to confess our sins and seek his healing and forgiveness. There is plenty of time outside confessions to talk about other issues. This week’s confessions will be heard on Friday afternoon/evening, before the talk on the intercession of he saints at 19:00. Requests by noon on Thursday, please.
In addition to our prayers for all who are suffering in the conflicts of the Holy Land and Ukraine, we continue to pray for Maria, Nikolai, Catalin, and Oswald, who are travelling; Brigid, Ludmilla, Mike and Steve, in their sickness; Porphyrios’s father Paul as he undergoes medical treatment; and the newly departed Irina.
We have just returned from Cheltenham, where we had a sun-bathed Liturgy, and a glorious autumn day as we celebrated the feast of the Protecting Veil of the Mother of God – for whom our parishioners brought many flowers.
As we have previously reflected, so many feasts of the Mother of God and her wonder-working icons coincide with the pattern our Cheltenham Liturgies, and when the vestments are blue, it seems that we are always blessed with blue sky and the sun shining. However, when we arrived this morning, despite the sunshine outside, the chapel had a chill in the air and needed heating for a while before the faithful arrived.
It was very odd, gathering for Liturgy without Nataliya and mama Galina, but before set up there was the joy of a brief telephone greeting from them in Odessa, where Liturgy had already finished, with the news that their parish priest had donated an icon of the Protection to our little mission – a wonderful blessing and gesture on this feast of the Pokrov.
Many thanks to our sisters for reading and chanting on the kliros, and to Timofey for helping – unexpectedly for him – in the entrances, as he was beckoned into the oltar by Deacon Mark to carry a candle, and we were impressed that he was so helpful after Liturgy, looking for practical tasks to do.
It was lovely to sit down to a relaxed meal in the church hall after Liturgy, and to discuss some plans for the new year, with the hope to have occasional services across the whole parish area of Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, especially to reach out to those who live at the southern ends of our pastoral area.
We look forward to our return in November, when Liturgy will follow the pattern of being on the SECOND Saturday of the month: 11th November, when we will celebrate the memory of St Anastasia the Roman.
The Holy Prince Wenceslaus (Vyacheslav) of the Czechs was a grandson of the holy Martyr and Princess Ludmilla (September 16), and he was raised by her in deep piety. He began to rule at age eighteen after the death of his father Prince Bratislav (+ 920).
In spite of his youthful age, he ruled wisely and justly and concerned himself much about the Christian enlightenment of the people. The holy prince was a widely educated man, and he studied in the Latin and Greek languages.
Saint Wenceslaus was peace-loving. He built and embellished churches, and in Prague, the Czech capital, he raised up a magnificent church in the name of Saint Vitus, and he had respect for the clergy. Envious nobles decided to murder the saint and, at first, to incite his mother against him, and later to urge his younger brother, Boleslav, to occupy the princely throne.
Boleslav invited his brother to the dedication of a church, and then asked him to stay another day. In spite of the warnings of his servants, the holy prince refused to believe in a conspiracy and exposed his life to the will of God. On the following day, September 28, 935, when Wenceslaus went to Matins, he was wickedly murdered at the doors of the church by his own brother and his brother’s servants. His body was stabbed and discarded without burial.
The mother, hearing of the murder of her son, found and placed his body in a recently consecrated church at the princely court. They were not able to wash off the blood splashed on the church doors, but after three days it disappeared by itself.
After repenting of his sin, the murderer transferred the relics of Saint Wenceslaus to Prague, where they were placed in the church of Saint Vitus, which the martyr himself had constructed (the transfer of the relics of Saint Wenceslaus is celebrated on March 4). The memory of Prince Wenceslaus has been honored from of old in the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Orthodox Church in America 3/2/2017
Canon of the saint, Tone VI
Ode I, Irmos: Traversing the deep on foot, as though it were dry land, and seeing the tyrant Pharaoh drowned, Israel cried aloud: Let us chant unto God a hymn of victory!
Holy Passion-Bearer, Vyacheslav, pray to God for us.
O ye faithful, with joy let us join chorus, hymning the Savior with radiant souls, on the all-wondrous memorial of Vyacheslav, the servant of Christ!
Holy Passion-Bearer, Vyacheslav, pray to God for us.
Slain unjustly like an innocent lamb, thou didst emulate the sufferings of the Master, O glorious one; wherefore, thou dost now rejoice with the choirs of the martyrs, O thou who art blessed of God.
Holy Passion-Bearer, Vyacheslav, pray to God for us.
Receiving a death which won thee life, thou standest now in glory before the Master of all. Pray thou that we who keep thine all-wondrous memory may also obtain it, O holy one.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Who can tell of the countless wonders which thou workest in the world, O glorious one? For thou dost continually grant healing in abundance unto all the faithful.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Lady, raise me up who have fallen among thieves through my soul-destroying deeds and am drowning in death. I pray thee: Entreat thy Son and God for me.
Ode III, Irmos: There is none as holy as Thee, O Lord my God, Who hast uplifted the horn of Thy faithful and established us on the rock of the confession of Thee, O Good One.
Holy Passion-Bearer, Vyacheslav, pray to God for us.
Thou didst ever burn with Christian love for the Holy Church, O all-blessed one, where, like an innocent lamb, thou didst look forward to thine unjust slaughter.
Holy Passion-Bearer, Vyacheslav, pray to God for us.
Adorned with thine all-splendid blood, thy Church emitteth the radiant beams of miracles, hymning thy memory, O right glorious one.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Enlightened from childhood by the rays of the Trinity, O venerable one, thou becamest an heir of Christ. Him do thou entreat, that He send peace unto our souls.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thy divine birthgiving surpasseth every other miracle, O pure one; for, having conceived in thy womb and given birth unto the transcendent God, thou remainest Ever-virgin.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Sessional hymn, Tone VIII, Spec. Mel. “Of the Wisdom…”: Seeking to prevent thee from ascending thy throne, the enemies of the Orthodox Faith murdered thy pious grandmother, the saintly Ludmilla, that she might no longer guide thee with Christian counsel; yet so well grounded wast thou by her in reverence for things divine and in love for Christ, that her martyrdom in nowise moved thee from thy sacred purpose, and the wiles of thine enemies served only to strengthen thee in thy resolve, and to gain for the Holy Church another martyr in heaven.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: All of us, the generations of men, bless thee as the Virgin who, alone among women, gavest birth without seed to God in the flesh; for the fire of the Godhead made His abode within thee, and thou didst nurture the Creator and Lord with milk as a babe. Wherefore, we, the race of angels and men, cry out to thee together: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of offenses unto those who with faith worship thine all-holy birthgiving.
Ode IV, Irmos: Christ is my power, my God and my Lord, the honored Church doth sing, crying out in godly manner with a pure mind, keeping festival in the Lord.
Holy Passion-Bearer, Vyacheslav, pray to God for us.
Lovingly raised in the pure Faith from childhood, by thy pure works thou didst lovingly follow the Master and didst put His false enemy to shame by thy hope.
Holy Passion-Bearer, Vyacheslav, pray to God for us.
Shining with radiance, O holy Vyacheslav, by thy supplications enlighten those who are benighted by sins, for with the choirs of the martyrs thou hast boldness to pray for us.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Cut down by the sword, O invincible saint, thou didst cut down the wicked foe with the sword of patience; wherefore, thou hast received a crown from the hand of the Almighty.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Truly the mysteries of thy divine birthgiving are ineffable and unattainable for those on earth and those in heaven, O Ever-virgin Theotokos.
Ode V, Irmos: With Thy divine light illumine the souls of those who with love rise at dawn unto Thee, O Good One, that they may know Thee, O Word of God, to be the true God Who calleth all forth from the darkness of sin.
Holy Passion-Bearer, Vyacheslav, pray to God for us.
Having received through thy sufferings the life which is devoid of pain, O all-praised and holy Vyacheslav, thou hast been shown to be a help for all who suffer and with faith call upon thee for aid.
Holy Passion-Bearer, Vyacheslav, pray to God for us.
With the all-radiant beams of thy miracles thou hast enlightened the north, the south and the west more than the sun, O blessed one; wherefore, illumine us who celebrate thy memory, O saint.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou wast a helper of those amid misfortunes, the sustainer of the poor, and the comfort of the grieving; wherefore, even after thy death, O holy one, thou deliverest all who with faith call upon thee for help.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O good Mistress of the world, save those who with all their soul confess thee to be the Theotokos; for we have thee, who art truly the Theotokos, as our help, O immaculate one.
Ode VI, Irmos: Beholding the sea of life surging with the tempest of temptations, fleeing to Thy calm haven I cry unto Thee: Lead up my life from corruption, O greatly Merciful One!
Holy Passion-Bearer, Vyacheslav, pray to God for us.
Having acquired a pure life through fasting, O all-wondrous Vyacheslav, thou hast been shown to be a fellow citizen with the angels. With them pray thou for the salvation of our souls.
Holy Passion-Bearer, Vyacheslav, pray to God for us.
Forsaking a transitory earthly princedom, and receiving a royal adornment from the right hand of the Master, through corruptible things thou didst acquire what is eternal, in that thou art wise.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O holy one, accept praise from the accursed lips of one who is unable to fashion worthy praises for thee, and entreat the merciful God, that He grant us great mercy.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O all-pure Mistress who for mortals gavest birth to the Helmsman and Lord, confound my wicked lusts, and grant serenity unto my heart.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone I, Spec. Mel. “The choir of the angels…”: Standing with the choirs of the angels, O blessed Prince Vyacheslav, thou delightest in divine and ineffable goodness; and drawing thence the goodly gifts of miracles, thou pourest forth the boon of cures upon all who with faith flee to thy holiness.
Ikos: Great is the consternation of the enemy of men’s salvation! For, seeking to destroy the Christian Faith which was planted in Bohemia by the pious Borivoy and the holy Ludmilla, he instilled within the accursed Prince Boleslaus the perfidious intention to murder his godly brother, the holy Prince Vyacheslav, and thus unjustly to usurp his throne. Yet the Savior bestowed upon His martyr so great an abundance of the grace of miracles that the people of Bohemia were amazed and hastened to be enlightened. Thus were the machinations of the devil utterly foiled, and the Holy Orthodox Church grew and throve. And even to this day the precious relics of the martyr pour forth the boon of cures upon all who with faith flee to his holiness.
Ode VII, Irmos: The Angel caused the furnace to pour forth dew upon the pious youths, and the command of God, which consumed the Chaldæans, prevailed upon the tyrant to cry out: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!
Holy Passion-Bearer, Vyacheslav, pray to God for us.
The ancient malefactor envied thy sacred life and incited the mindless band to slay thee; but with a pure conscience thou didst unceasingly cry out to thy Creator: Blessed is the God of our fathers!
Holy Passion-Bearer, Vyacheslav, pray to God for us.
Prague, thine all-glorious city, danceth with gladness today, honoring thy memory, and, radiantly emitting thy miracles, it calleth the whole land to cry aloud: Blessed is the God of our fathers!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Through the deception of the all-wicked one, of old the ground was stained by the hand of Cain, who slew his own brother; but sprinkled now with blood, it offereth sacrifices of sweet savor unto Christ, crying: Blessed is the God of our fathers!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Through thee, O Virgin, hath Light shone forth upon those in darkness, for thou hast given birth to the Creator and God of all. Him do thou beseech, O all-pure one, that He ever send down great mercy upon us, the faithful.
Ode VIII, Irmos: From the flame didst Thou pour forth dew upon the venerable ones, and didst consume the sacrifice of the righteous one with water; for Thou, O Christ, dost do all things soever Thou desirest. Thee do we exalt supremely for all ages!
Holy Passion-Bearer, Vyacheslav, pray to God for us.
Sanctified from on high by rays of grace, O all-glorious one, thou didst shine forth more brightly than the sun in the land of Bohemia with the beauties of gladness, exalting Christ supremely forever.
Holy Passion-Bearer, Vyacheslav, pray to God for us.
Receiving thy holy body today, O blessed one, Prague, thine all-praised city, proclaimeth thine all-wondrous miracles unto the world, exalting Christ supremely forever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Adorned with meekness and illumined with the understanding of Orthodoxy, O all-wondrous one, thou wast truly shown to be a herald of the all-holy Trinity, exalting Christ supremely forever.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou didst ineffably conceive and give birth unto the Transcendent One, the Word, the Bestower of light, Who is begotten of Light, O Virgin, for the Spirit of God made His abode within thee. Wherefore, we hymn thee, O pure one, for all ages.
Ode IX, Irmos: It is not possible for men to behold God, upon Whom the ranks of angels dare not gaze; but through thee, O most pure one, hath the Word appeared incarnate unto men; and magnifying Him with the armies of heaven, we call thee blessed.
Holy Passion-Bearer, Vyacheslav, pray to God for us.
Thou wast accounted worthy of great grace, O glorious one, and hast illumined the whole world, granting healings in abundance unto all.
Holy Passion-Bearer, Vyacheslav, pray to God for us.
Accept the joy of the angels, O holy one, and, standing before thy Creator, pray for us who magnify thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou hast now received blessed repose, O all-glorious one. Cease thou never to pray that those who magnify thee may continually share in holy blessedness.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Virgin Theotokos, who after the word of the archangel gavest birth to thy Creator in manner past recounting, entreat Him, that our souls be saved.
Troparion, Tone IV: Today angels and men share a common joy. Heaven and earth join together in splendid chorus for thy memorial, O holy one. And we sinners earnestly cry aloud unto thee: Pray thou to the Master in our behalf, that from dangers and from visible and invisible foes, He may deliver us who honor thine all-honored memory.
It was a joy to celebrate the feast of St Sergius of Radonezh in Cardiff on Sunday, and we are grateful to all who contributed to our celebration, with holiday effects on our kliros seeing the second coopting of our hierodeacon by the choir. Many thanks to Edmund for filling Olga’s place and coordinating our chanting and to Hierodeacon Avraamy for moving from the sanctuary to the kliros. Spasi Gospodi!
Despite those abroad, we still mustered over forty worshippers, though we are always swallowed by the vastness of the convent church!
Again, we are extremely grateful for parishioners making the hour of confessions before Liturgy run so smoothly.
This was the first week without trapeza in church, but it was lovely to follow parishioners over the road to our friendly local café, and to enjoy a cup of coffee there, largely with our Wessex contingent, who had a considerable drive home ahead of them.
Our celebration of St Sergius came at the end of a busy week, which saw Tuesday in Peterston-Super-Ely to arrange the funeral of the newly departed handmaiden of God, Irina, for whom your prayers are greatly appreciated. With permission from the Anglican Archbishop of Wales and the approval of the Bishop of Llandaff, I am extremely grateful that the funeral service will be able to be celebrated in the little medieval church – a building I had passed on the train for much of my life, but had never entered until the past week. It was a pleasure to talk with Fr Martin and have a few hours in the village.
Wednesday saw the baptism – in Nazareth House – of the newly enlightened Sabine, who travelled on the train from Stroud with her mother, Anna. Please remember them in your prayers.
Both Wednesday and Friday saw the hearing of confessions in Nazareth House, with a talk on intercession following Friday confessions, and confessions also followed Saturday’s celebration of Great Vespers for the Feast of St Sergius of Radonezh, for which I am grateful to our young brother, George, for reading.
This week, I will hear confessions on Thursday, and would like to stress that – if required – this will include the evening as well as the afternoon. As Saturday sees Deacon Mark and I in Cheltenham, there will be no Saturday tea-time service in Nazareth House.
I’m very happy that the October Liturgy in Cheltenham will fall on the feast of the Protecting Veil of the Mother of God – a wonderful celebration of our Lady’s protection and intercession. We know that some core parishioners will be away, but we will soldier on.
As usual, our Cheltenham Liturgy will be celebrated in Prestbury URC Church, Deep St, Cheltenham GL52 3AW, with confessions heard from 09:15, and the Hours and Liturgy commencing at 10:00. There will be the usual bring-and-share lunch after Liturgy.
As announced, we will be making a local pilgrimage to Llancarfan on Saturday 28th October, and plan to celebrate the Divine Liturgy at 10:00 – though this will depend on having someone to chant on the kliros. Anyone interested should speak to Tracy, or email her: t_sbrain@yahoo.co.uk
We continue to keep Olga, Valentina, Maria, Nikolai, Nataliya, Galina, Catalin, and Oswald in our prayers, on their travels; Mike and Steve, who are unwell and Porphyrios’s father Paul as he undergoes medical treatment; and Isaac and mum Xenia in the search for a new school.
Finally, I would like to remind you of a few things:
Commemoration books and lists should be updated REGULARLY.
In commemoration books and on lists, clergy and monastics should be referred to by rank – bishop, archimandrite, hieromonk, archpriest, priest, deacon, monk, nun etc. Nobody should be listed as vladyka, father or mother.
All others in your commemorations should be referred to by full baptismal names – no Mashas, Sashas and Natashas, but Marias, Alexanders and Natalias!
Branka is kindly baking small commemorative prosphory all week, and it is our tradition to present them for our commemoration. There are very few each week, which is bizarre in a parish of no fewer than thirty to forty adults each week.
As with communion, the antidoron distributed at the end of Liturgy is to be consumed FASTING – i.e. on an empty stomach.
With the commencement of the Hours, Liturgy (in the broadest sense) has begun, and parishioners should refrain from conversation.
Though I have only just walked through the door, and tea is still brewing, I thought I should type this week’s news whilst I am still buoyed by today’s lovely Liturgy in Nazareth House, reasonably well attended despite the road closures.
Though the road closures dissuaded some parishioners from Penarth and Barry, and made logistics totally impossible for a few others, visitors more than took the place of those unable to be with us, and we had a goodly Wessex contingent from across the Severn.
We are grateful for our trio on the rather reduced kliros for increasing the chanting in English, with Hierodeacon Avraamy being coopted from the sanctuary to help today. Having experienced church-singers, who can adapt to the various challenges of the seasons is a great advantage. Our visitors expressed their appreciation for the kliros, complimenting us on the quality of chanting.
Our flowers were beautiful again, though I wish someone had photographed them in situ, adorning the icons, especially the festal icon of the Exaltation of the Cross. I was quite serious in suggesting that the flowers are not just a task for the parish sisterhood, but that with some assistance, the gentlemen of the parish could help. Those of us who are monks are used to sewing and embroidery, baking, cooking and flower-arranging, and doing every other task that might wrongly be seen as work for the ladies. Some of the parish brothers might surprise themselves!
Being the Sunday after the Exultation of the Cross, the Cross and the bed of flowers from the feast-day celebration were brought from Llanelli, so that the faithful could venerate the Life-Giving Cross at the end of Liturgy. Before that, we were able to greet our sisters, Ludmilla and Jessica Anne on their recent name-days and sing ‘Many Years’ to them. Congratulations, dear sisters!
Given the amount of tidying necessitated by refreshments, today’s informal trapeza was the last for the foreseeable future. Those travelling fair distances may wish to bring a packed lunch for the car, and we have the excellent café across the road – a very welcoming refuge where I and parishioners spend many hours talking, discussing spiritual matters, and doing ‘office’ work.
Having been the Vale and city for a couple of days for funeral arrangements and a baptism in the middle of the week, I will hear confessions on Friday afternoon/early-evening and we will have a further talk on prayer at 19:00 – focussing on petitionary/ intercessory prayer. Confession requests would be appreciated by noon on Thursday, thank you.
Our Saturday evening service will be at 16:00 (rather than 17:00), just to allow more travel time for my return to Llanelli. As you know, this can be rather unpredictable, to say the least. I would prefer that any Saturday confessions are before the service, to allow for a timely departure.
I am happy to be able to announce that having heard from Father Michael at Llancarfan, we will be celebrating a pilgrimage Divine Liturgy in the wonderful medieval church at on Saturday 28th October, with the Hours and Divine Liturgy at 10:00. The church, with its medieval wall-paintings, is on the side of St Cadoc’s community. Please contact Tracy if you are interested in attending: t_sbrain@yahoo.co.uk
October service times may be found below.
Your prayers are asked for: SICK – Paul (non-O), Ludmilla, Brigid, the priest Anthony; TRAVELLERS – Olga & Valentina, Galina & Natalya, Maria and Nikolai (travelling on Sunday); DEPARTED – Irina (newly-departed), Nina (ninth anniversary of repose).
In Christ – Hieromonk Mark
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Sunday 1 October: Hours and Divine Liturgy, Nazareth House, Cardiff, 11:00 (confessions from 10:15).
Friday 6 October: Nazareth House, afternoon/evening confessions time tbc depending on requests. 19:00 Discussion Group on prayer.
Saturday 7 October: Great Vespers 16:00, confessions by arrangement.
Sunday 8 October: Hours and Divine Liturgy, Nazareth House, Cardiff, 11:00 (confessions from 10:15).
Monday 9 October (September 26 Old-Style): Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian – Hours and Divine Liturgy, Nazareth House, Cardiff, 11:00
Thursday 12 October: Nazareth House, afternoon/ evening confessions time tbc depending on requests.
Saturday 14 October: The Protecting Veil of the Mother of God (Pokrov), Hours and Divine Liturgy, Cheltenham, 10:00.
Sunday 15 October: Hours and Divine Liturgy, Nazareth House, Cardiff, 11:00 (confessions from 10:15).
Friday 20 October: Nazareth House, afternoon/evening confessions time tbc depending on requests. 19:00 Discussion Group on prayer.
Saturday 21 October: Great Vespers 16:00, confessions by arrangement.
Sunday 22 October: Hours and Divine Liturgy, Nazareth House, Cardiff, 11:00 (confessions from 10:15).
Thursday 26 October: Nazareth House, afternoon/evening confessions time tbc depending on requests.
Saturday 28 October: Pilgrimage to Llancarfan – Hours and Divine Liturgy, 10:00.
Sunday 29 October: Hours and Divine Liturgy, Nazareth House, Cardiff, 11:00 (confessions from 10:15).
Canon of the Martyrs, the acrostic whereof is: “I hymn the children of Sophia, who are manifest as exceeding splendid,” the composition of Theophanes, in Tone I
Ode I, Irmos: Thy victorious right arm hath in godly manner been glorified in strength; for as almighty, O Immortal One, it smote the adversary, fashioning anew the path of the deep for the Israelites.
Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.
O Master Christ, grant me the effulgence of Thy transcendent and ineffable wisdom, that I may hymn Thy magnificent and right glorious martyrs, the offspring of Sophia.
Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.
Thy name was manifestly adorned by thy manner of life, O divinely wise and glorious Sophia; for, illumined with the grace of wisdom, thou didst spend thy whole life in desiring wisdom.
Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.
Thy most blessed fruit, adorned with the number of the all-divine Trinity, struggled like athletes for Him, O most wise Sophia, thou namesake of the divine Wisdom.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The three virgin maidens, Faith, Hope and glorious Charity, having cleansed body and soul with the virtues, were brought in martyrdom to Thee, O Christ, the noetic Bridegroom.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
He Who made His abode as God in thy womb, O all-pure one, Who took upon Him my whole form and was seen before in the form of God, hath renewed all. Wherefore, all we, the faithful, glorify thee as the Theotokos.
Ode III, Irmos: O Thou Who alone hast known the weakness of human nature, having in Thy mercy formed Thyself therein: Thou dost gird me about with power from on high, that I may chant to Thee: Holy is the living temple of Thine ineffable glory, O Thou Who lovest mankind!
Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.
Hearkening to the voice of Christ calling them to a life devoid of death and suffering, the crowned virgin martyrs followed Thee, crying out to Thee, O Holy One: O Thou Who lovest mankind, holy is the animate temple of Thy pure glory!
Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.
As He promised, Christ gave you strength as ye stood before the tribunal as martyrs; and He filled you with divinely inspired wisdom and showed you forth as radiant, O victorious martyrs, resplendent in the grace of virginity.
Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.
Ye dulled the greatly arrogant mind of the enemy and cast down his pride, contending with great wisdom; and with the streams of your blood ye drowned him who of old boasted that he would destroy the sea.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Filled to abundance with the exalted wisdom of Christ, with elect and sage wisdom the three daughters of Sophia put to shame the savagery of the torturers and their unbearable cruelty, giving utterance to divine teachings.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
In holy manner thou gavest birth to Christ, the Holy of Holies, the holy tabernacle of sanctity, Who resteth in the saints; and to Him do we cry out: Holy is the animate temple of Thine ineffable glory, O Thou Who lovest mankind!
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Sessional hymn, Tone I, Spec. Mel:.“The choir of the angels…”: O reason-endowed ewe-lambs of the Lamb and Shepherd, ye were given over to cruel torments and have been shown to be equal in honour with the angels. Wherefore, in gladness of heart we all celebrate your sacred memory, O divinely wise maidens.
Ode IV, Irmos: Habbakuk, gazing with the eyes of foresight upon thee, the mountain overshadowed by the grace of God, prophesied that the Holy One of Israel would come forth from thee, for our salvation and restoration.
Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.
Strengthened by divine grace, the right victorious Faith, Charity and Hope manfully put to shame the threats of the tyrant; and burnt by the fire, the most wise ones were led to Christ the Bridegroom.
Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.
Protected by the armour of the Cross, the holy Faith, Charity and Hope were able to endure the wounds of their torturers with fortitude, opposing sin most mightily even to the shedding of their blood.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Faith, Charity and Hope, the three radiant lamps of the wisdom of the Trinity, illumined and manifestly shining, enlighten the Church most splendidly, for our salvation and defence.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O most lauded Theotokos, thou holy of holies, from thee shone forth the Deliverer, the expectation of the nations and the salvation of the faithful, the Lord and Bestower of life, unto the salvation of us who hymn thee.
Ode V, Irmos: O Christ Who hast enlightened the ends of the world with the radiance of Thy coming and hast illumined them with Thy Cross: with the light of Thy divine knowledge enlighten the hearts of those who hymn Thee in Orthodox manner.
Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.
The three God-bearing virgins, bound by faith and nature, endured tortures with patience of will, and they put to shame the audacious one, uttering mysteries of wisdom which are in God.
Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.
Our first mother rejoiceth, seeing the deceiver, who of old drove her from Eden, vanquished by Hope, Faith and Charity, the divinely wise women born of Sophia.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Wounded by Thy love and Thy divine ardor, O Christ, the honoured maidens spurned the venomous flattery of the tyrant and willingly endured the wounds of tortures.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Beholding thee, the hosts of heaven rejoice, and with them the assemblies of men make merry; for they have been united by thy nativity, O Virgin Theotokos, which we glorify as is meet.
Ode VI, Irmos: The uttermost abyss hath surrounded us, and there is none to deliver us. We are accounted as lambs for the slaughter. Save Thy people, O our God, for Thou art the strength and correction of the weak!
Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.
Rejoicing, O Master, the three honoured and laudable maidens, equal in number to the Trinity, placed their hope in Thine all-pure hands.
Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.
Resplendent with the beauties of virginity, they adorned themselves with the wounds of martyrdom, and have received from on high a twofold crown from Christ, the most compassionate Bestower of life.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Into the temple of Thee, Who reignest over all, were the precious treasures of virginity brought, O Master, to share in Thy kingdom; for Thou art their light and gladness.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The forefathers of our race rejoice in thee, O all-pure Virgin, receiving Eden through thee which they had lost through their transgression; for thou wast pure before giving birth and art pure even after thy birth-giving.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion of the Martyrs, Tone I, Spec. Mel. “Thy tomb, O Saviour…”: Faith, Hope and Charity, revealed as most sacred branches of the honoured Sophia, through grace made foolish the wisdom of the Hellenes; and having suffered and been shown to be victorious, they were crowned with an incorruptible crown by Christ the Master of all.
Ode VII, Irmos: O Theotokos, we, the faithful, perceive thee to be a noetic furnace; for, as the supremely Exalted One saved the three youths, in thy womb the praised and most glorious God of our fathers wholly renewed the world.
Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.
Manifestly illumined with the thrice-radiant grace of unity, the virgins destroyed the utter darkness of the demons, theologising concerning the Light in three Hypostases, and chanting: Praised and all-glorious is the God of our fathers!
Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.
Possessing mansions in the heavens, O light-bearing souls, with gladness ye now join chorus with the angels, gazing upon eternal glory and saying: Praised and all-glorious is the God of our fathers!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Showing steadfast opposition like the three youths, the maidens manfully trampled upon the fire; for, being equal in number with them, the God-bearing virgins acquired the same understanding of the praised and all-glorious God of our fathers.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O pure one, thou givest remission of transgressions unto those who hymn thee with faith, delivering them from temptations and every evil circumstance; for we have now acquired thee as a refuge, O Bride of God, in that thou didst bear the praised God of our fathers in thine arms.
Ode VIII, Irmos: The children of Israel in the furnace, shining more brightly than gold in a crucible in the beauty of their piety, said: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.
The divinely radiant virgins Faith, Hope and Charity, were more lustrous than gold in the beauty of their piety, saying: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.
The virgins who are radiant and were manifestly splendid amid their torment let us hymn, O ye faithful, saying: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The shrines of the athletes ever pour forth a stream of healing abundantly, copiously and richly upon those who with faith cry out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Holy ground wast thou, O pure one, giving birth to the life-bearing Ear of grain: Christ, the Mediator of everlasting life, to Whom we all cry out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Ode IX, Irmos: The bush which burnt with fire yet was not consumed showed forth an image of thy pure birth-giving. And now we pray that the furnace of temptations which rageth against us may be extinguished, that we may magnify thee unceasingly, O Theotokos.
Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.
Filled with thrice-radiant light, and delighting now in the divine radiance, O ye who are equal in number to the virtues and bear their names: love, hope and faith, make us steadfast by hope, love and faith.
Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.
Let the might of heaven now subdue the tempest of heresy which besetteth us, O invincible athletes. We entreat you, O good virgins: pray ye unceasingly, that God grant oneness of mind to the faithful.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having passed through the night of this life, O most wise ones, ye have reached the unwaning day, making merry as martyrs and boasting in grace as virgins, being counted worthy of the divine and incorruptible kingdom.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O, how hath the Virgin given birth unto the eternal and hypostatic Word, the effulgence of the hypostasis of the Father, our Benefactor and Lord, Who became incarnate of her, whom we magnify as is meet.
Troparion, Tone IV: In their sufferings, O Lord, Thy martyrs received imperishable crowns from Thee our God; for, possessed of Thy might, they set at nought the tormentors and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. By their supplications save Thou our souls.
“The Cross is the guardian of the whole world! The Cross is the beauty of the Church! The Cross is the strength of kings! The Cross is the support of the faithful! The Cross is the glory of the angels and the wounder of the demons!”
(Exapostilarion)
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Greetings for the feast of the Exultation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord.
Contrary to the logic of the world and the mockery of the modern day equivalent of the Jews (for whom the Cross was a stumbling block) and the Greeks (for whom the Cross was foolishness), today, we joyfully celebrate the feast.
In our temples, we surround the Cross with herbs and flowers, venerating it as a precious treasure and source of sanctification, blessing and healing.
Prostrating ourselves and venerating it, we chant, “Before Thy Cross we bow down, O Master, and Thy holy Resurrection we glorify.”
In our cathedrals and monasteries, hierarchs and abbots bless the four corners of the earth, with the Cross as the sign of victory by which the demons are conquered, the powers of evil put to flight, and the world consecrated through God’s grace. We know that the powers of hell fear this very sign and painful reminder of their own defeat and impotence.
But, how can it be that a the Church came to recognise a Roman gibbet, a shameful tool of torture and death to be the sign of victory and the Tree of Life?
The early Christians and Fathers of the Church saw many types of the Cross in the Jewish scriptures: in the wood with which Noah built the salvific ark; in the the wood carried for Isaac’s intended sacrifice; in the rod of Moses, which divided the Red Sea, opening a path from slavery to freedom; in the cruciform raising of Moses arms, by which Israel defeated Amalek; in the bronze serpent set cross-wise on a pole for the healing of the Israelites bitten by the fiery snakes.
In all of these, the meaning and vision was of healing, deliverance, freedom, salvation, victory and restoration.
As inheritors of the early Christian understanding of the prophetic and prefigurative voice of the scriptures in image and symbol, and as heirs of their spiritual approach to the Cross, we celebrate and honour it in its glorious, life-giving fulness.
Like the early Christians, seeing beyond the Saviour’s pain and suffering in His accepting, embracing, carrying and enduring the Cross, we see life, liberation, the restoration of humanity and the redemption of Adam and Eve, and of all humanity with them.
Thus, over twenty centuries after an instrument of torturous death was transformed and consecrated by the Saviour’s sacrificial love, obedience, humility, and His total outpouring of self, we Orthodox Christians hymn and venerate the Life-Giving Cross as the Tree of Life, the destruction of hell and the death of death.
Whilst some heretics are loathe to even acknowledge the reality of the crucifixion and the form of the Cross, we embrace it with enthusiastic devotion and deep love – having been sealed with its precious image in Holy Baptism and Chrismation; wearing it around our necks; being signed with it upon our heads in confession as we are assured of Christ’s forgiveness for the penitent; anointed with its form in Holy Unction; tracing its image upon ourselves in prayer and divine worship, and being blessed with that same figure.
In the hymns of Paschal matins, we boldly declare that “through the Cross, joy hath come to all the world…”, and exulting in this joy, we are mindful that at the heart of the meaning of the Cross is the reckless and limitless love of God, of which the sacrificial-love of the Cross was sign of the absolute nature of that love in which God held His Creation from its very beginning.
Desirous for the redemption and restoration of His children from the very moment of their fall, in that love, in the economy of salvation, He sought to heal like by means of like, entering into creation itself to effect the healing and salvation of the fallen.
Just as sin, disobedience and death entered the world through wood – by the Tree of Knowledge – so righteousness, obedience, and restored life would be effected through the Wood: the Tree of the Cross, which has become for us the Tree of Life.
He Who was raised up on this Tree, of His own will, was the very Immortal Word of God and Creator of Whom St John tells us, “All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created…”
As the first Adam fell through approaching a tree in disobedience, and the fruit of that tree was death, so the second Adam approached His Tree in obedience, and the fruit of that Tree is life!
This is proclaimed by the Church’s hymns for the feast, in which we reflect that the tree was healed by a Tree, chanting in matins,
“Of old, in paradise, a tree stripped me naked, the enemy bringing about mortality through eating; but the Tree of the Cross, bearing for men the vesture of life, hath been planted in the ground, and the whole world hath been filled with all manner of joy.”
From the height of that Tree, Christ, the Wisdom, Word and Power of God created anew: making of humanity and the world a new creation, whose conception is signalled by the words of the sacrificed Lamb of God, “It is done.”
As the earth quaked, the sun was eclipsed, the Veil of the Temple was rent from top to bottom, and the bodies of the saints rose from their graves, the awesome, life-giving and world-changing power of the Cross was first manifested in the labour pains of a new world born and created from the height of the Cross.
Year by year, we celebrate this wonderful mystery in this feast of the Exultation, knowing that those who love the Cross of Christ, embracing its message of sacrificial love, selflessness and obedience in their lives are themselves exalted by the Cross just as much as we exalt the Cross on this joyful feast.
St Ephrem the Syrian poetically speaks of the Cross as a bridge spanning the jaws of death, and leading to ‘the land of the living’:
“He who was also the carpenter’s glorious son set up his Cross above death’s all-consuming jaws, and led the human race into the dwelling place of life. Since a tree had brought about the downfall of mankind, it was upon a tree that mankind crossed over to the realm of life. Bitter was the branch that had once been grafted upon that ancient tree, but sweet the young shoot that has now been grafted in, the shoot in which we are meant to recognise the Lord whom no creature can resist.
We give glory to Thee, O Lord, who raised up Thy Cross to span the jaws of death like a bridge by which souls might pass from the region of the dead to the land of the living. We give glory to Thee who put on the body of a single mortal man and made it the source of life for every other mortal man.”
On this feast, we glorify the Lord and His Life-Giving Cross, by which hell was defeated and stripped bare as the Risen Lord led our first-father and first mother with the saints of the Old Israel across this wondrous bridge from death to life.
In labouring to follow Him, Who wishes to exalt and raise us up by His Cross, let us rejoice and celebrate in the radiant joy of the feast.
“Come then, my brothers and sisters, let us offer our Lord the great and all-embracing sacrifice of our love, pouring out our treasury of hymns and prayers before him who offered his Cross in sacrifice to God for the enrichment of all.”
(St. Ephrem the Syrian, 306-373 AD)
As the Tree of Life, and the sign of selfless cruciform-love, let us live with the Mystery and meaning of the Cross, as the centre of our lives: our axis mundi stretching from earth to heaven.
Sessional Hymn, Tone VIII, Spec. Mel. “Of the Wisdom…”: Come, ye who love the martyrs, and let us honor the holy athletes Sergius and Bacchus, the noetic pearls of the Lord, for they manfully trampled the falsehood of the enemy underfoot and destroyed all the might of the idols; wherefore, having received crowns of victory from heaven, as is meet, they join chorus with the angels. With them let us all cry out: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of transgressions unto those who with love honor your holy memory. (Twice)
Kontakion, Tone II, Spec. Mel. “Seeking the highest…”: Manfully arming your mind against the enemy, O most lauded martyrs, ye destroyed all their falsehood, receiving the trophy of victory from on high, and crying out with oneness of mind: How good and joyous it is to be with God!
J