Please see the following times for Holy Week and Pacha services, noting that Wednesday-Friday will be in Nazareth House, Pascha night in St John’s, and the back to Nazareth House for Paschal Vespers on Sunday afternoon.
Given ongoing leg-problems, I will sadly not be celebrating the Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday.
I hope that parishioners will take full advantage of the chance to confess on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, so that Saturday night confessions may be reserved for those travelling from afar.
All approaching the Mystery of Holy Unction (Orthodox Christians above the age of seven years), must make their confession as part of the preparation for this Holy Mystery.
May God bless you all.
Hieromonk Mark
Wednesday: Holy Unction at 19:00
There will be the opportunity for confessions before the service from 17:00, and all partaking of the Mystery of Holy Unction should have made a recent confession.
Thursday: Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St Basil at 11:00
Holy Friday Matins (12 Gospels) at 19:00 – confessions before and after the service.
Friday: The Burial Service of the Lord (Vespers) 16:00, followed by confessions.
Matins of Holy Saturday 19:00 – followed by confessions.
Pascha night will be in St John’s, Canton.
Confessions for non-locals from 10:30 – no long confessions given possible numbers.
Saturday: Midnight Office at 23:30.
Sunday: Procession at 00:00, followed by the Paschal Liturgy and blessing of baskets.
So that we have a Paschal service in Nazareth House, we will celebrate the Agape Vespers on Sunday afternoon, at 14:00.
One of the joys of the Great Fast has been knowing that a group of parishioners and friends of the community have been reading the entire Psalter of the Holy, Righteous King and Prophet David each day, joining prayers for the parish and for their personal intentions to this spiritual-offering.
In our East Slavic tradition, each of the twenty kathismas of the Psalter has appended penitential troparia and a prayer for use in the monastic cell or Christian home, as well as introductory and concluding prayers – so, with this in mind, our parishioners praying the psalms in English have taken advantage of the Jordanville ‘Psalter for Prayer’, which has these additional spiritual-materials.
Whilst Sequential Psalters printed in Russia and Ukraine have such hymns and prayers, English language translations which follow the Greek tradition usually do not, though troparia and prayers are used in Byzantine monastic praxis – but with differing hymns and prayers. Those of Old Rite Slavonic Psalters also differ from those used in the New Rite.
With some flexibility, some of our parishioners and friends have incorporated the Psalter-readings into their morning or evening prayers, but however the psalms have been read, they have brought spiritual strength and encouragement to those sharing the task.
The psalms, of course, are at the heart of Orthodox Christian worship, and their challenging moral and spiritual lessons call us to repentance, attentiveness and action: to turn to God and His abiding presence with those who trust in Him, live in Him and hope in Him.
How wonderful to know that the entire Psalter is read in our scattered community every day, and I hope that this might continue after the Fast!
Holy, Righteous King and Prophet David, pray to God for us!
How wonderful it was to welcome our newly-baptised parishioners into the eucharistic fellowship of the Church this morning, with Patrick, Brigid and Mary being quietly ‘churched’ during the chanting of 6th Hour, then leading the faithful in the reception of the Holy Gifts, at communion time.
We offer them our warmest congratulations on their reception of the Holy Mystery of the Saviour’s Body and Blood, and rejoice that in the last few days they have been able to partake of four of the seven Holy Mysteries (Sacraments) of the Church: confession/penance; baptism; chrismation; and the Holy Eucharist. Glory to God!
In our parish, it is our custom for those who have received the Holy Mysteries to remain on the left kliros until the Holy Gifts have been translated to the proskomedia table after Communion, and having turned to pronounce, “O God save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance” towards the end of today’s Liturgy, it was a joy to see our many communicants standing there after having zapivka, with the baptismal candles of the newly-enlightened burning bright.
I know that our neophytes have been greatly touched and encouraged by the amount of support they have received from their fellow parishioners, with this reflected in messages, greetings and gifts.
The warm fellowship during our ‘pop-up trapeza’ was wonderful, offering the chance for our visitors and new people to chat with parishioners, and for the community to greet the newly-baptised. Thanks to all who were so kind and generous in their offerings. Parishioners particularly enjoyed Serbian baked goods, which proved very popular today!
As most parishioners knew, Deacon Mark and I were rather tired and brain-fogged, this morning, having been stranded on the motorway until 03:00, due to car problems. Operating on two hours sleep (one for our deacon) meant that I was rather forgetful and negligent regarding announcements.
Further to the email sent out a few days ago, I should have reminded parishioners of services on Wednesday. As I am still rather vague and bleary, I shall just quote the previous communication.
“Next Thursday is the ‘Thursday of the Great Canon’, so we will gather in Nazareth House on Wednesday evening at 19:00 to chant Thursday Matins with the whole of the Canon of St Andrew of Crete, and hear the life of St Mary of Egypt – for which reason we call Thursday ‘Maryino Stoyanie / Марьино стояние’: ‘Mary’s Standing’.
Earlier in the day, at 16:30, a moleben will be offered for the sacred brotherhood of the Holy Dormition Kiev-Caves Lavra. I will then hear confessions before matins, as well as after the service. Confessions will also be heard on Thursday for those not able to attend matins.”
I would appreciate an email from those requiring confessions on Wednesday or Thursday, as soon as possible (indicating which day). Thank you in advance!
We missed our hierodeacon today, though our loss was the cathedral’s gain, and Father Avraamy’s prayerful and precise serving at the hierarchical Liturgy was greatly appreciated. This makes us very happy, though we look forward to regaining this prayerfulness and precision in Cardiff when we celebrate the Sunday of St Mary of Egypt!
As the newly-baptised Mary will have moved to Pamplona with her husband, Jose, by the time of her nameday on 1/14 April (which is also Orthodox Good Friday), we will very much us the Sunday of St Mary as an alternative nameday, to celebrate the memory of her heavenly patron with her, also celebrating the fact that it will have been Patrick’s nameday on Thursday. So… another celebration for two of our newly-baptised parishioners.
We will celebrate the Saturday of the Akathist Hymn with a service in Llanelli on the eve – Friday night – at 19:00, then on Saturday, we will celebrate vespers after setting up the convent church at 17:00, on Saturday, and the Hours and Liturgy on Sunday at 10:40. The variables for vespers may be found at:
I will send a further email regarding Holy Week, during which His Grace, Bishop Irenei, has blessed the public, liturgical celebration of Holy Unction, though next year will see this reserved as a purely conciliar rite in the cathedral (on a Saturday), according to ancient tradition, by which it is celebrated by a hierarch with six of the priests of his diocese.
I must end by thanking the parish sisters, who seem to have sent me home with enough food for a week. The love shown to the parish clergy is incredible, and we are so very grateful for the love and support we receive. Dear sisters, may God bless you and reward your mercy and charity.
Our heartfelt congratulations go the newly-enlightened servants of God Mary, Brigid and Patrick, who received the Holy Mysteries of baptism and chrismation this afternoon at the Old Church Hall in St Nicholas-in-the-Vale.
Though we completed the service in the house, in Menna’s little oratory, the rain didn’t dampen our spirits during the exorcism prayers, the consecration of the baptismal waters, the blessing of the oil of the catechumens and their anointing, and the baptism and chrismation, which were performed outside.
The last service celebrated in the oratory was before the Wonderworking Kursk-Root icon of the Mother of God, and our neophytes appreciated this blessing from the Theotokos.
It was the first multiple baptism that we have celebrated in the parish, and we were so happy that there should be such a strong bond of love and friendship between those who received this Holy Mystery together, supporting one another in the close bonds of a Christian parish family.
With all three of those baptised, it has felt like we have always known them, though Patrick (Dan) was the only we already knew! They all came hungry for the Truth and the uncompromising fulness of Orthodox Tradition, and have been steadfast in this.
We rejoice that they will be able to participate in the fulness of our Paschal celebrations, with the added joy of Pascha being the first anniversary of George’s baptism.
We look forward to their churching before tomorrow’s Liturgy, and their communing of the Holy Mysteries of the Lord’s Body and Blood.
Many thanks to our Senior Sister Melangell for welcoming us to her home once again. We have now celebrated five baptisms there.
We pray for the Lord to grant the newly-enlightened many, blessed years!
As there are so many new folks in the parish, it seems a good idea to familiarise them with the members of the parish council and those who occupy positions of responsibility – so that names can be matched with faces and faces with names.
Our parish has four trustees: Hieromonk Mark, the chairman of the trustees, Peter Lloyd-Griffiths, Karen Evans, and Olga Evdochimova. They are responsible for the parish as a charitable organisation, and are also de facto members of the parish council.
Norman, our starosta (churchwarden), was elected in 2022, and will occupy the position until our next elections in 2023. He is usually to be seen in the sanctuary, where he is the senior oltarnik. Together with our senior-sister, he is the coordinator for parish events, elected-representative of the parishioners and the lay face of the parish in diocesan life.
Our new-comers will know Peter as probably the first person they meet and chat with, hence his nickname Peter-the-meeter-and-greeter. Peter has served as a parish trustee for the last year. Though he will step back from this role in the coming months, he will remain a member of the parish-council.
As chief-bibliophile, Karen is the face at the candle desk/church lavka, and is a trustee of the parish. She and her family are at the core of parish life.
Olga is one of the founder-members of the parish, and in addition to being the parish treasurer, she is also the regent (choir director) of the parish, and one of its trustees.
Our senior-sister, Menna, is also one of the principle ‘meeters and greeters’ of the parish. In addition to coordinating the parish sisterhood, with our pilgrimage-coordiantor, Tracy, is passionate about promoting our local saints and holy places.
As well as these parish office-holders, our other Cardiff clergy are ex-officio members of the parish council.
In addition to his spiritual and liturgical role in parish life, Father Deacon Mark also acts as parish administrator, chauffeur, chief cook and bottle-washer!
We are now greatly blessed to have Father Deacon Avraamy serving in the parish, bringing his vast experience of Church life in Ukraine, including thirteen years in the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra.
If your new to the parish, please don’t be shy and say hello to our parish ‘faces’.
First Canon, the acrostic whereof is: “I hymn the divinely-crowned company of martyrs,” the composition of John the Monk, in Tone II:
Ode, Irmos: Come, O ye people, * let us sing a song to Christ our God, * Who divided the sea, * and made a way for the nation * which He had brought up out of the bondage of Egypt; * for He hath been glorified.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
With hymns inspired by God I praise the divinely-crowned regiment of the martyrs of Christ, radiantly celebrating the annual commemoration of the forty, for He hath been glorified!
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Rejecting every title on earth, the forty desired the title of Christian, wherefore they now dwell in the Highest.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Living in Christ and despising the flesh and the world, ye put off the old man and this transitory vesture, and clothed yourselves in the garment of incorruption.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Who is able fittingly to recount thy conceiving which surpasseth telling? For thou, O most pure one, hast given birth in the flesh to God, the Savior of us all, Who hath revealed Himself unto us.
Second Canon, The acrostic whereof is: “I hymn the divinely-crowned regiment of martyrs,” the composition of Theophanes, in the same tone:
Ode I, Irmos: Come, O ye people, * let us sing a song to Christ our God, * Who divided the sea, * and made a way for the nation * which He had brought up out of the bondage of Egypt; * for He hath been glorified.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
By your supplication, O ye forty martyrs, render God well-disposed towards us who call upon you with the pure love of our hearts.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Enlightened in the heavens with the rays of the splendor of the three-fold Sun, O ye forty martyrs, protect us who hymn you on earth, frozen over by the winter of temptations.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O forty martyrs, invincible and unshaken rampart of piety and the Church: do ye now pacify that which doth grievously trouble the Christian calling.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Virgin Theotokos, Mother who hath not known a man, thou hast given birth unto the Creator and Lord Who is supra-naturally over all and Who, for our sake, took upon Himself our flesh.
Ode III, Irmos: O Lord, who didst slay sin upon the tree, * firmly establish us in Thee, * and in the hearts of us who hymn Thee * plant the fear of Thee.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Disdaining the army and life, the comeliness of their bodies and wealth, the glorious forty martyrs inherited Christ instead of all of these things.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
When the forty martyrs were beaten mercilessly with stones at the command of the tormentors, through the Spirit of God the stones were hurled back against those who commanded that they be beaten.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
The serpent of him who invented blasphemy spake through the lips of the tormentors, but his God-opposing mouth hath been broken by the rocks hurled against the martyrs.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Without seed didst thou conceive God in thy womb, giving birth to Him who was ineffably incarnate; upon Whom the hosts of Heaven dare not gaze, O pure Ever-virgin.
Another Irmos: O Lord, who didst slay sin upon the tree, * firmly establish us in Thee, * and in the hearts of us who hymn Thee * plant the fear of Thee.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
O ye martyred company and united chorus of crowned martyrs: standing before the Master, ever save us who sing your praises.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Battered by the lake of the passions and by the waves of grievous temptations, we flee to you, Christ’s forty warriors.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Warmed in the bosom of Abraham and adorned with glorious apparel, pray ye that Christ grant forgiveness unto those who are bound by the winter of evil circumstances.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Virgin Bride of God: be thou the confirmation, refuge and protection of those who have recourse unto thee in faith and confess thee to be the Mother of God.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Sessional Hymn, Tone VIII: Spec. Mel. “Of the Wisdom …”: Having served Christ in martyrdom as warriors, and having cast down the enemy through suffering, in your deeds ye fulfilled the words of the Prophet: ye went manfully through fire and water, finding refreshment, and life incorruptible. Wherefore, adorned with heavenly crowns, ye rejoice with the choirs of the bodiless ones, O blessed and all-praised passion-bearers. Entreat Christ God, that He grant forgiveness of sins unto those who honor your holy memory with love. (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 in Tone VIII: From the snares of enemies visible and invisible, * we have been overcome by the storms of our innumerable sins, * and fleeing unto the safe harbor of thy goodness O pure one, * we have thee as our rampart and sure protection. * Wherefore we thy servants beseech thee * to ceaselessly make fervent supplication, O most pure one, * unto Him who seedlessly became incarnate from thee, * that those who worthily hymn thee ** may be granted the remission of their sins.
Ode IV, Irmos: I have heard report of Thy dispensation, O Lord, * and have glorified Thee * Who alone art the Lover of mankind.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
“O ye most iniquitous ones, ye have been made to vainly offer such a poor bargain!” said the sufferers.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Sharpened swords and wild beasts, fire and the cross did the tormentors offer to the saints of Christ.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
“The fire of Gehenna is frightful to us, but we are not afraid of any of our fellow servants here present,” said the athletes.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
“Let our arms be cut off, let our feet be burned,” the holy ones cried out, “for we shall receive them back incorruptible.”
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
We beseech thee, O most pure one who didst conceive God without seed: ever pray for thy servants.
Another, Irmos: I have heard report of Thy dispensation, O Lord, * and have glorified Thee * Who alone art the Lover of mankind.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
O martyrs, through God ye have become our illumination, for ye have clothed yourselves in undimmed splendor.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
O divinely elect and crowned assembly of martyrs, pray that those who hymn you be delivered from misfortunes.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
O holy ones, having been deemed worthy to behold the unwaning light of Christ, ye shine forth upon those who sit in darkness.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Shining with the noetic radiance of Christ, O ye glorious ones, guide us to the divine illumination.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Hymning Him Who was incarnate from thy womb, O pure one, we glorify thee as the Mother of God.
Ode V, Irmos: O Lord, Bestower of light and Creator of the ages: * guide us in the light of Thy commandments, * for we know none other God than Thee.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Through the most mindless savagery of the tormentors, the spiritual athletes, condemned to spend the night in the open air in the cold, chanted a hymn of thanksgiving unto God.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Rejoicing, the forty martyrs endured the painful ice, standing in the lake, yet were strengthened with the hope of divine crowns.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
The serpent which before had made its nest in the waters, and now driven out, became an object of scorn for the forty martyrs of Christ, for he was deprived of his deadly strength.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
To thee who hast given birth to Christ, the Creator of all, do we cry aloud: Rejoice, O pure one! Rejoice, thou who hast shone forth the Light upon us! Rejoice, thou who didst contain the infinite God.
Another Irmos: O Lord, Bestower of light and Creator of the ages: * guide us in the light of Thy commandments, * for we know none other God than Thee.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
From the raging of the heretics do ye now deliver the honorable Church of Christ, O forty martyrs; for, having been born within Her, ye have passed on to great dignity and glory.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Appearing to us, the forty divinely splendid martyrs of Christ like fiery beacons light the salvific way of piety for the faithful.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Passing over from earth to the shelter of Heaven, where ye stand before Christ, the Judge of the contest, O martyrs, deem me worthy to acquire divine joy.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Maiden Sovereign Lady, thou didst truly bear God as thy divine Offspring, as a mystery inscrutable and incomprehensible to all, passing all understanding.
Ode VI, Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, * I appeal to the unfathomable abyss of Thy compassion: * Raise me up from corruption, O God.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
With joy the author of enmity snatched him that fell away from the forty as did the wretched Judas from the twelve apostles, and mankind from Eden.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Being shameless, the devil rageth in vain, for as of old by the thief and Matthias, so now by one in the office of guardsman, the tyrant hath also been rent asunder.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Vain-minded and worthy of lamentation is he who missed both lives, for thawed by the fire, he departed into the unquenchable flames.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O Virgin, thou hast given birth without knowing a man, and remainest forever a virgin, revealing the images of thy Son and God, the true Deity.
Another Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, * I appeal to the unfathomable abyss of Thy compassion: * Raise me up from corruption, O God.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
O mighty ones, ye have been revealed to be watchful and vigilant preservers of the human race, offering up supplications, and set forth as helpers of the grieving.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Shining forth in the Church of Christ in your unexcelled beauties, O all-praised ones, deliver those who honor you with love from all temptations.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Of old ye became destroyers of the deception of the demonized persecutors, O most eminent ones; and now be our ready help and rampart.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
On thee have I placed my hope of salvation, O Ever-virgin Mother; and Thee have I appointed as the steadfast and unshakable intercessor of my life.
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 VI: Having fully left the army of the world, * ye cleaved unto the Master in the heavens, * O forty passion-bearers of the Lord; * for, having passed through fire and water, * O blessed ones, * ye received glory from the heavens as is meet ** and a multitude of crowns.
Ikos: Unworthy as I am, I fall down before Christ Almighty, our Creator and God, Who sitteth upon an unapproachable throne, Who stretched out the heavens as it were a curtain, Who established the earth, Who gathered the waters in the bodies thereof, Who created all things out of nothing, Who granteth breath and life unto all, Who receiveth hymnody from the archangels, is worshipped by the angels and is glorified by all; and offering up entreaty, I beg the grace of eloquence, that even I may piously hymn the saints whom He Himself showed forth as victors, granting them glory from the heavens and a multitude of crowns.
Ode VII, Irmos: When the golden image was worshipped on the plain of Dura, * Thy three children spurned the impious command, * and, cast into the midst of the flame, * they were bedewed, and sang: * O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
The guard set over the forty martyrs was struck with awe, beholding their crowns; and, rejecting that which bound him to life, taking wing with the love of Thy manifest glory, with the martyrs he sang: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Hastening to the soul-destroying bath, he that loved his life died; but he that loved Christ, being a most exemplary apprehender of those things which he beheld, sang with the martyrs as in a bath of incorruption: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
When the noetic fire flared up in the minds of the forty, the most subtle madness of the impious was consumed, as it were melting wax. And to Thee, O Christ, they sang: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
The power of Thy Cross, as exceeding splendid and magnificent, O Christ, doth weave crowns for the forty martyrs with opposites; for, having passed through fire and water, they cry out in incorruption: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
On Mount Sinai Moses foresaw thee, O pure one, as a burning bush which, without being consumed, bore the unbearable radiance of the ineffable Being, Who as One of the holy Hypostases, hath united Himself to the coarseness of our flesh.
Another Irmos: When the golden image was worshipped on the plain of Dura, * Thy three children spurned the impious command, * and, cast into the midst of the flame, * they were bedewed, and sang: * O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Your annual commemoration hath radiantly dawned, O ye who are most rich, shining far, radiant with the splendor of the Fast. And celebrating it with faith, we chant with you: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
To all ye have been revealed to be as ones loosened from the passions and beacons shining from afar, the cleansing of the world, the destruction of deception, clear-voiced proclaimers of the truth and expellers of falsehood, chanting: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Ye have been revealed to us as noetic beacons shining forth, O martyrs; for ye save the tempest-tossed and guide those who sail and are battered by the storm of life, chanting unto Christ: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Beautiful to God and desirable to the angels is the divinely assembled and most splendid regiment of the forty martyrs inspired by God, the godly and awesome company which crieth out, saying: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
A beacon of light, a luminous cloud and a hallowed place hast thou been revealed to be, O thou who knewest not wedlock, for thou didst ineffably receive the Word, the Holy One of those who are holy. And chanting unto Him, we cry aloud: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Ode VIII, Irmos: God Who descended into the fiery furnace * with the Hebrew children, * and transformed the flame into dew, * do ye works hymn, * and supremely exalt as Lord throughout all ages.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Savagely inciting every creature against the athletes, the enemy hath been put to shame by them all, for the forty martyrs unceasingly hymn and supremely exalt the Lord throughout all ages.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Cruelly were the members of your bodies crushed for Christ, and ye were offered unto God as a divine holocaust; with the angels ye ever hold chorus, O martyrs, hymning Christ throughout all ages.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
With steadfast intent the Christ-loving mother took upon her shoulder him to whom she had given birth; and she offered him up as the fruit of piety, a martyr among martyrs, emulating the sacred action of Abraham.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
“Make thy journey running straight to everlasting life, O my son,” the Christ- loving mother cried out to her Christ-loving child, “for I could not bear to see thee appear in second place before Christ, the Judge of the contest!”
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The Son Who is not parted from the bosom of the Father, yet made His abode in thy maternal womb, O pure Virgin Bride of God, do we hymn and supremely exalt throughout all ages!
Another Irmos: God Who descended into the fiery furnace * with the Hebrew children, * and transformed the flame into dew, * do ye works hymn, * and supremely exalt as Lord throughout all ages.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Ye steadfastly gave yourselves over to a painful death in the midst of winter, O valiant ones; and now, having passed on to the true life which is hidden in Christ, ye ask for salvation and forgiveness for us.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Having passed over from earth to the heavens, O crowned spiritual athletes, ye chorus of victorious martyrs of the Church, ask for us salvation and deliverance from misfortunes, passions and evil circumstances.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Rending asunder the bonds of death, the Savior hath given victory over death to His martyrs, for, warmed by the cold, the forty sang, asking for salvation for all the faithful.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Through prayer the divine choir of passion-bearers manifestly drive the assaults of dangers, the attack of the passions and the temptations of the demons away from those who hymn Christ throughout the ages.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Mortals given over to the dust of mortality and to corruption hast thou alone raised up, O pure Lady, Virgin Birthgiver of God, having given birth to Christ our God, the Author of life.
Ode IX, Irmos: God the Word, God of God, * Who by ineffable wisdom came to create Adam anew * after his grievous fall to corruption through eating * and Who took flesh beyond all telling from the Holy Virgin for our sake, * Him we faithful with one accord magnify in song.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Stripped naked and beaten with stones for the sake of Christ, ye endured the wintry air, icy water and crushing of your limbs; and having been consumed by fire, O ye forty martyrs, ye shine forth in the rushing river like beacons.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Having acquired the Cross as a staff of divine power, the forty spiritual athletes cried out to Christ: O Master, almighty Conqueror, crown us by Thine own hand, that we all may unceasingly magnify Thee with hymns!
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
The pain of the ice and boundless cruelty of the cold did ye endure, O forty martyrs; but paradise is sweet, for the bosom of the Patriarch Abraham doth warm you in the eternal mansions.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Manifest as conquerors by your sufferings, and having received crowns from the divine right hand of the Master, O forty martyrs, pray ye now that peace be granted to the world and victory and salvation to us.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The multitudes of angels entreat thy Son, O Virgin Bride and Mother. Accept thou our supplication, O thou who alone art the hope of the faithful; grant peace to the world, and victory and salvation unto us who love thee.
Another, Irmos: God the Word, God of God, * Who by ineffable wisdom came to create Adam anew * after his grievous fall to corruption through eating * and Who took flesh beyond all telling from the Holy Virgin for our sake, * Him we faithful with one accord magnify in song.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Supra-natural illumination and ineffable joy and glory have ye been deemed worthy to receive; and now, O soldiers of Christ, ye forty martyrs, from temptations, misfor- tunes and the wickedness of the enemy deliver those who honor you with love.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Having received power and might from the heavens, O ye that are most spiritually rich, fellow prisoners of Christ, in that ye have become dispellers of falsehood, drive away all the ephemeral gloom of idolatry and enlighten the world, O ye forty martyrs.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Adorned with the comeliness of an honorable martyrdom, and sharing in divine life, O forty martyrs, warriors of Christ, ye truly rejoice, united to the most radiant and pure Light.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Standing now before Christ with the boldness of piety, and illumined with the light of the Godhead, O glorious forty martyrs, earnestly beseech Him, that those who praise you be illumined with the thrice-luminous radiance.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Virgin, portal of divine Light, with the immaterial rays of thy light illumine the manifest twilight of my soul, and grant that I who magnify thee faithfully and lovingly with hymns, O pure one, be delivered from everlasting fire.
Troparion, Tone I: By the pangs which Thy saints, suffered for Thee, * hearken unto us, O Lord, * and heal all our diseases, ** we beseech Thee, O Lover of mankind.
After a wonderful pilgrimage to Capel-y-ffin and Llanthony, yesterday, Mid-Lent was celebrated in the parish today with the Divine Liturgy for the Sunday of the Veneration of the Life-Giving Cross, just days after we gathered before the Cross to chant the akathist to the Lord’s Passion, as we will again after Thursday confessions.
As expected, Mothering Sunday dented service attendance, though one of our trustees confirmed that there were still around forty souls gathered for Liturgy. We venerated the Cross at the end of the service, and express our profound thanks to matushka Alla for the floral frame in which it was placed. Spasi Gospodi!
Thanks also go to our choir, reduced to three voices today by commitments and illness, and to our oltarniky. Young Stefan served his tenth Liturgy this morning, and given his confidence and knowledge, it is hard to believe that he has only served for two and a half months.
We rejoice that when we next celebrate the Divine Liturgy, we will have three newly-enlightened members of the parish and partakers of the Holy Mysteries, after the baptism of Dan, Mo, and Germaine on Saturday afternoon – and look forward to welcoming them to the chalice of the Holy Mysteries by their baptismal names of Patrick, Brigid and Mary. Please pray for them as they approach the mystery of Holy Baptism and Chrismation, and as they prepare to for confession and communion of the Lord’s Holy and Life-Giving Body and Blood.
Today brought the joyful news that another of our students wishes to be admitted to the catechumenate in the next few weeks, after faithful attendance in both the Cardiff parish and its Cheltenham mission. Glory to God!
It was very interesting to talk with brothers of the parish in a local café regarding the place of Father Seraphim (Rose) of Platina in the spiritual journeys of those coming to Holy Orthodoxy, and – interestingly – of the spiritual characteristics of the communities encountered that frown upon their parishioners reading his works: in a word, renovationsist and modernist pick-and-mix parishes that don’t really make sense to those seeking traditional, patristic Orthodoxy. I am heartened to hear of the traditional spiritual reading of our parishioners – with a good appreciation of the Holy Fathers, including those of the 19th and 20th centuries like St Ignaty Brianchaninov, St Theophan the Recluse and St Paisios the New. I have also been struck by the appreciation of the lives of the Holy Fools among the brothers of our parish – and as a great admirer of the yurodivy, I am very pleased by this.
After Liturgy, I was glad to see that our oltarnik, Oswald, continues to gain parish support for his icon stall, having ensured I left with an icon of St Gerasimos and the lion. His icons are now sold by White Horse Wares, from whom we have bought excellent candles and gifts – https://whitehorsewares.co.uk
Looking ahead to this week, confessions will be held late on Thursday afternoon, and due to the commitments of some of our parishioners we will chant Compline and the Akathist to the Passion of the Saviour at the later time of 19:00.
Given the worsening situation of the persecuted Church in Ukraine, I would like to draw parishioners’ attention to the open letter written by His Grace, Bishop Irenei, which may be found on the diocesan webpage (in English and Russian):
All of our parishioners are called upon to redouble their prayers for the suffering Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and for the Brotherhood of the Kiev-Caves Lavra in particular. The clergy of the diocese will serve molebny for the Lavra Brotherhood on 29th March, the day the state-persecutors have set as the deadline for the monks to vacate the Lavra.
I will post the canons to the Venerable Fathers of the Kiev-Caves Lavra on our Facebook page, so that parishioners may pray them for the sake of the persecuted brotherhood.
As mentioned, Saturday afternoon will see the baptism of Dan, Mo and Germaine. We will gather in St Nicholas at 14:00 and anyone wishing to attend should email me for details.
Next Sunday celebrates the memory of St John of the Ladder, with our celebration commencing with the Hours at 10:40, followed by the Divine Liturgy. The variables for the service may be found at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O4cW5PW9eIeDfGGD5ZAJj5XOtTB20yEU/view
Having discussed Holy Week with Sister Anna, I will publish service details in the next few days.
May God bless you all, and give you strength for the second half of the Great Fast. If things have flagged a bit, take encouragement from this Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross to regain momentum and spiritual direction.
I was incredibly happy to finally be able to celebrate the Divine Liturgy with a small band of parish pilgrims in Little St Marys’s at Capel-y-ffin this morning.
After the suspension testing journey from Hay-on-Wye, with the wild and beautiful terrain (under a dramatic cloudscape) of the Brecon Beacons falling away or rising on the sides of the narrow road snaking over the mountains, the pot-holed and weathered lanes brought us to Capel-y-ffin, our arrival heralded by the sight of the lopsided belfry immortalised in Eric Ravilious’s ‘Wet Afternoon’, painted in 1938.
However, this arrival was on a sunny spring morning and it was wonderful to arrive at the gate of the little churchyard and see parishioners already there, all of whom seemed to have made the smoother journey up the valley from Abergavenny.
They had come with icons, candles and flowers – using the window ledges and surfaces to bring the visual signs of Orthodox liturgical life to St Mary’s.
Whilst the clergy arranged the little sanctuary for the Divine Liturgy, Father Richard Williams – the incredibly welcoming and personable priest-in-charge – talked a little about the history of the site, starting well before the building of the present church, including the appearance of the Mother of God there in the years after the Norman Conquest, before the bells rang out over the narrow valley, announcing the joyful tidings that the Holy Liturgy would make this little sanctuary the place where heaven and earth would conjoin in the celebration of the Holy Mysteries.
Having bidden Father goodbye, so that he could be back in Hay in time for the Angelus, the little congregation were able to see and hear the vesting prayers and proskomedia at close quarters, before an intimate and simple Liturgy in the tiny church, celebrated in English, Welsh and Slavonic – though a little Greek also crept in at the Trisagion.
The sun poured in through the clear glass windows, and during the epiclesis it was wonderful to look up and see the sides of the valley to the east beside the trees in the churchyard.
The Liturgy in the simplicity of the church was a great blessing and a source of great joy and peace, knowing that St David had founded a monastic settlement a few miles down the valley, and after a lovely picnic lunch at Capel-y-ffin, we descended to Llanthony, where the medieval ruins of the priory give no hint of the earlier Celtic foundation.
After chanting a litia to St David in the parish church where we celebrated Liturgy in the past, we visited the medieval ruins and were happy to sit down together in the little pub in the vault of the former abbot’s lodging and enjoy hot drinks and chips. This was a very enjoyable time of fellowship, and I hope that we will be able to enjoy Llanthony in the summer time, sitting among the ruins to picnic and enjoy ice-creams and Herefordshire cider, as some of have in the past!
Our thanks go to Father Richard for his hospitality and encouragement to always feel at home and welcome at Capel-y-ffin, and to our parish sisters Melangell and Mary for their fine organisational skills in helping it all happen.
It is with great joy that we greet our young parishioner, James, as he celebrates his first name day on this feast of St James the Faster.
James is one of our devoted parishioners who travels all the way from Wiltshire for Liturgy, having been baptised in Chippenham last autumn, and one of the group of young brothers who have made such a positive impact on our parish.
Dear James – May God grant you many, blessed years!
Saint James the Faster lived a life of asceticism near the Phoenician city of Porphyrion in the sixth century. For fifteen years, he lived in a cave devoting himself to monastic deeds, and he received the gift of wonderworking from the Lord. Under his influence many of the local inhabitants were converted to the Christian Faith.
News of the ascetic spread everywhere, and so went to another place so that he would not fall into temptation. He found a new cave, and lived there for thirty years. The devil set terrible snares for the ascetic. James healed a young girl from demonic possession, but then fell into sin with her. In order to conceal his sin, he killed the girl and threw her into a river.
Distraught over this sin, he repented for what he had done. For a long time he hid himself away in the wilderness, bereft of shelter and peace, tormented by the pricks of conscience, and he was on the point of forsaking the monastic life and returning to the world. But the immeasurable mercy of God, against which the sins of this world cannot prevail, and which desires salvation for all mankind, would not permit the ruin of this monk who had toiled so many years for the Lord.
The Lord thwarted the devil’s intent to destroy the ascetic, and returned him through repentance to the path of salvation. Wandering about the wilderness, James saw a monastery, and entering it, he confessed his sin before the igumen and the brethren. The igumen urged him to remain with them, fearing that he would ultimately fall into despair. But James went off and again he wandered the wilderness for a long time.
Finally the All-Beneficent Providence of God brought him to a certain desert-dweller filled with grace and wisdom. Lifting the burden from him, the desert-dweller suggested that James remain with him. But James would not remain with the Elder, though encouraged and given hope by him, and he secluded himself in a cave and there for ten years offered repentance to God, weeping and wailing, and asking forgiveness for the sin he committed. The Lord heard the prayers of the penitent monk and granted him His mercy. James reacquired his gift of wonderworking. He remained in the cave until the time of his death. He was also buried there.
Dear brothers and sisters, Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant Hapus!
Greetings and congratulations as we celebrate the feast of St David, with the blessing of the sun shining, blue sky, plum blossom and the first leaves unfurling in the hedgerows – in Carmarthenshire, at least.
Our holy father, St David was born into the fading legacy of ‘Romanitas’ in Celtic Britain, as the memory and culture of Rome faded and grew ever dimmer with the incursion of Germanic invaders and the passing of time, and his life and ministry connected Wales to both of the ancient patriarchates of Rome and Jerusalem, a wonderful link to both East and West.
The Jerusalem connection was reflected in the pilgrimage of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Damian I, together with the First-Hierarch of our Russian Church Abroad, to St David’s in 1925.
I am always in awe of this visit on the part of our First-Hierarch, Metropolitan Anthony, as a sign of our Church’s devotion to the ancient saints of the west.
Let us turn to St David to pray for Metropolitan Anthony’s successor, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine and for the suffering and persecuted Ukrainian Church.
St David’s memory is one of continuity through the life of our nation, even though protestantism airbrushed and renovated our great patron saint, transforming him into an image of its own making and desire – a comfortable and charismatic image, that does not particularly challenge or prompt serious spiritual questions.
For us Orthodox Christians, who have preserved the patterns of ancient monasticism whose hierarchs are still first and foremost men of prayer and intense spiritual life; who still uphold the ascetic traditions of ancient Christianity; who take prayer and fasting seriously, and who are not worried by long hours of liturgical-prayer – the spiritual world of St David is not far from us and our experience of the Christian life.
But, do we live up to his testament – “Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things that you have heard and seen me do”?
We know the things he did, simply from the fact that he was a monk and bishop: being humble, loving and merciful; seeking to serve and protect others; immersing himself in prayer and interceding for the world; fiercely opposing doctrinal falsehood; embracing the discipline of fasting and struggling to overcome the bodily weaknesses that damage us spiritually – in short, spiritual warfare.
The list may sound daunting, but when we break it down to individual actions, decisions and scenarios, all is rather more straightforward for us in imitating him…
Do I choose or even try to be generous, loving, and merciful?
Do I try to live a simple, godly, prayerful and devout life – praying, fasting, serving Christ by serving others and putting them before me?
Do I try to ‘police’ my thoughts, actions and words in the struggle for purity and the restoration of God’s image in me?
Do I seek reconciliation and forgiveness, labouring for peace in my family, street, community or workplace?
Do I try to imitate the Saviour in thought, word and deed?
Do I show humility and obedience by embracing the Traditions and teachings of the Church, even though I may find some of the things difficult and challenging – or do I pick and choose, doing it my own, self-determined way?
We may be doctrinally steadfast and unshakeable, but are we doing the little things? This constant challenge and questioning is a key to the road-map to the Kingdom of Heaven, embracing and joyfully reflecting the way of the saints, which is none other than a reflection of Our Saviour, the ‘Way, the Truth and the Life’.
For St David, Christianity is not simply believed, but a life of doing and action, realised and proved in details and little things, and it is in doing the seemingly little things that we remain steadfast in our Faith and are then able to do the big things.
Real Christianity is not an impressionistic picture painted in approximate, broad and wide brush strokes, but one in which Faith is realised in the small details of living the Gospel in our daily lives, in our families and communities.
Be joyful! Be steadfast! Live the Gospel by doing these little things!
May God bless you all, and have mercy upon us, through the prayers of St David and all of the saints of Wales.
In our East Slavic tradition, each of the twenty kathismas of the Psalter has appended penitential troparia and a prayer for use in the monastic cell or Christian home, as well as introductory and concluding prayers – so, with this in mind, our parishioners praying the psalms in English have taken advantage of the Jordanville ‘Psalter for Prayer’, which has these additional spiritual-materials.
Dear brothers and sisters,
