St Cyril of Alexandria: Life and Canon

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Saint Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria, a distinguished champion of Orthodoxy and a great teacher of the Church, came from an illustrious and pious Christian family. He studied the secular sciences, including philosophy, but most of all he strove to acquire knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and the truths of the Christian Faith. In his youth Cyril entered the monastery of Macarius in the Nitreia hills, where he stayed for six years. Theophilus (385-412), the Patriarch of Alexandria, ordained him as a deacon, numbered him among the clergy and entrusted him to preach.

Upon the death of Patriarch Theophilus, Cyril was unanimously chosen to the patriarchal throne of the Alexandrian Church. He led the struggle against the spread of the Novatian heresy in Alexandria, which taught that any Christian who had fallen away from the Church during a time of persecution, could not be received back into it.

Cyril, seeing the futility of admonishing the heretics, sought their expulsion from Alexandria. The Jews appeared a greater danger for the Church, repeatedly causing riots, accompanied by the brutal killing of Christians. The saint long contended with them. In order to wipe out the remnants of paganism, the saint cast out devils from an ancient pagan temple and built a church on the spot, and the relics of the Holy Unmercenaries Cyrus and John were transferred into it. A more difficult struggle awaited the saint with the emergence of the Nestorian heresy.

Nestorius, a presbyter of the Antiochian Church, was chosen in 428 to the see of Constantinople and there he was able to spread his heretical teaching against the dogma about the uncommingled union of two natures in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Nestorius called the Mother of God not the Theotokos, but rather Christotokos or “Birth-giver of Christ,” implying that she gave birth not to God, but only to the man Christ. The holy Patriarch Cyril repeatedly wrote to Nestorius and pointed out his error, but Nestorius continued to persevere in it. Then the saint sent out epistles against Nestorianism to the clergy of Constantinople and to the holy emperor Theodosius the Younger (408-450), denouncing the heresy. Cyril wrote also to other Churches, to Pope Celestine and to the other Patriarchs, and even to monks of several monasteries, warning of the emergence of a dangerous heresy.

Nestorius started an open persecution against the Orthodox. In his presence one of his partisans, Bishop Dorotheus, pronounced an anathema against anyone who would call the Most Holy Virgin Mary the Theotokos.

Nestorius hated Cyril and brought out against him every kind of slander and fabrication, calling him a heretic. The saint continued to defend Orthodoxy with all his powers. The situation became so aggravated, that it became necessary to call an Ecumenical Council, which convened in the city of Ephesus in the year 431. At the Council 200 bishops arrived from all the Christian Churches. Nestorius, awaiting the arrival of Bishop John of Antioch and other Syrian bishops, did not agree to the opening of the Council. But the Fathers of the Council began the sessions with Cyril presiding. Having examined the teaching of Nestorius, the Council condemned him as a heretic. Nestorius did not submit to the Council, and Bishop John opened a “robber council”, which decreed Cyril a heretic. The unrest increased. By order of the emperor, Patriarch Cyril of Alexandria and Archbishop Memnon of Ephesus were locked in prison, and Nestorius was deposed.

Soon Saints Cyril and Memnon were freed, and the sessions of the Council continued. Nestorius, not submitting himself to the determinations of the Council, was deprived of priestly rank. By order of the emperor he was sent to the faraway place Sasim in the Libyan wilderness, where he died in grievous torments. His tongue, having blasphemed the Mother of God, was overtaken by punishment — in it there developed worms. Even Bishop John of Antioch and the remaining Syrian bishops signed the decrees of the Council of Ephesus.

Cyril guided the Alexandrian Church for 32 years, and towards the end of his life the flock was cleansed of heretics. Gently and cautiously Cyril approached anyone, who by their own simpleness and lack of knowledge, fell into false wisdom. There was a certain Elder, an ascetic of profound life, who incorrectly considered the Old Testament Priest Melchizedek to be the Son of God. Cyril prayed for the Lord to reveal to the Elder the correct way to view the righteous one. After three days the Elder came to Cyril and said that the Lord had revealed to him that Melchizedek was a mere man.

Cyril learned to overcome his prejudice against the memory of the great John Chrysostom (November 13). Theophilus, the Patriarch of Alexandria, and uncle of Cyril, was an antagonist of John, and presided in a council in judgment of him. Cyril thus found himself in a circle antagonistic to John Chrysostom, and involuntarily acquired a prejudice against him. Isidore of Pelusium (February 4) repeatedly wrote to Cyril and urged him to include the name of the great Father of the Church into the diptychs of the saints, but Cyril would not agree.

Once in a dream he saw a wondrous temple, in which the Mother of God was surrounded by a host of angels and saints, in whose number was John Chrysostom. When Cyril wanted to approach the All-Holy Lady and venerate her, John Chrysostom would not let him. The Theotokos asked John to forgive Cyril for having sinned against him through ignorance. Seeing that John hesitated, the Mother of God said, “Forgive him for my sake, since he has labored much for my honor, and has glorified me among the people calling me Theotokos.” John answered, “By your intercession, Lady, I do forgive him,” and then he embraced Cyril with love.

Cyril repented that he had maintained anger against the great saint of God. Having convened all the Egyptian bishops, he celebrated a solemn feast in honor of John Chrysostom.

Cyril died in the year 444, leaving behind many works. In particular, the following ought to be mentioned: commentaries On the Gospel of Luke, On the Gospel of John, On the Epistles of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians and to the Hebrews; also an Apologia in Defense of Christianity against the Emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363). Of vast significance are his Five Books against Nestorius; a work on the Most Holy Trinity under the title Thesaurus, written against Arius and Eunomios. Also two dogmatic compositions on the Most Holy Trinity, distinguished by a precise exposition of the Orthodox teaching on the Procession of the Holy Spirit. Cyril wrote Against Anthropomorphism for several Egyptians, who through ignorance depicted God in human form. Among Cyril’s works are also the Discussions, among which is the moving and edifying Discourse on the Exodus of the Soul, inserted in the Slavonic “Following Psalter”.

Today we commemorate the repose of this great Father of the Church. He is also remembered on January 18, the date of his flight from Alexandria.

Source: www.oca.org

The canon of the saint, the acrostic whereof is: “Cyril is the harp of divine visions”, the composition of Theophanes, in Tone IV.

Ode I, Irmos: Having traversed the depths of the Red Sea with dryshod feet, Israel of old vanquished the might of Amalek in the wilderness by Moses’ arms stretched out in the form of the Cross.

Hierarch of Christ, Cyril, pray to God for us.

Receiving light-giving grace from God, O Cyril, and revealed as a radiant beacon, thou hast shone forth upon the rays of the Word by thy commemoration, that we may hymn thee as is meet.

Hierarch of Christ, Cyril, pray to God for us.

As a keeper of the commandments of Christ thou wast full of the effulgence of the Spirit, O all-wise Cyril, having been cleansed of the passions; and thou truly becamest a dwelling-place of the all-divine Trinity.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

As one full of zeal and boldness, O glorious Cyril, contending for the right Faith thou hast truly denounced the God-opposing blasphemies of ungodly heresies.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: In giving birth to the Creator of all Who hath lifted us up who have been laid low by the fall of our first father, O most immaculate Bride of God, thou hast healed the broken state of mankind.

Ode III, Irmos: Thy Church rejoiceth in Thee, O Christ, crying aloud: Thou art my strength, O Lord, my refuge and my consolation!

Hierarch of Christ, Cyril, pray to God for us.

Strengthened in Christ, O Cyril, with steadfast mind thou didst destroy the wiles of the evil serpent like a spider’s web.

Hierarch of Christ, Cyril, pray to God for us.

Thou didst shake off the mire of the passions from thy soul, O Cyril, and cast down the uprising of every thought which exalteth itself against Christ.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As a successful athlete, O father, thou didst steadily turn away from every carnal pleasure as harmful and detrimental.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

With joy we all splendidly glorify thee as the only blessed one among women who became the habitation of God.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. 

Sessional hymn, Tone III, Spec. Mel. “Awed by the beauty of thy virginity…”: As a pillar and sacrifice of the Church of Christ, O father, thou didst preserve it unshaken by the temptations of the evil one, and all-wise; for thou didst destroy all the evil works of Nestorius and didst proclaim the Mother of God to be the ­Theotokos. Wherefore, assembling, we honor thee, O divinely blessed Cyril.

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: As an uncultivated vine, O Virgin, thou didst put forth the most comely Cluster Who poureth forth upon us the wine of salvation which maketh glad men’s souls and bodies. Wherefore, ever blessing thee as the cause of good things, we cry out to thee with the angels: Rejoice, O thou who art full of grace!

Stavrotheotokion (replaces the Theotokion on Wednesdays and Fridays): Thy pure Mother who knew not wedlock, beholding Thee, O Christ, hanging dead upon the Cross, said, lamenting maternally: “How hath the iniquitous and ungrateful assembly of the Jews rewarded Thee, which enjoyed Thy many and great gifts, O my Son? I hymn Thy divine condescension.”

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!

Hierarch of Christ, Cyril, pray to God for us.

Seeing thee, O God-bearing father Cyril, who vanquished the soul-corrupting passions and restrained carnal thoughts, Christ set thee as a primate of His divine Church.

Hierarch of Christ, Cyril, pray to God for us.

Inheriting the paternal virtue of Mark as a beloved son, thou wast an inheritor of his divine throne, following in the footsteps of the evangelist.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Tended by Christ like a lamb, O father, like a shepherd thou didst pasture thy flock on thy spiritually nourishing discourses, feeding them grace as though it were grass and flowers.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Giving birth to the incarnate Word of God Who before was incorporeal, O most hymned and joyous one, thou hast restored the world. Wherefore, O Bride of God, with Orthodox faith we proclaim thee.

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.

Hierarch of Christ, Cyril, pray to God for us.

Thy discourse, O Cyril, was like unto a mighty torrent which floodeth rivers, scouring away the craftiness of the heretics.

Hierarch of Christ, Cyril, pray to God for us.

The vile division of Arius and the abominable confusion of Sabellius didst thou equally consign to the abyss, O Cyril.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

O Cyril, thou hast left to the Church of Christ thine enriching discourses like gold and thy treasuries like precious stones.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Let heaven drop down gladness and grace upon the earth, for it now sendeth up gladness on high, the only Mother of God.

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.

Hierarch of Christ, Cyril, pray to God for us.

With tongs the seraph gave the prophet a burning coal, and by thy hands, O initiate of sacred mysteries, thou givest to the Church of Christ a purifying coal from the divine Fire.

Hierarch of Christ, Cyril, pray to God for us.

Thou didst not destroy Philistines like Samson, but didst cast down all the alien doctrines of the heterodox and hast given might to the Orthodox, O Cyril.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Manifestly heading the divinely elect council, O father, thou didst cast down the ungodliness of Nestorius and his Christ-opposing audacity, O father, breathing forth with zeal for the true Mother of God.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Thou didst bud forth the Fruit of incorrupt understanding, O Theotokos, being shown forth to the world as an ever-living mediator of incorruption for those who hymn thee with faith and love.

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 VI, Spec. Mel. “Fulfilling the dispensation concerning us…” : Thou hast manifestly poured forth upon us an abyss of doctrines of theology from the wellsprings of the Savior, drowning heresies and saving thy flock unharmed by threefold waves, O blessed Cyril; for thou art shown to be a guide for all lands, O venerable one, revealing things divine.

Ikos: When the great, beauteous and radiant sun showeth itself at dawn, darkness is driven away and the moon retreateth, for night cannot abide it: it shineth forth with the light of day, illumineth the air, showeth forth the sky as beautiful for us, adorning the earth and causing plants to grow; it maketh bright the sea and also adorneth the whole world. Alike in all is the most radiant Cyril, whose wise teachings save the world. For he illumineth the souls of the faithful therewith and ever vanquisheth heresies with piety; for he is the guide for all lands, revealing things divine.

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!

Hierarch of Christ, Cyril, pray to God for us.

Moses of old, entering the darkness on Mount Sinai, received the law which slayeth by the letter; but thou, O blessed Cyril, hast disclosed the hidden beauty of the Spirit.

Hierarch of Christ, Cyril, pray to God for us.

As revelation was made to the children of old in the indistinct images of the law, O father, thou didst lift the lid from the cup given thee, opening it like a rose of understanding, most manifestly speaking in images.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Theologizing the three Hypostases in unconfused divine unity and manifestly indivisible distinction, O father Cyril, thou didst utter immutable truths concerning the one Essence and Godhead.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The angels beheld strange things in thy birthgiving, O Mother of God: the corrupt nature of the earthly race hastening toward the life of incorruption and the glory of heaven.

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!

Hierarch of Christ, Cyril, pray to God for us.

Like a wave of the sea did the wellspring of wisdom truly flow forth in thee; for ever-flowing rivers of the doctrines of piety issued forth from within thee, as Christ foretold, O father; for thy divinely chosen words surpass the sands.

Hierarch of Christ, Cyril, pray to God for us.

Thou wast a wise pastor and teacher of the Church, O venerable Cyril, manifestly interpreting both covenants; for, possessing thy discourses as an anchor and a paternal inheritance, it crieth out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Thou teachest the ineffable union of the Word, the Fashioner of all, Who became incarnate for our sake, which is indivisible and unconfused, O Cyril, and didst incline towards an individual will for each nature, crying: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The Son and Word of God Who is wholly unapproachable in His essence, made His abode within thee, O pure, all-pure one, and, ­clothing Himself in our essence, in that He is merciful, He appeared accessible in the flesh and dwelt with us who cry aloud: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Ode IX, Irmos: Eve, through weakness, abode under the curse of disobedience; but thou, O Virgin Theotokos, hast put forth blessing for the world through the Offspring of thy child-bearing. Wherefore, we all magnify thee.

Hierarch of Christ, Cyril, pray to God for us.

O Cyril, thou didst cast down the disdain directed against the understanding of Christ and His divine Mother, and all the might of the ungodly Nestorius, the dual sonship, and the mingling of essences of the Acephaloi.

Hierarch of Christ, Cyril, pray to God for us.

With the power of understanding and the enlightenment of grace, O blessed one, thou didst theologize concerning the consubstantial Trinity and the incarnate Word of God; and showing thyself to be champion of the Theotokos, thou art now glorified in the highest.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

O ever-memorable father, thou dost mercifully look down from on high upon us who hymn thee, granting victory over all heresies to our right-­believing hierarchs, by thy supplications lifting up the horn of the Orthodox, and illumining those who magnify thy memory.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Beset by many falls and the cruelty of misfortunes, O all-hymned one, I now offer thee a sacrifice of praise and earnestly cry out to thee: O holy Theotokos, help me, for I finish my hymnody glorifying thee.

Troparion, Tone VIII: O instructor of Orthodoxy, teacher of piety and purity, beacon of all the world, divinely inspired adornment of hierarchs: O all-wise Cyril, by thy doctrines thou hast enlightened all. O harp of the Spirit, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.

June 8/21: The Life and Canon to St Theodore the General

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June 8/21: The feast of the translation of the relics of St Theodore the General.

The Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates (the General) came from the city of Euchaita in Asia Minor. He was endowed with many talents, and was handsome in appearance. For his charity God enlightened him with the knowledge of Christian truth. The bravery of the saintly soldier was revealed after he, with the help of God, killed a giant serpent living on a precipice in the outskirts of Euchaita. The serpent had devoured many people and animals, terrorizing the countryside. St Theodore armed himself with a sword and vanquished it, glorifying the name of Christ among the people.

For his bravery St Theodore was appointed military commander [stratelatos] in the city of Heraclea, where he combined his military service with preaching the Gospel among the pagans subject to him. His gift of persuasion, reinforced by his personal example of Christian life, turned many from their false gods. Soon, nearly all of Heraclea had accepted Christianity.

During this time the emperor Licinius (311-324) began a fierce persecution against Christians. In an effort to stamp out the new faith, he persecuted the enlightened adherents of Christianity, who were perceived as a threat to paganism. Among these was St Theodore. Licinius tried to force St Theodore to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. The saint invited Licinius to come to him with his idols so both of them could offer sacrifice before the people.

Blinded by his hatred for Christianity, Licinius trusted the words of the saint, but he was disappointed. St Theodore smashed the gold and silver statues into pieces, which he then distributed to the poor. Thus he demonstrated the vain faith in soulless idols, and also displayed Christian charity.

St Theodore was arrested and subjected to fierce and refined torture. He was dragged on the ground, beaten with iron rods, had his body pierced with sharp spikes, was burned with fire, and his eyes were plucked out. Finally, he was crucified. Varus, the servant of St Theodore, barely had the strength to write down the incredible torments of his master.

God, however, in His great mercy, willed that the death of St Theodore should be as fruitful for those near him as his life was. An angel healed the saint’s wounded body and took him down from the cross. In the morning, the imperial soldiers found him alive and unharmed. Seeing with their own eyes the infinite might of the Christian God, they were baptized not far from the place of the unsuccessful execution.

Thus St Theodore became “like a day of splendor” for those pagans dwelling in the darkness of idolatary, and he enlightened their souls “with the bright rays of his suffering.” Unwilling to escape martyrdom for Christ, St Theodore voluntarily surrendered himself to Licinius, and discouraged the Christians from rising up against the torturer, saying, “Beloved, halt! My Lord Jesus Christ, hanging upon the Cross, restrained the angels and did not permit them to take revenge on the race of man.”

Going to execution, the holy martyr opened up the prison doors with just a word and freed the prisoners from their bonds. People who touched his robe were healed instantly from sicknesses, and freed from demonic possession. By order of the emperor, St Theodore was beheaded by the sword. Before his death he told Varus, “ Do not fail to record the day of my death, and bury my body in Euchaita.” He also asked to be remembered each year on this date. Then he bent his neck beneath the sword, and received the crown of martyrdom which he had sought. This occurred on February 8, 319, on a Saturday, at the third hour of the day.

St Theodore is regarded as the patron saint of soldiers.

OCA.org 2/21/2014

The canon of the Great-Martyr, the acrostic whereof is: “With divine praises I hymn thee who art the namesake of divine gifts,” the composition of Theophanes, in Tone IV

Ode I, Irmos: Having traversed the depths of the Red Sea with dryshod feet, Israel of old vanquished the might of Amalek in the wilderness by Moses’ arms stretched out in the form of the Cross.

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

A martyr manifestly adorned with splendors, thou dost stand before Christ the Benefactor, arrayed by Him, for thou art the namesake of divine gifts, O martyr Theodore.

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

Armed with the divine weaponry of faith, thou didst steadfastly cut down the soul-destroying ­legions of the enemy, O Theodore; and as victor thou hast been crowned with the martyrs.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Showing forth the splendid courage of thy soul before the ungodly emperor, O divinely wise one, thou didst put him to shame by the wisdom of thy words and the grace of thy deeds, O Theodore.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

By the will of the Father and through the divine Spirit thou didst conceive the Son of God without seed, and didst give birth in the flesh unto Him Who was begotten of the Father without mother, and Who for our sake was born of thee without father.

Ode III, Irmos: Thy Church rejoiceth in Thee, O Christ, crying aloud: Thou art my strength, O Lord, my refuge and my consolation!

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

Like a mighty commander thou didst vanquish the legion of the ungodly, and didst trample down all the wiles of the pernicious serpent.

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

In that thou wast earnest of soul, O glorious one, with pious intent thou didst destroy the adulterous temples of the ungodly.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

With force of mind didst thou endure the assaults of the cruel foe, emulating the life-creating death of the Judge of the contest.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Mother of God, in manner transcending nature thou alone hast become the mediatress of blessings for those on earth. Wherefore, we cry to thee: Rejoice!

Sessional hymn, Tone VIII, Spec. Mel. “Of the Wisdom…”: Having put on the armor of God and destroyed the falsehood of idolatry, thou didst move the angels to praise thy struggles; for, having set thy mind afire with divine love, thou didst manfully endure a fiery death. Wherefore, true to thy name, thou bestowest divine gifts upon those who ask, O passion-bearer Theodore; for which cause we cry out to thee: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins to those who lovingly honor thy memory.

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.

Theotokion: Having fallen into the subtle temptations of enemies, visible and invisible, beset by the tempest of my countless offenses, I flee to the haven of thy goodness, O pure one, as to my fervent assistance and protection. Wherefore, O all-pure one, ­earnestly entreat Him Who was incarnate of thee without seed in behalf of all thy servants who unceasingly pray to thee, O all-pure Theotokos, ever beseeching Him to grant remission of our offenses unto us who hymn thy glory as is meet.

Stavrotheotokion (replaces the Theotokion on Wednesdays and Fridays): The Virgin and Mother of Jesus, beholding the Creator upon the Tree, groaned, weeping, and was smitten with grief, her soul and body rent asunder, smiting herself, crying out to Him bitterly, and lifting up her voice: “Woe is me, O my Son! How can I endure Thy passion, the nails and the spear, I who without pain gave Thee birth? But haste Thou to arise, that I may see Thee, my Son and God, that my lamentation and pain may cease, and that they who hymn Thy sufferings may receive remission of their offenses.”

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 Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

Thou didst wound the serpent who wished to wound thee, and by thy steadfast opposition thou didst show thyself to be a martyr, earnestly chanting unto Him Who gave thee strength: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

Having laid waste to thy flesh with many wounds, thou didst set thy mind immovable, O thrice-blessed one, chanting earnestly unto Him Who gave thee strength: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Thou didst adorn thyself, joining thine honored sufferings to the sufferings of the Master, O all-wise one, and thou wast vouchsafed His radiance and longed-for beauty.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Without tasting of wedlock thou gavest birth, O Virgin, and after thy birthgiving thou wast shown to be a virgin still. Wherefore, unceasingly and with steadfast faith we cry out to thee, O Mistress: Rejoice!

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 Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

With the shedding of the blood of thy flesh thou didst put an end to the blood offered to the demons unto destruction, O invincible Theodore.

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

O, the pious demeanor! O, the noble mind! O, the most fervent faith of the honored athlete, whereby he acquired God!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Possessed of a mind illumined by the light of God, thou didst cast into darkness the serpent, the champion of evil, O God-bearing Theodore.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Thee do we wield as an invincible weapon against the enemy; thee have we acquired as the confirmation and hope of our salvation, O Bride of God.

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 Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

Stretched out upon a cross and transfixed with nails, presenting an image of the saving Passion of the Creator, O blessed one, thou didst with bold ardor vanquish those who are cast down.

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

When thou wast imprisoned in the dungeon, lawfully contesting, Christ appeared unto thee, raising thee up to feats of battle against the enemy, in that He is the Judge of the contest, O all-glorious one.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

To Him Who willingly offered Himself as a sacrifice for thy sake didst thou bring thyself as a sacrifice pure, holy and unblemished, O passion-bearer Theodore.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O wonder greatest of all wonders! As Virgin thou didst without knowing man conceive in thy womb Him Who sustaineth all things, yet didst not confine Him therein.

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, Spec. Mel. “Seeking the highest…”: Arrayed in faith with manliness of soul, and taking in hand the word of God as a spear, thou didst vanquish the enemy, O Theodore, great among the martyrs. With them cease thou never to entreat Christ God in behalf of us all.

Ikos: Come, all ye faithful, and with wreaths of hymnody let us crown Theodore, the most radiant adornment of athletes; for in the splendor of his miracles he is shown to be God’s great gift to the world. Having vanquished Belial the enemy by his honored sufferings, he sendeth down as dew streams of healings with the drops of his blood. In all these things doth Christ rejoice, and He granteth everlasting peace. Wherefore, we cry out to the martyr: Pray thou unceasingly for 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 Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

In the furnace of thy struggles didst thou utterly consume the fuel of impiety, O glorious martyr, and thou wast a beacon of piety, chanting: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

As a commander wise and sober in deed, thou didst prevail over the senseless and ungodly emperor; and, strengthened by the power of the Spirit, thou didst show him to be powerless.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

By the praises of thy greatness is the law overcome; for with the most radiant effulgence of torment didst thou shine forth, O Theodore, crying out to thy Master: Blessed is the might of Thy dominion!

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Rejoice, O divine and sanctified habitation of the Most High, for through thee, O Theotokos, hath joy been imparted to those who cry: Blessed art thou among women, O all-immaculate Mistress!

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 Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

“Trusting in Thee, Who for my sake didst endure the Cross and death, I have been lifted up upon a cross, O Master, and am pierced by arrows and am touched by grievous wounds, O Lord,” thou didst cry out amid thy suffering, O noble-minded martyr Theodore.

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

Rejoicing, thou didst offer thyself as a pure sacrifice to thy Creator, O Theodore, and translated to the kingdom of heaven, O glorious one, with the martyrs thou dost ever cry out in sacred manner: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Like a lily, like a noetic rose, dost thou perfume us with the sweet savor of thy sufferings, ever dispelling the stench of our passions with grace, and constraining us to sing with fragrant souls: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Thou alone among all generations wast shown to be the Mother of God, O most pure Virgin. Thou was not consumed by the fire of the unapproachable Light. Wherefore, we all bless thee, O Mary, thou Bride of God.

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 Great Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

Adorned by thy sufferings, abiding and rejoicing with the assemblies of the blessed and the choirs of martyrs, thou now standest, crowned, before Him Whom thou didst desire, O Theodore.

Holy Great Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

Caught up to the heights of heaven, having spurned earthly things, thou wast accounted worthy of the end for which thou didst long, receiving the very perfection of desires, rejoicing, O Theodore.

Holy Great Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

Having boldness before God, as a noble and wise athlete ask thou remission of offenses for us who praise thee with love, delivering us all from sufferings and sorrows.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

The divinely wise martyr, desiring Thee alone, the immortal Word, Who suffered and died in the flesh, having received Thine immortality, hath made his abode in the heavens, in the presence of Thee, the almighty Creator of all.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Come ye all, and with faith and love let us unceasingly praise the blessed Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, having on her account received joy everlasting.

Troparion, in Tone IV: Through true recruitment didst thou become a most comely general of the heavenly King, O passion-bearer Theodore; for with the weaponry of faith thou didst wisely array thyself, didst vanquish legions of demons and didst show thyself forth as a victorious athlete. Wherefore, we ever bless thee with faith.

The Weekend and the Week Ahead

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Dear brothers and sisters,

It was certainly as busy weekend, with our clergy serving in both Cardiff and Cheltenham, and in such warm surroundings.

As in past years, our Sunday Liturgy was dented by Fathers’ Day, but we carried on regardless, celebrating the memory of all saints who shone forth in the lands of Rus’, happy to see new faces and welcome first-timers to our Liturgy. We look forward to getting to know one another, and sharing Church life.

Many thanks to our trio on the kliros, to our servers and the parish sisters who offered refreshments to our worshippers. 

We were greatly blessed to commune the newly baptised Stylian, whose parents and Godfather brought him from Hereford to partake of the Most Pure Mysteries. Many Years to them all! We also congratulate all who confessed and communed!

We continue to keep the Apostles’ Fast, and after the blessing of enjoying fish at the weekend, this week returns to the same pattern as last week, and we should fast as strictly as possible, with the fasting rules as our ideal:

Monday: By monastic charter, strict fast (bread, vegetables, fruits)

Tuesday: Food with oil, wine permitted.

Wednesday: By monastic charter, strict fast (bread, vegetables, fruits)

Thursday: Food with oil, wine permitted.

Friday: By monastic charter, strict fast (bread, vegetables, fruits)

Saturday: Fish wine and oil permitted

Sunday: Fish wine and oil permitted

Next Sunday will see us celebrate the memory of the saints who have shone forth in the Isles of Britain, including those whom we venerate locally and have honoured in pilgrimages over the years – St David, St Teilo, St Cadog, St Melangell, St Non, St Tewdrig, and so many others. As some time Archbishop of Western Europe, the memory of the western saints was incredibly important to our great hierarch St John the Wonderworker, and – as a diocese – our local saints are an integral part of our spiritual identity, with our parishes actively promoting their veneration and visiting their holy places, as we do locally, month by month.

As you are all uncomfortably aware, the temperature in Nazareth House continues to be a challenge, with staff telling us how much they are also struggling, with the temperature regulator of the ancient and vast system seemingly not working – meaning on or off is the only choice, apart from a £40k investment. Even with the radiators turned off, the vast Victorian pipes give off an incredible amount of heat, as we know from experience, and as clergy in Russian-style vestments, we are finding the temperature very difficult, hence celebrating at the high-altar, to at least have a cross current from the sacristy window. Air conditioners will be ordered over the next week.

Once more, may I remind you that it is our tradition to offer small prosphory as part of our eucharistic praxis, with the priest removing commemorative particles in memory of the living and departed. The covid-period, with some temporary changes to the way we celebrated saw this forgotten, so please remember that this is our ancient and pious custom, and should be an automatic part of parish life. When prosphory are on the candle-desk, please take the opportunity to present them.

Finally, given the number of enquirers and new parishioners, the following article may be of interest, especially as so many are asking about the rather divergent attitudes of different jurisdictions to the Sacred Tradition of the Church – with some of them trampling it with energy and terrifying thoroughness. I have posted the link to our parish Facebook page, so it may be read there

A Conversation About Modernism, from the Orthodox Christian Information Center (sic!), and written by the much respected Archpriest Alexander Lebedeff, of our Western American Archdiocese.

http://orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/tradmod_intro.aspx

As already emailed, please get in touch with me by Wednesday noonday, regarding confessions this week.

May God bless you all, and thank you to all who continue to show such immense kindness in little ways, bringing and sharing refreshments for train journeys, meals for clergy, gifts of tea and coffee, flowers and so many other tokens of Christian love.

With love in Christ – Hieromonk Mark

Celebrating the Kursk-Root Icon in Cheltenham

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A day after the Church celebrated the summer feast of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, we belatedly kept the feast in Cheltenham, celebrating the Divine Liturgy in Prestbury, mindful of the wonderful visits the Wonder-Working icon has made to our little community over the years.

Though we only had our customary small congregation, most of those present were with us in the same chapel the last time the icon visited us in March 2021. We also remember the very special visit of the icon with our late Metropolitan Hilarion, of blessed memory.

Rather than preach a homily, at the end of Liturgy, a little time was spent talking to the children about the icon, its pictorial scheme and how miracles have been granted through its physical presence at the heart of our Church and in our scattered communities.

Given that we only have one Liturgy a month, we are generally starting late, as nearly all worshippers wish to confess and commune, so we will discuss amending the service time – though I worry that this will simply result in people coming for confession later. I will discuss this with parishioners when making home visits over the next few weeks.

We would like to thank our devoted parishioners who had been busy before the Liturgy, as always: prosphora-baking, cooking and cutting flowers, and then fulfilling the various obediences for our monthly mission Liturgy, with a wonderful Lenten lunch, with mama Galyna’s pickles and mama Lyuba’s baking!

THE APOSTLES’ FAST: PREPARING FOR CONFESSION

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During Great Lent, and the other fasts of the Church Year, it is customary for all Orthodox Christians to go to confession to their priest. Properly this should be done several times a year, the exact frequency depending upon how often one is blessed to receive the Holy Mysteries and on the counsel and blessing of one’s spiritual father. As a preparation for this sacramental confession and to help one examine one’s conscience before coming to confession, the following questions are sometimes distributed in parishes and, although of course the list is not exhaustive, it may be a help to those of our readers who are Orthodox Christians.

Sins Against God

Do you pray to God in the morning and evening, before and after meals?

During prayer have you allowed your thoughts to wander?

Have you rushed or gabbled your prayers? or when reading in church?

Do you read the Scriptures daily? Do you read other spiritual writings regularly?

Have you read books whose content is not Orthodox or even anti-Orthodox, or is spiritually damaging?

Have you pronounced the name of God without reverence, joking? Have you asked God’s help before starting every activity?

Have you made the sign of the Cross carelessly, thoughtlessly? Have you sworn? Have you murmured against God?

Have you sinned by forgetting God?

Have you been slack in attending church?

Have you consecrated even part of the feast days, particularly Sundays and the Twelve Great Feasts, to God?

Have you tried your best to attend church on these days? or have you spent them more sinfully than ordinary days?

If unable to attend church for some reason, have you nonetheless tried to devote some part of these days to prayer and spiritual reading?

Have you joined with people not of the Faith in prayer, or attended their worship services?

Have you kept the fasts?

Have you behaved irreverently in church, or before the clergy and monastics?

Have you laughed or talked in church, or moved about unnecessarily, thus also distracting other people from prayer?

Have dressed modestly and in a becoming manner when in church?

Have you tried to pay reverent attention to the readings, hymns, and prayers in church?

Have you striven to pray with the service, crossing yourself, etc., or have you rather simply stood and day-dreamed?

Have you prepared for the services beforehand, looking up the Scriptural readings, making sure you have the texts to follow the service etc., especially if the service will be in a language you do not readily understand?

Have you ever left church after the Divine Services, and particularly after receiving the Holy Mysteries and immediately engaged in light talk and thus forgotten the blessings and graces you have received?

Have you been ashamed of your Faith or the sign of the Cross in the presence of others?

Have you made a show of your piety?

Have you used your Orthodox Faith or its teachings merely to browbeat others or belittle them?

Have you used it as a shield or excuse for your own inadequacies rather than humbling yourself?

Have you believed in dreams, fortune telling, astrology, signs and other superstitions?

Do you give thanks to the Lord for all things?

Have you ever doubted God’s providence concerning yourself?

Do you at least try to perceive His purpose in all the things that come upon you?

Sins Against Your Neighbours

Do you respect and obey your parents?

Have you offended them by rudeness or contradiction?

(These two apply also to priests, superiors, teachers and elders.)

Have you insulted anyone?

Have you quarrelled or fought with anyone? Have you hit anyone?

Are you always respectful to old people?

Are you ever angry, bad tempered or irritable?

Have you called anyone names? Do you use foul language?

Have you derided any that are disabled, poor, old or in some way disadvantaged?

Have you entertained bad feelings, ill will or hatred against anyone?

Have you forgiven those who have offended you?

Have you asked forgiveness from those whom you have offended?

Are you at peace with everyone?

Have you left the needy without help when you could have helped?

Have you attended the sick or elderly when they have asked you to do so?

Have you shown kindness and attention to all, remembering that God is expecting just such an attitude from you?

Have you hit animals without a cause or been cruel to them, or neglectful of those in your care?

Have you stolen anything?

Have you taken or used other people’s things without asking?

Have you kept money or things that were lent you without returning them?

Have you wasted your employers’ time or resources? Have you taken things from work for your own use, used the firm’s phone or other facilities for your own purposes without permission or repayment?

Are you obstinate, and do you always try to have your own way?

Have you been inconsiderate of other people’s feelings?

Have you tried to have your revenge against those who have offended you?

Have you harboured resentment? Have you deceived people?

Have you gossiped?

Have you told untruths?

Have you judged and condemned others?

Have you taken pains before approaching for confession to be reconciled with all?

Sins Against Yourself

Have you been proud? Do you boast of your abilities, achievements, family, connections or riches?

Do you consider yourself worthy before God?

Are you vain, ambitious? Do you try to win praise and glory?

Do you bear it easily when you are blamed, scolded or treated unjustly? Do you think too much about your looks, outward appearance and the impression you make?

Have you sinned in thought, word or deed, by a look or glance, or in any other way against the seventh commandment? (Adultery, fornication, all extra-marital sexual relationships with others, masturbation, engaging in unnatural sexual acts, fantasising, pornography, etc.)

Have you envied anyone anything? Have you been over-sensitive?

Have you been lazy? Have you done your duties heartily?

Have you wasted your time, energy or abilities in things that do not profit the soul?

Have you become obsessive about anything? Have you been despondent or listless?

Have you had thoughts of committing suicide?

Have you brought a curse on yourself or others or ill-wished them, being impatient?

Have you a weakness for alcohol? Have you drunk too much, or become dependent on drink?

Have you taken drugs, other than necessary medicines? Have you smoked?

Have you watched television too much or indiscriminately? Have you given yourself up to any other similar pastime which wastes your time and energy and might have harmed you?

Have you been greedy, either with regard to food or to possessions?

Have you indulged in comfort-eating? Have you become accustomed to eating between meals?

Have you been picky about your food, or wasteful of foods, forgetting that so many people are without proper nourishment? Have you been extravagant? Have you been wasteful? 

Do you care for and seek first the salvation of your soul, the spiritual life and the kingdom of God, or have you put earthly considerations in the first place?

Is there any other sin, which burdens your conscience, or which you are ashamed to tell?

Anyone preparing for confession must ask God to help his resolve to tell all his sins. A penitent should prepare for confession and collect his thoughts regarding his sins at least a day before confession. The most valuable thing in the eyes of God is the confession of the sin which weighs most on the conscience.Continue reading →

THE WEEK OF ALL SAINTS & THE APOSTLES’ FAST

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Dear brothers and sisters,

Given that today is the beginning of the Apostles’ Fast, I should have sent out the weekly parish news last night – as a reminder – but after the rigours of the previous four days I was falling asleep whilst at the computer.

Having celebrated the Sunday of All Saints in Cardiff yesterday, we now have the month long Apostle’s Fast until the feast of the Holy Chief Apostles, Peter and Paul, on 29 June / 12 July (at least for those following the Patristic Calendar).

We should be reducing our food to one formal meal a day, and remember that it is both normal and fine to have periods of hunger during fasting periods.

During the coming week, our food is vegan until the weekend, when fish is permitted, and the typikon envisages:

Monday: By monastic charter, strict fast (bread, vegetables, fruits)

Tuesday: Food with oil, wine permitted.

Wednesday: By monastic charter, strict fast (bread, vegetables, fruits)

Thursday: Food with oil, wine permitted.

Friday: By monastic charter, strict fast (bread, vegetables, fruits)

Saturday: Fish wine and oil permitted

Sunday: Fish wine and oil permitted

We should fast as strictly as possible, with the fasting guidelines as our ideal, though some of our parishioners have health issues that have been discussed, so that economia can be applied and blessed. Strictly keeping to the rules, particular regarding no oil on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays may be unsustainable for some parishioners for domestic and practical reasons, but those who can keep to this are encouraged to do so. However, there is no excuse for wine and alcohol when it is not allowed by the typikon.

As I have stressed many times – it is not our local tradition to eat shell-fish and sea-food (whatever happens in other local Churches), as there is nothing particularly ascetical about sitting down to a sea-food risotto, octopus stew or pan-fried squid. The fast should be a challenge, and monotony is totally acceptable. In the fast, we eat to live, NOT to enjoy – even tough we find ourselves enjoying the simplest foods and realising the joy of what is simple and basic.

A major problem in the “Lesser” Fasts, is keeping spiritual momentum, and making them a time of spiritual growth and focus when they do not have the clear thematic shape of the other fasting seasons of the year. Having celebrated the Sunday of All Saints, it would be good for us to do what I touched upon in my homily, and use this period to connect with the saints, ensuring that we read the life of one of the daily saints EVERY day during the fast, and chant their troparion and kontakion. As well as this, we might make our spiritual reading-matter hagiographical, putting aside other books so that we may read longer lives of the saints – for which there are so many wonderful books available.

Lets ensure that we don’t just drift through this fasting period aimlessly and casually. Seize the opportunity to invigorate spiritual life, through the prayers and examples of the saints. Be inspired and act!

After the busy-ness of the last week, I shall be trying to rest a little in the week ahead, with confessions on Thursday (email requests by Wednesday noon, please) and Deacon Mark and I will be celebrating the Liturgy in Cheltenham on Saturday, with the Hours at 10:00 and the Liturgy at 10:30. We are still worshipping in Prestbury United Reformed Church – Deep St, Cheltenham, GL52 3AW.

I would like to remind parishioners that those communing of the Holy Mysteries should be in church from the beginning of the Liturgy, and that the Gospel is the traditional ‘absolute’ cut-off point for communicants. I appreciate that some parishioners are making long-journeys and some are at the mercy of public transport, which often goes wrong, so economia is applied. However, parishioners living in Cardiff have little or no excuse to be arriving at Liturgy after the beginning of the service.

One of our sisters is kindly making small prosphora to offer for commemorations at Liturgy, as in the local East Slavic Churches it is the tradition to offer one or two loaves with our lists of names or commemoration books. Though the vast majority of our commemorations are made before the arrival of the faithful, due to times restrictions, this does not prevent the offering of prosphora – traditionally one for the living and one for the departed. We need to get into the habit of this everyday liturgical practice.

Finally, an immense thank you to those who have worked so hard over the weekend – particularly for our pilgrimage. Everything was a wonderful offering to the Lord, given with joy and gladness.

May He bless those who laboured so willingly for the parish as His chosen flock, to His praise and glory, and in honour of His favoured daughter, St Melangell. May she intercede for us.

With love in Christ – Hieromonk Mark

PENNANT MELANGELL – REFLECTIONS ON PILGRIMAGE

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There are few things better for deepening parish spiritual life and the bonds of spiritual kinship than pilgrimages, with their shared journeys, common prayer and Liturgy, eating together and making one another cups of tea, chatting, discussing spiritual matters, sharing life’s challenges, helping one another, motivating one another, and even enduring one another – snoring, funny little mannerisms, and sometimes irritating habits: all making for deepening human relationships, as well as the divine-human relationship in a powerful and palpable way.

The tangible blessings, shared joy, common strength and developing shared spiritual-identity, all eclipse the plethora of virtual Orthodox projects that characterise an internet-Orthodoxy, which, in some cases, is becoming a dangerous and deceptive surrogate for the experiential reality of the Church – with physical contact with people in the flesh; shared spiritual experience in the same place; and the physical and localised reality of the Holy Mysteries celebrated in a real setting, at arms’ length from one another in the physically manifest sobornost of the Church.

The act of pilgrimage, as an expression of the solidarity and shared Faith of a community requires the investment of time, effort, and resources.

It demands arrangements with destinations, planning services, pilgrim activities and meals, journey routes, possibly accommodation, and coordinating the pilgrims.

It requires packing cars with the multitude of things needed for Liturgy, possibly sleeping bags and tents with the whole paraphernalia of camping, changes of clothes, groceries, bug-spray and first aid kits… and so much more.

It has a cost that necessitates going out of our comfort zone, and is no quick and easy or tick-box exercise. And… through all of this, working together, we receive such blessings from God.

Over the last five months, our parish pilgrimages – to Llandaff, on our doorstep, Llanthony and Capel-y-ffin, Mathern and Tintern, Glastonbury and Pennant Melangell have spiritually strengthened our parish, as well as uniting us with friends who travel from afar.

This weekend’s pilgrimage brought friends from Poole and Cambridge – people willing to make long and tiring journeys to worship God and honour the saints. Even some regular parishioners had to travel from Wiltshire and Somerset to honour St Melangell, whose feast fell on Friday according to the Patristic Calendar, and which we celebrated a day late, on Saturday.

Our Deacon, constantly reminds the community that spiritual life is never meant to be easy or convenient, but that it demands effort, sacrifice and the endurance of inconvenience and hardship. We are never in doubt that our Cardiff ROCOR parishioners accept this, given the number travelling from the Forest of Dean, Mid-Gloucestershire, Bath and Wiltshire, but the wonderful experience of the weekend made this even clearer – with nineteen pilgrims travelling from South Wales and Wessex on a long and winding journey into the depths of Montgomery, in order to honour St Melangell in her ancient sanctuary and to celebrate her feast.

What a wonderful celebration it was, though our Liturgy was very simple, compared to our usual rather more imposing Liturgies: only one priest, one oltarnik, one singer and one reader – but, all supported by the prayers of the other pilgrims.

Most of those present had prepared to receive the Holy Mysteries and made their confessions before and during the Hours.

It was a joy to chant the hymns to St Melangell and celebrate the Liturgy in the once-wild place of her God-centred life, where the labours of eremitical reclusion and its spiritual fruits made her an earthly angel and a heavenly woman.

Our celebration and joyful fellowship spilled out into the churchyard, where our sisters arranged a table for a picnic lunch, with warm conversation (chilled wine and hot tea!) and we were well-aware of the growing bond between regular pilgrims, who want to be together and enjoy being together – to share lives, Faith, time, labours and energy within the context of the spiritual family of our parish.

This will no doubt continue, month after month, as we make further pilgrimages to holy places, whether on our doorstep or further away, bringing us closer to one another, closer to the saints, and – above all – closer to God, whose Presence makes the holy places of His saints His sanctuaries: places of encounter, where the foretaste of His Kingdom calls us to follow in the footsteps of the saints: to live in a way that challenges the world, and to be holy to the Lord.

PEACE AND TRANQUILITY AT PENNANT MELANGELL

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Arriving in Pennant Melangell at dusk on Friday, it was a joy to be greeted by the shrine church in its ancient llan, with yew trees possibly older than the Christian presence in the valley – knowing that at any hour during the night, I could walk down the lane from the pilgrim shepherd’s hut, push open the great door and pray in the chancel of the church, beside the imposing arcaded-shrine containing St Melangell’s relics.

After supper in the beudy bach *, I did so, heading down the lane in the long, late midsummer twilight, to pray beside the shrine, casting light on the high gabled-canopy with a single candle. The owls in the wooded valley sides were the only audible sound apart from the chanting of night prayers. Even as I returned along the lane, the sky was still not dark, though the last light over the mountains was to fade within minutes – the owls continuing, with the breeze gently stirring the grass in the neighbouring meadow, and the sound of the river beyond the boundary of trees.

There are few places where we can experience such peace, free from the encroaching noise and disruption of the world: a place where the chink of a teacup on a saucer, or the bang of a closing window seems not only loud, but intrusive; places that make us tread softly and carefully, not wishing to assault the gentle quietness which envelopes us with the mundane noises of the world; places in which to turn the pages of a book slowly, pray softly, and wash the supper things noiselessly.

In this enclosure of peace, it was wonderful to wake to the gentle buzzing of bees, frantically tumbling from yellow poppy to yellow poppy, and oddly amplified in the enclosed tube of fox-glove flowers. Such was the number of bumble bees that the borders hummed with their industrious presence.

Of course, the ascetical fathers likened monastics to honey-bees, collecting the sweet nectar of divine grace through their spiritual labours, and this image can be used for the monastics who laboured at Pennant Melangell in lives of constant spiritual industry for the sake of the Kingdom of God, so much so that the sweetness of God’s Grace still touches the constant stream of pilgrims who come to honour St Melangell and to seek her intercessions and merciful care.

Our great blessing was to do this by celebrating her feast – albeit a day late – by offering the sacrifice of the Holy and Divine Mysteries no more than an arm’s length from the raised stone chest containing her sacred relics.

In this sacred celebration, we entered not only into communion with the Saviour, through His Body and Blood, but in the offering of the Eternal Sacred Banquet, we entered more deeply into fellowship and communion with St Melangell, herself, and all of the saints from ages past.

Seeking her intercessions, we joined our prayers with hers, as a common and shared offering of prayer and praise to the Great High-Priest, honouring her memory in our hymns and commemoration, as one who offered herself as a sacrifice of prayer and praise to the Lord.

It was a great honour and blessing to be able to celebrate the Liturgy, and we were touched and humbled by the great warmth and hospitality afforded to our pilgrims who had travelled from Wilstshire, Dorset and Cambridge, as well as our South Wakes parishioners.

My prayer is that St Melangell’s example, and the reality of her intercessions, will touch each and every one of our pilgrims, affording them strength and courage, so that like her and the wise-virgins of the Gospel for her feast, we may all be ever-vigilant and watchful in lives dedicated to Christ, the Bridegroom of the Church. 

Glory to God, for affording us such a great blessing, and thanks to Him for the saints, as our guides and exemplars.

* ‘little cow house’ – converted for use by pilgrims

Pentecost-Trinity Week

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Dear brothers and sisters: greetings for the feast – s prazdnikom! 

Though half-term holidays slightly dented attendance for the feast of Pentecost-Trinity, we nevertheless had in excess of forty souls – including the children – for our celebration, with vespers on Saturday evening, the Hours and Liturgy on Sunday, and the culmination of the feast in vespers with the kneeling-prayers. This made for long, but blessed hours of prayer in church, and it was wonderful that so many confessed and communed. We congratulate them all on their reception of the Most Pure Mysteries. 

Though I thanked those who laboured for the feast in my pastoral greetings, I will, nevertheless, repeat our gratitude for all who contributed to our first Troitsa in Nazareth House since 2020. 

As parishioners are now uncomfortably aware, the heat in the chapel is both uncomfortable and problematic. It has been made clear that the heating and radiators will not be turned off during the summer, and the incursion of pigeons makes it impossible to open the side-windows, which lack bird-grills. We are looking at ways to mitigate the heat, and have to be open in saying that if the heat becomes impossible – especially for clergy in layers of vestments – we will regrettably have to rethink our liturgical arrangements. 

This coming Saturday will see our parish pilgrimage to Pennant Melangell, the day after St Melangell’s feast-day, and we greatly look forward to celebrating the Divine Liturgy at her shrine. We will celebrate the Liturgy at 11:00, and having celebrated the proskomedia around 10:00, I will hear confessions before the service. Those who confessed on Sunday will be blessed to commune at the pilgrimage Liturgy. 

Confessions will also be heard in Cardiff earlier in the week, as I shall be in Nazareth House on Thursday, as usual. Please email me by noon on Wednesday to arrange a slot.  

Given journey-time back from Pennant Melangell, there will be no evening service or confessions in Cardiff on Saturday. 

As Deacon Mark reminded parishioners at Liturgy, confessions may be heard in Cardiff from just after 10:00 on Sundays, and we need to try and avoid a “pile up” of parishioners in the twenty to twenty-five minutes before Liturgy – so please plan journeys to try and arrive before 10:30 to avoid congestion. To be clear, I will not hear confessions just before Communion, as this inevitably results in the sudden appearance of a queue of individuals. Our parish has far more time for confessions than most parishes – on Thursday, Saturday AND Sunday, with some arranged confessions on Friday mornings some weeks. By the time we come to Holy Communion, there really should be no need for outstanding confessions. Also, confession and communion after Liturgy is an economia, and should not be taken for granted or thought of as normal. 

Many of you know, our undergraduate students are now at the end of their present academic year, and for Aldhelm and George the end of their undergraduate degrees. Our masters students have dissertations to complete, so the summer will not be a time of leisure for them. Our prayers are with them all as they seek work or look forward to further studies in the autumn. Prayers are also asked for our oltarnik Alexander “the Younger” as he prepares for his remaining exams. 

We congratulate Kyle on his job success and forthcoming employment and life in Cheltenham, and we continue to follow Toby’s journeyman travels in central Europe – greatly missing him in the parish. 

At this time, we also keep Nataliya and Mike in our prayers on their Kazakh and Uzbek travels, and we also pray for God’s blessing upon Germaine’s search for employment in Southern Spain, after having moved south from Pamplona. 

Remember that this week is a fast free week, but that Monday of the following week will see the beginning of the Apostles’ Fast, which will last from 12th June till after Liturgy on 12th July (28th June on the Patristic Calendar) – the Feast of the Chief Apostles, Peter and Paul. Please check your calendars for fasting rules during month-long fast. 

We look forward to celebrating the Sunday of All Saints, next weekend, with the variables for the Liturgy at:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15LUT-AJhi7e-7XT7Vg7YTTOi1MKbRa8P/view 

May God bless you all in the week ahead, and remember to continue to celebrate the feast and to pray its hymns and prayers in your icon corners. 

With love in Christ – Hieromonk Mark 

A Canon to the Holy Spirit

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Composed by Theophanes, in the 1st Tone.

Ode I, Irmos: Delivered from cruel bondage, Israel traversed the impassable sea as if on dry land. On seeing the enemy drowned, in joyfulness they sang a hymn to God Who worketh wonders with His upraised arm; for He is glorified. 

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. 

O Divine Holy Spirit, Who distributest gifts unto all men and doest all things by Thy will, inspire me with Thy luminous gift, that I may glorify Thee Who art one with the Father and the Son. 

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. 

O Comforter, Who hast given the heavenly Powers the grace of Thy sanctifying breath, cleanse my mind from filth and show it to be filled with Thy holiness. 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  

O Holy Spirit of God, in Whom we believe, Fountain of life and Stream of divine goodness, enliven my deadened mind, and by Thine energy raise it up to hymn Thy benevolence. 

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

O Virgin, thou didst become the temple of God by the descent of the Holy Spirit, Who by His creative power gave thee the power to bear a child. O thou that art full of grace, rejoice, for thou hast borne in the flesh the unoriginate Word. 

Ode III, Irmos: To the Son Who was begotten of the Father without change before all ages, and Who in the latter times was without seed made flesh of the Virgin, to Christ our God let us cry aloud: Thou hast raised up our horn; holy art Thou, O Lord. 

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. 

Since by nature He possesseth a comparable power of volition, as God, the Holy Spirit doth preserve the heavenly Powers which are beyond this world and doth teach them to cry out unceasingly: Holy art Thou, O Lord. 

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. 

In never-silent praises let us glorify the Spirit, Who in a rushing wind poured forth the light of His grace upon those divine spokesmen, the Apostles; and in harmony with the incorporeal choirs let us exclaim: Holy art Thou, O Lord. 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  

Since we understand that in the Holy Trinity there is a single dominion, a single Godhead and power, a single principle and kingdom, we raise our voices in the thrice-holy hymn and exclaim: Holy art Thou, O Lord. 

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

O all-pure one, thou chariot bearing God and His luminous residence, thou wast made higher than the Cherubim; for thou didst carry God in thine arms; therefore, we all sing a hymn to thee, O pure one: Rejoice, thou that art blessed. 

Ode IV, Irmos: As a Rod of the root of Jesse and a Flower from his stem, Christ sprang from the Virgin. From the praiseworthy mountain overshadowed by the forest came the fleshless God, incarnate of her that knew not wedlock. Glory to Thy power, O Lord. 

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. 

Giving us great gifts, the All-Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles as divine, as good, as filling all, as deifying, as sanctifying, as creative of all things, lordly and self-acting. 

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. 

Sitting upon the Father’s throne, O Christ, Thou hast sent down the Comforter unto Thy disciples, even as Thou didst promise, O Saviour, and He came as God. Thou didst send Him Who was no stranger to Thee, Him Who is the Maker of all and Who proceedeth from the Father. 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  

Of old the All-Holy Spirit taught the tongues of the Prophets to speak of things yet to come; and now by the tongues of the all-wise Apostles He also declareth the great deeds of God, having come Himself in the sound of a storm-like rushing wind. 

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

O Mother of God, we call thee the gate of the noetic Light, through which Christ came to us. He is revealed as beautiful in the brightness of Divinity, while covered by the garment of the flesh. Though as God He is invisible, now He is visible as one of us. 

Ode V, Irmos: As Thou art God of peace and Father of mercies, Thou hast sent unto us Thine Angel of great counsel, granting us peace; thus, guided towards the light of the knowledge of God, and rising out of the night at the dawn, we glorify Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind. 

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. 

O Thou Who art the Spirit of wisdom and the fear of God, the Spirit of truth, counsel and understanding, the Spirit Who bestowest peace, make Thine abode in us, so that, sanctified by Thine abiding, and rising out of the night at the dawn, we may glorify Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind. 

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. 

O Thou Who upholdest all things and Who art Lord of all, Thou Who keepest creation from falling, give us sanctification and illumination, so that, filled to the full with Thy gift of light, and rising out of the night at the dawn, we may glorify Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind. 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  

He Who in ancient times traced the Law for Moses now setteth forth clearly the doctrines of the New Testament and the law of grace, as the divine Comforter, by writing them in the hearts of the Apostles at His coming, as the Lover of mankind. 

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

By thy childbirth, O Virgin, thou hast annulled the curse of Eve, the mother of us all, and hast made the blessing of Christ to shine upon the world; therefore, we rejoice, and with our lips and lives we truly confess thee and bless thee as the Theotokos. 

Ode VI, Irmos: The sea monster cast forth Jonah from its belly, whole and entire as it had swallowed him; and the Word, having dwelt in the Virgin and taken flesh, came forth from her and kept her uncorrupted; for as He Himself suffered no corruption, He also preserved His Mother free from harm. 

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. 

Fulfilling Thy promise to Thy disciples, O Christ, Thou didst send them the Spirit, Who conferreth the working of great wonders and bestoweth tongues of fiery form, that they may fill the flocks of the nations with the knowledge of Thee. 

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. 

Come to us, O Holy Spirit, making us partakers of Thy holiness, of the light that knoweth no evening, of the divine life and of the distribution of gifts most fragrant; for Thou art the River of the Godhead, proceeding from the Father through the Son. 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  

Save them that in faith hymn Thy coming, which befitteth God, O Comforter Who proceedest [from the Father] through the Son; and as Thou art loving and kind, cleanse them from every impurity, and show them to be worthy of Thy refulgence; and by Thy light, most divine in its appearance, make them unblemished mirrors. 

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

All the choirs of the Prophets were initiated into the mysteries by God, and they foresaw and made known the ineffable mystery of the divine Incarnation of God the Word from thee, O Virgin Mother; for thou hast made manifest the ancient Light most true. 

Ode VII, Irmos: The children who were brought up together in the good faith scorned the impious decree; they feared not the threat of the fire, but, standing in the midst of the flames, they sang: Blessed art Thou, the God of our fathers. 

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. 

Now the promise foreordained by Christ hath been fulfilled; for the division of tongues showed the disciples the arrival of the Spirit, radiant with the light of One of the supremely-divine Persons of the Trinity. 

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. 

Of old the irrational concord of the nations was shattered, but now they have truly been gathered together into one assembly by the action of the honourable and divine Spirit Himself, One of the Persons of the supremely-divine Trinity. 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  

When the breath of the Holy Spirit had rushed in from above, the Apostles of Christ made known the great deeds of God in a most glorious manner, chanting harmoniously: Blessed art Thou, the God of our fathers. 

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

The three youths in the furnace manifested an image of thy childbirth; for even as they remained unharmed by the fire, thou wast kept pure when thou didst receive in thy womb the unbearable Fire of the blessed God of our fathers. 

Ode VIII, Irmos: A wonder exceeding great showed in an image the furnace dripping with dew; for it burned not the children whom it had received, even as the fire of the Godhead scorched not the pure Virgin when it had entered into her; therefore, let us raise our voices in song: Let all creation bless the Lord and supremely exalt Him unto the ages. 

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. 

O Holy Spirit Who proceedest from God the Father, bestow holiness upon all that believe in Thee; for Thou art holy and givest men holiness; therefore, let us raise our voices in song: Let all creation bless the Lord and supremely exalt Him unto the ages. 

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. 

As our Benefactor Thou liberally givest the gift of goodness unto them that hymn Thee, O Comforter; for Thou art the Giver of good things and an Ocean of goodness; therefore, let us raise our voices in praising Thee: Let all creation bless the Lord and supremely exalt Him unto the ages. 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  

The Spirit is true and life-giving, acting of His own accord and by His own power; He divideth the distribution of gifts as He willeth, as the unoriginate Lord Himself Who cometh of His own calling; therefore, let us raise our voices in worshipping Him: Let all creation bless the Lord and supremely exalt Him unto the ages. 

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

Who will not marvel at the exceeding expanse of Thy loving-kindness, O Word without beginning? Though Thou art rich, Thou didst become poor for our sake and didst take up Thy dwelling in the womb of the holy Virgin; therefore, let us raise our voices in song: Let all creation bless the Lord and supremely exalt Him unto the ages. 

Ninth Ode IX, Irmos: Rejoice, thou boast of virgins! Rejoice, Mother most pure, whom we and all creation magnify in divine hymns. 

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. 

Lo! Thou hast sent down unto us another Comforter, Who is consubstantial with Thee, O Word, and shareth Thy Father’s throne. 

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. 

Save from temptations those who honour Thee with one accord, O Comforter, and who glorify Thy pre-eternal existence. 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  

Come to us, O Comforter, with Thine ineffable glory, giving us a full measure of Thy consolation as we speak of Thee in true theology. 

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

O all-immaculate bride of God, by thy prayers deliver from temptations those who worthily honour thee.