Greetings on this joyous feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos, by which the imminence of God’s preparation for the Incarnation in time and space was manifested in the world, after centuries in which His prophets preached the coming of the Messiah, and during which the ancestors of Christ looked forward to “the beginning of our salvation”.
This event was long in preparation, and the culmination of God’s interaction with mankind and creation since the ignominy of the Fall and Adam and Eve’s banishment from Paradise. In her “God-bestown birth”, Adam our first-father offers up his offspring, the Mother of God, whom St Andrew of Crete calls “the most-worthy fruit of mankind”, and in the birth of the Virgin, the first-father and first-mother rejoice,
“For, behold! she who was fashioned of the rib of Adam manifestly blesseth her daughter and descendant, saying: “Deliverance hath been born in me, for which cause I am freed of the bonds of hades!”
(First stikheron of the vesperal litia)
The prophet Isaiah, considered an evangelist-before-the-evangelists by St Jerome, had preached,“Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel”, and on this feast we celebrate the birth of the Virgin, who would be the Gate through which God would enter the world as its Saviour and Redeemer, with the feast – in the words of St Andrew –“as a doorway to grace to grace and truth.”
Rejoicing, we greet the Mother of God – the portal of our salvation – with hymns, heeding the joyful words of the litia doxastikon at vespers:
“On the right excellent day of our feast let us strike the spiritual harp; for the Mother of Life is born today of the seed of David, dispelling the darkness: the renewal of Adam, the restoration of Eve, the Well-spring of incorruption, our release from corruption. Because of her we have been deified and delivered from death. And we, the faithful, cry out to her with Gabriel: Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee, granting us great mercy for thy sake!”
May God bless you all on this wonderful feast, as we ask the Mother of God to intercede for all of her children, who greet her Nativity with joyful thanksgiving. And, greeting one another, let us rejoice together, “for, lo! the Virgin issueth forth from the womb of the barren woman, unto the salvation of our souls!”
Dear brothers and sisters, in thanking those who contributed to today’s Liturgy in so many ways, we really must begin with our singers, who sang so beautifully and joyfully. It was difficult to believe that such chanting was by only four singers, and the Cherubic Hymn was sung particularly well.
We were so happy to hear Metropolitan Nicholas, our newly elected and enthroned First-Hierarch, commemorated in the litanies and at the Great Entrance, and we pray that we may hear that name for many years to come.
As we look forward to this week, we ask the prayers of the faithful for our young parishioners Oswald, Alexander and George as they travel to Greece on pilgrimage – where they will no doubt pray for our parish and paishioners at the many holy places they visit. We also pray for Vladika Irenei as he returns from the Holy Synod in New York; for Masha and her family as they travel back from Bordeaux; and for Peter and Anne, as they fly to the Canary Islands for a well-deserved holiday.
As you know, we had to cancel last week’s catechesis session on Friday and move confessions to Saturday, due to road closures in Butetown, but we will be back in St Mary’s, this Friday at 19:00, for a talk on the themes of confession and repentance. We will meet at the back of the church, as the parish room is still out of use, after the discovery of dry-rot in the kitchen-floor. As the kitchen is out of use, any beverages will need to be brought in flasks!
I intend to hear confessions in church before our talk, and would appreciate requests by Wednesday night to allow me to see whether any afternoon confessions are needed in addition.
As announced at Liturgy, the next two Sunday Liturgies will be followed by baptisms, so please be prepared for simple refreshments, as there will only be 25-30 minutes between Liturgy and the baptisms. If the weather allows, trapeza can be laid out in the garden, allowing more time to eat, drink and chat. Crucially, the Liturgy must begin on time, and there will be no possibility of any additional confessions after the Liturgy, as we must set up for the baptisms, and I must at least have a chance to sit down, given blood-pressure problems at the moment.
Today – and feeling very under the weather this evening – has reminded me of how strenuous Sundays are, and I will have to seriously start placing some limits on activities and slow down for the sake of self-preservation! Please remember that, sometimes, the clergy are on their feet for whole days on end. Some people seem to forget how many others have problems, questions and requests, in addition to themselves. Please watch the clergy when you are with them, and reflect on the fact that they rarely have a chance to stop, sit down, and catch their breath. You can all help on this front, by being sympathetic, and patient when response to communications may appear slow. There is a far bigger picture than the bit you may see.
Several of us will be in Chiswick this Tuesday and Wednesday for the Nativity of the Mother of God and I look forward to being with some of our parishioners in the cathedral for the altar-feast.
The next great feast will be the Exultation of the Life-Giving Cross on Tuesday 14/27, when we will celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the Church of St Mary, Butetown. As there is no daily mass until the evening, we will celebrate the Hours at 10:00 and the Divine Liturgy at 10:30. After the wonderful feast-day Liturgies of the summer, we very much look forward to returning to St Mary’s for the feast.
Having celebrated the feast of Saints Peter and Febronia, during the past day, we pray especially for the married couples of our community, and ask the prayers of the Holy Wonderworkers for all of our parish families – encouraging everyone to turn to them in prayer, for the preservation and strengthening of Christian family life, based on the values of the Gospel and Law of God.
Tomorrow, we will celebrate the feast of the Holy Wonderworkers, Peter and Febronia of Murom, cherished as exemplars and saintly-guardians of Christian marriage.
Their united lives of devotion and their example of righteousness and holiness impressed themselves upon the faithful, who recognised qualities to be emulated in Holy Matrimony, reminding us that the first duty of each Orthodox husband and wife is to nurture one another in Faith and to lead one another into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Though they completed their lives in monasticism, the miraculous movement of their relics to lie beside one another in their tombs remindsus of the equality of marriage with the angelic-life as a way of Christian-living and a path to holiness and salvation.
On the feast, we will pray for the faithful united in holy matrimony, with additional petitions in the Liturgy of Fervent Supplication and a prayer at the end of Liturgy.
The Canon to the Holy Wonderworkers, Prince Peter and Princess Febronia of Murom
Ode 1, Irmos: Having passed through the water as upon dry land, * and having escaped the malice of the Egyptians, * the Israelites cried aloud: * Unto our God and Redeemer let us sing.
Holy, right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia, pray to God for us.
O God, grant that I may offer hymnody unto Peter, Who was pleasing unto Thee and glorified Thee on earth, that I may magnify Thee, the Giver of understanding, with hymns.
Holy, right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia, pray to God for us.
To your homeland hath Christ shown you to be like an all-radiant sun, illumining with miracles all who have recourse to you with faith.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having given no mind to the things of the body, hated earthly things as corruptible and renounced the world, ye have been vouchsafed the honour of the venerable. With them pray ye for the world.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O all-pure Ever-virgin Theotokos, who gavest birth in the body to the eternal Word of the unoriginate Father, unto Him do we now cry aloud: Let us chant unto our Deliverer and God!
Ode 3, Irmos: As we who are wise in God celebrate this divine and solemn feast of the Mother of God, come, let us clap our hands, with faith, glorifying Him Who was born from of her.
Holy, right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia, pray to God for us.
Be thou a helper for the helpless and merciful consolation for the grieving, O blessed Peter, that, delivered by your supplications, we may honour thee.
Holy, right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia, pray to God for us.
As thou didst once commit the serpent to utter destruction, slaying him, O thrice blessed one, so now vanquish those who make war upon thy homeland, that we may glorify thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Behold our despondency; behold our grief; behold the misfortune that the enemy bringeth upon us! Wherefore, change it by your prayer unto the Lord, O Peter, that we may piously honour thee.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thee have all of us Christians acquired as a refuge and bulwark, and thee do we unceasingly glorify, O thou who knewest not wedlock.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Sessional hymn of the Saints: Tone 4: O ye faithful, let us hasten to the blessed and splendid solemnity /of Peter and Febronia as to the shining sun, /and let us unceasingly cry out: /Even though ye have passed from this earth, O all-glorious ones, /ye have not parted from us, /but stand with the angels before the Trinity, Whom do ye entreat, //that our souls be saved.
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.
We know the Word of the Father, Christ our God, wast incarnate of thee, O Virgin Mother of God, O only Pure and only blessed one. Wherefore, we unceasingly glorify thee.
Ode 4, Irmos: O Lord, I have heard the mystery of Thy dispensation; * I have considered Thy works, * and I have glorified Thy Divinity.
Holy, right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia, pray to God for us.
As a mediator and helper of thy homeland, be thou as one who scattereth the adversary, as an ally of thy people, who glorify thee, O Peter.
Holy, right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia, pray to God for us.
As ye dwell in the mansions of heaven with the venerable and the righteous, O all-blessed Peter and Febronia, never cease to pray for thy people.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thee do we beseech, O all-blessed one: quell the uprisings of adversaries and ease the infirmities of men, that we may magnify thee with voices of praise.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Grant us cleansing from our transgressions, in that Thou art all-good, and bring peace to Thy world, O God, through the supplications of her who gave Thee birth.
Ode 5, Irmos: Illumine us O Lord with Thy commandments, * and with Thine arm raised on high * grant us Thy peace, * O Lover of mankind!
Holy, right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia, pray to God for us.
The ground that received your precious bodies hath been sanctified, O divinely blessed Peter and Febronia; and receiving healing through you, men glorify Christ Who hath glorified you with might.
Holy, right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia, pray to God for us.
Even though ye have passed from this earth, yet have ye attained unto the abodes of heaven, where ye stand with the angels before the Trinity, Whom do ye entreat, that those who honour you with love may be saved, O blessed ones.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having acquired you as all-radiant stars and a never-setting sun, your homeland boasteth, cherishing your all-honoured memory, O Peter and Febronia.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
We hymn thee, who art virgin even after giving birth, O Theotokos; for, for us thou gavest birth in the flesh to God the Word, to Whom we all cry out thus: Make straight our paths, we pray Thee!
Ode 6, Irmos: I will pour out my prayer unto the Lord, * and to Him will I proclaim my grief; * for my soul is filled with evils, * and my life unto Hades hath drawn nigh, * and like Jonah I pray unto Thee: * Raise me up from corruption, O God.
Holy, right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia, pray to God for us.
O all-honoured couple! O great luminaries! Sanctify and glorify those who with love glorify you in hymns, O wonderworkers.
Holy, right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia, pray to God for us.
As an all-radiant twain and an all-honoured summit and couple, who took up the yoke of the Lord, ye served Him with all your soul.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As good counsellors for your own way of life, possessing a single mind in two bodies, ye illumine the world with miracles; wherefore, illumine us also by your supplications.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The voices of the prophets make clear that thou art the Mother of God, O Virgin; and beholding the fulfilment of their honoured prophecies, we also hymn thee, who art truly the abode of virginity and purity.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion of the Saints, Tone 8: Pondering the transitory glory and governance of this world, /for this thou didst live piously in peace with the all-wise Febronia thy spouse, /O Peter, pleasing God with almsgiving and prayers. /Wherefore, lying inseparably in the tomb even after death, ye invisibly impart healing. //Pray ye now unto Christ, that He preserve your city and the people who glorify you.
Ikos: Make clear my tongue and pacify my heart; enlarge my mouth and fill it with the Spirit and wisdom, that therewith I may give utterance and chant thus to Thy wonderworkers: Rejoice with the all-praised Febronia, O blessed Peter! Rejoice, allies of the land of Russia and helpers of Orthodox princes! Rejoice, preservers of our homeland and confirmation of our city! O all-honoured twain and goodly couple, pray ye to Christ, that He preserve the city and people who glorify you!
Ode 7, Irmos: The Children of Judaea, * who of old came to dwell in Babylon, * trampled underfoot the flame of the furnace * through their faith in the Trinity, * as they sang: ‘O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.’
Holy, right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia, pray to God for us.
O all-blessed Peter and all-praised Febronia, deliver those who flee unto you amid sickness and who cry out unto Christ: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Holy, right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia, pray to God for us.
Be ye a refuge for all and tranquility untouched by storms for those amid sins, that with you we also may cry out to Christ: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Be ye a refuge for me on the day of wrath, O divinely blessed ones, for I walk among many snares; wherefore, deliver me from them, that I may hymn you.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The Drop, divinely flowing, that was born of thee, O Virgin Theotokos, hath sanctified the world. Pour forth upon me the drops of mercy that sanctify the souls and minds of those on earth.
Ode 8, Irmos: The King of heaven, * Who is glorified by the hosts of angels, * let us praise and supremely exalt throughout all ages.
Holy, right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia, pray to God for us.
Wash away and forgive our offenses, O Sinless One, through the supplications of Peter and Febronia who pleased Thee, that we may hymn Thee, O Christ, forever.
Holy, right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia, pray to God for us.
Accept the praise offered thee offered thee with an unworthy hand from the depths of my heart, O blessed ones, and make entreaty in our behalf unto Christ God.
O Most Holy Trinity, our God, glory be to Thee.
Remit the offenses of the singers who hymn Thee, O all-holy Trinity, in that Thou art all good, through the supplications of Peter and Febronia, that we may hymn Thee forever.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
As thou art the vessel of divinity, O pure one, enlighten me, that I may walk in the commandments of the Light Who shone forth from thy womb and hath illumined the hearts of the faithful, O all-pure one.
Ode 9, Irmos: Saved by thee, O pure Virgin, * we confess thee to be truly the Theotokos, * and together with the choirs of the bodiless hosts * thee do we magnify.
Holy, right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia, pray to God for us.
Possessed of a conscience pure before God from your youth, ye therefore lived in piety and have passed over to the Most High. Entreat Christ God in our behalf, that we may honour you with love.
Holy, right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia, pray to God for us.
As ye stand before the Holy Trinity with the venerable and the righteous, O blessed ones, pray ye that He deliver us from wrath and every threat, that we may unceasingly magnify you.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thy people beseech thee, O Peter blessed of God: with the all-wise Febronia, with whom ye lived a God-pleasing life in the world, entreat Christ to deliver us from all evils.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O great wonder! How did Christ God, Whom naught can contain, make His abode in thy womb? Beseech Him on behalf of those who praise thee, O Virgin, that He ever deliver us from misfortunes and from iniquitous men.
Prayer to the Holy & Right-believing Prince Peter & Princess Fevronia
O great favourites of God and all-wondrous wonderworkers, right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia, intercessors for the city of Murom, preservers of honourable marriage and diligent advocates for all of us before the Lord! In the days of your earthly life ye showed forth a model of piety, Christian love and fidelity one to another, and thereby glorified lawful and blessed marriage. Wherefore, we have recourse unto you and pray with mighty zeal: Offer your holy supplications unto the Lord God for us sinners, and ask for us all things of goodly benefit to our souls and bodies: right faith, good hope, unfeigned love, unshakable piety, success in good works; and by your supplications grant even more unto those united by the bond of matrimony chastity, love for one another in the bond of peace, oneness of mind of souls and bodies, an unsullied marriage bed, an undisgraced sojourn, long-lived progeny, the favour of children, homes full of goodness, and the imperishable crown of everlasting glory in eternal life. Yea, O holy wonderworkers, disdain not our prayer which are offered unto you with compunction, but be ye our faithful helpers before the Lord, and vouchsafe that through your intercession we may receive eternal salvation and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, that we may glorify the ineffable love for mankind of God Who is worshiped in Trinity – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Due to road closures around Bute Town, due to tomorrow’s royal visit, confessions and catechesis group have been cancelled.
Confessions will now be heard in St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon, and those confessing are asked to be mindful of the fact that due to the large number of requests confessions will take in excess of four hours, and they need to be mindful of the time they take.
A list of times will be sent out tomorrow morning, when I have received confirmation from those attending.
Those requiring confessions on Sunday morning are also asked to prepare and be succinct. Whilst the number of Sunday confessions (and the number of commemorations for proskomedia) is growing, the amount of time we have before Liturgy is not.
Ode 1, Irmos: O all ye people, let us chant a hymn of victory unto Him Who delivered Israel from the bitter bondage of Pharaoh and led them through the depths of the sea dry-shod, for He hath been glorified.
Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee.
Let us all chant a hymn of victory unto Christ, by Whom all things were fashioned and in Whom the incomprehensible is perfected, as the hypostatic Word begotten of God the Father, for He hath been glorified.
Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee.
Let us all chant a hymn of victory unto Christ, Who through the Father’s good pleasure appeared from the Virgin and proclaimed unto us the acceptable year of the Lord for deliverance, for He hath been glorified.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The Bestower of the law, arriving in Nazareth, taught on the Sabbath day, laying down for the Jews the law of His ineffable coming, whereby He saveth our race, in that He is merciful.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O all ye faithful, chanting, let us ever praise the all-wondrous Maiden who shone forth Christ upon the world and hath filled all things with the joy of everlasting life, for she hath been glorified.
Ode 3, Irmos: Establish me, O Christ, upon the immovable rock of Thy commandments, and illumine me with the light of Thy countenance, for none is holier than Thou, Who lovest mankind.
Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee.
O Good One, establish Thou that which Thy right hand hath lovingly planted on the earth, preserving Thy Church, the fertile vineyard, O Almighty One.
Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee.
O Master, God of all things, lead through this year which beginneth those who adorn themselves with divinely beautiful spiritual works, and who hymn Thee with faith.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O compassionate Christ, grant me a tranquil year and fill me with Thy divine words which Thou didst reveal when Thou didst speak to the Jews on the Sabbath.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
We ever glorify thee, for thou alone didst, in manner surpassing nature, beyond human comprehension, receive grace in thy womb and didst, without changing, give birth unto Christ God.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Sedalion of the Indiction, in Tone 8: O Thou Who bestowest fruitful seasons and rains from heaven upon those on earth, and dost now accept the supplications of Thy servants: from all want do Thou deliver Thy city, for truly Thy compassions are evident in all Thy works. Wherefore, bless Thou our goings out and our comings in, set aright among us the work of our hands, and grant us forgiveness of offenses O God: For, as Thou art mighty, Thou didst bring all things from non-existence into being.
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.
(repeat sedalion)
Ode 4, Irmos: I have considered Thy dispensation, O Almighty One, and with fear have I glorified Thee, O Saviour.
Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee.
The beginning of the year do Thy people offer unto Thee, O Saviour, glorifying Thee with angelic hymns.
Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee.
As Thou lovest mankind, O Christ, count those who begin the year worthy to complete it in a manner well-pleasing unto Thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O only and almighty Lord, having calmed the world, grant it cycles of years.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Let us all now hymn the Theotokos as the haven of our souls and our steadfast hope.
Ode 5, Irmos: Waking at dawn out of the night, we hymn Thee, O Christ, Who art consubstantial with the Father, and the Saviour of our souls: Grant peace to the world, O Thou Who lovest mankind!
Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee.
O Christ, Who fillest all things with goodness: do Thou grant unto Thy servants a year of varied seasons, crowned with mildness, fruitfulness and blessings.
Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee.
Yearly recompense, a turn for the better and a state of peace do Thou show unto us who know Thee to be Him Who became like unto men, O Word of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst come to earth proclaiming from the Father the release of captives and the recovery of the blind, and the acceptable time, O Thou that art equally unoriginate with the Father.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
We set our hopes and our desire on thee, O pure Theotokos. Him Whom thou didst bear do thou render merciful unto us, O Virgin.
Ode 6, Irmos: Thou didst save the prophet from the sea monster, O Lover of mankind; do Thou lead me up from the abyss of transgressions, I pray.
Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee.
O Master, with the beginning of the year vouchsafe us to begin a life well-pleasing unto Thee.
Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee.
O Master, with the beginning of the year vouchsafe us to begin a life well-pleasing unto Thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O compassionate Saviour, show us forth who hymn Thee to be full of spiritual days in the study of Thy law.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O all-pure and most immaculate Theotokos who gavest birth to the Lord, from misfortunes deliver us who hymn thee.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion of the Indiction, tone 2: O Christ our King Who livest in the highest, Creator and Maker of all things, visible and invisible, Who hast fashioned days and nights, seasons and years: bless Thou now the crown of the year; preserve and keep in peace Orthodox hierarchs, this city and Thy people, O greatly Merciful One.
Ode 7, Irmos: The children raised together in piety, disdaining the impious command, feared not the threat of the fire, but, standing in the midst of the flame, they chanted: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee.
O ye Orthodox people who now begin the year, let us set a beginning to our hymns to Christ Who reigneth over the everlasting Kingdom; and let us piously chant: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee.
O ye Orthodox people who now begin the year, let us set a beginning to our hymns to Christ Who reigneth over the everlasting Kingdom; and let us piously chant: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Christ, Who before wast, shalt be and art the Lord: fill Thou this year with Thy good gifts for those who hymn Thee, the Source of goodness, chanting: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
As servants petitioning their Master, we set before Thee Thy pure Mother, O Christ, that Thou mayest deliver from every evil circumstance Thy servants who chant: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Ode 8, Irmos: Christ God, Who saved the chanting children in the furnace and transformed the raging flames into dew, hymn ye, supremely exalting Him for all ages!
Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee.
O Christ, the honoured Church offereth Thee the beginning of the year, as to the Author of our salvation, crying: Hymn ye and supremely exalt Christ forever!
Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee.
The Creator Who hath wisely renewed all that He brought into existence, and hath brought forth the cycles of the seasons by His will, hymn ye and supremely exalt forever!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Let us chant unto God, Who hath brought forth all things and Who changeth the seasons for the manifold prosperity of men: Praise and exalt Christ supremely forever!
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
With the cycles and seasons of time, we, the assemblies of men, hymn thee in Orthodox manner as the Theotokos, the pure Virgin Mother of God, the salvation of all.
Ode 9, Irmos: The bush which burnt with fire yet was not consumed showed forth an image of thy pure birth giving. And now we pray that the furnace of temptation which rageth against us be extinguished, that we may unceasingly magnify thee, O Theotokos.
Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee.
O Word of God, Power, true and hypostatic Wisdom, Who sustaineth and directeth all things wisely, do Thou now peacefully order the season which hath dawned for Thy servants.
Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee.
All Thy works, O Lord: the heavens, the earth, light, and the sea, the waters and all the springs, the sun, the moon, darkness, the stars, fire, men and beasts, praise Thee with the angels. Thou alone art pre-eternal, in that Thou art the Creator of the ages.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O reigning Godhead, One, indivisible, in three Persons: through the supplications of the pure Mother of God, show forth this year as fruitful for Thine inheritance.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Saviour of all, Maker, Creator, and Ruler of all creation: through the supplications of her who gaveth birth to Thee without seed, grant peace to Thy world, preserving Thy Church ever undisturbed.
Troparion of the Indiction: O Fashioner of all creation, Who in Thine authority hast appointed the times and seasons: bless Thou the crown of the year with Thy goodness, O Lord, preserving in peace Orthodox Christians and Thy city, and save us through the prayers of the Theotokos.
Greetings as we celebrate the New Indiction and begin a new Church year.
This is a great sense of newness, this year, as we celebrate not only the New Indiction, but the election of a new First-Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and the accession of a new King to the throne of Great Britain. Both Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, our Metropolitan-Elect and King Charles are in our prayers as we reflect on the passage of time, renewal, endings and new-beginnings.
And, this Church New Year must also be a time of reflection and renewal for each and everyone of us, as we contemplate that time is not infinite and that we must receive this year and every day as a gift from God for our spiritual renewal through repentance and growing in the spiritual life.
Like our departed Metropolitan Hilarion and the late Sovereign, we too will pass from the world when the Lord calls us, at a time of His reckoning and not of our volition.
Mindful of this, we must constantly live with the words of Blessed Seraphim of Platina echoing in our ears. “It’s later than you think!”
Each hour, each day, and each year should bring us closer to God, and see us further perfected and purified, as the image of God is restored in us, but we have to question whether this is the reality of our lives.
In the past year, has the image of Christ become clearer in us? Have we reflected Him ever-clearer, as mirrors polished through prayer, virtue and repentance?
Have we grown closer to Him and have we drawn closer to the Gates of the Kingdom? Or, have we stood still or, indeed, moved one step forward and two steps back?
Have we tackled the spiritual problems and illnesses which beset us and taken the medicine of repentance to recover – even if that medicine is bitter?
Have we sought to overcome the passions which may have held us?
These are the questions to ask as we receive this Church Year as a gift from God: a gift of time and the opportunity to journey towards His outstretched arms and paternal embrace.
But though this should be a time for sobriety, this is not a time for gloom, and we must begin the Indiction thankful not only for a new year, but also for all of the gifts and blessings of the old year: personal blessings, blessings upon our families and parishes, blessings upon the Church and nation and, in the words of the troparion we pray:
“O Fashioner of all creation, Who in Thine authority hast appointed the times and seasons: bless Thou the crown of the year with Thy goodness, O Lord, preserving in peace Orthodox Christians and Thy city, and save us through the prayers of the
May God bless you all, and let us begin this year of grace with spiritual purpose and the clear vision of the spiritual journey before us, as the spiritual destination of every year must be the Kingdom of Heaven and the life of the age to come.
The Chernigov-Gethsemane Icon of the Mother of God is a copy of the famed Ilyin-Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God (April 16), which was to be found at the Trinity-Ilyin monastery near Chernigov on Mount Boldina, and where in the eleventh century Saint Anthony of the Kiev Caves struggled in asceticism.
Saint Demetrius of Rostov described the miracles of this icon in his book THE BEDEWED FLEECE. He wrote in conclusion: “The end of the booklet, but not of the miracles of the Most Holy Theotokos, for who can count them?” The grace-bearing power of this icon is manifest also in its copies.
The Chernigov-Gethsemane Icon of the Mother of God was painted in the mid-eighteenth century and was passed on to the Trinity Sergiev Lavra in 1852 by Alexandra Grigorievna Philippova, who piously kept it for a quarter century. (This icon was given to her by the priest John Alekseev, who received it in turn from one of the monks of the Trinity Sergiev Lavra.)
On the advice of the head of the Lavra, Archimandrite Anthony (+ May 1, 1877), the icon was placed in the newly-consecrated cave church named for Saint Michael, Leader of the Heavenly Hosts, which was consecrated on October 27, 1851 by Saint Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow (November 19), who assumed an active role in the building of the Gethsemane skete.
In this manner, the icon took in the currents of grace of all the history of the Russian Church, it acquired the blessing of Saint Anthony of the Caves, of Saint Sergius of Radonezh and of his parents Saints Cyril and Maria (September 28), and finally, of the ascetics of the nineteenth century. These spiritual connections providentially come forth through the Chernigov-Gethsemane Icon of the Mother of God.
It is remarkable that the first miracle of this icon was witnessed on the day of the Church New Year, September 1, 1869, when the twenty-eight-year-old peasant of Tula governance, Thekla Adrianova, was healed, after being completely crippled for nine years.
Living at the hostel by the caves, and then at the Lavra during the celebration of the Repose of Saint Sergius (September 25), Thekla recovered completely. Saint Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow (October 6 and March 31), learned of the miracle from his daughter the nun Polyxeni, treasurer of the Borisov wilderness monastery. On the feast of Saint Sergius, he himself met with Thekla and asked her about the details of the healing. On September 26, 1869 Saint Innocent arrived at the Gethsemane skete and gave the blessing for a Molieben to be served before the glorified icon, while he himself prayed with tears.
By September 26 three healings had occurred already, and a whole series of miracles in November of that same year. The fame of the icon of the Mother of God spread with unusual swiftness. Exhausted by suffering and sickness, thirsting for bodily and spiritual healing, people from every class of society came with firm faith to the wonderworking icon, and the mercy of God did not forsake them.
By the beginning of the twentieth century, more than 100 miracles had been recorded. By its great esteem the icon benefited the ascetics of the Gethsemane skete: the schemamonk Philip (+ May 18, 1868), the founder of the cave monastery, and his three sons, the hieroschemamonks Ignatius (+ 1900), Porphyrius (+ 1905 ?) and Basil (+ April 1, 1915). They preserved accounts of the deep love, which the hieromonk Elder Isidore (+ February 3, 1908) displayed for the Chernigov-Gethsemane Icon.
The initial celebration of the icon was established on April 16, on the day when Ilyin-Cherigov icon was celebrated. Later, it was transferred to September 1, the day of its glorification. At the present time there are copies of the Chernigov-Gethsemane icon at Trinity-Sergiev Lavra. They are found in the temple of Saint Sergius, in the monastery trapeza, and in the portico of the Trinity cathedral, painted by Elders of the Gethsemane skete and the Zosimov wilderness monastery.
Черниговская-Гефсиманская икона Божией Матери является списком с прославленной Черниговской-Ильинской иконы Божией Матери, которая находилась в Троицком Ильинском монастыре близ Чернигова, на Болдиной горе, где в XI в. некоторое время подвизался преподобный Антоний Печерский. Описанию чудес от этой иконы, начавшихся 16 – 24 апреля 1662 года, святитель Димитрий Ростовский посвятил книгу “Руно Орошенное”, заканчивая которую он писал: “Конец книжки, но не чудес Пресвятой Богородицы, ибо кто может их исчислить”. Благодатная сила этой иконы проявилась и в ее списках.
Икона Божией Матери Черниговская-Гефсиманская была написана на полотне в XVIII в. и передана в 1852 году в Троице-Сергиеву Лавру Александрой Григорьевной Филипповой, благоговейно хранившей ее у себя четверть века. (К ней эта икона перешла как благословение хотьковского священника Иоанна Алексеева, которому, в свою очередь, она досталась от одного из монахов Троице-Сергиевой Лавры.) По совету наместника Лавры архимандрита Антония (+ 1мая 1877) икона была помещена в новоустроенном пещерном храме в честь святого Архистратига Михаила, который был освящен 27 октября 1851 года митрополитом Московским Филаретом (+ 19 ноября 1867), принимавшим деятельное участие в строительстве Гефсиманского скита. Таким образом, икона впитала благодатные токи всей истории Русской Церкви, она стяжала благословения преподобного Антония Печерского, Преподобного Сергия Радонежского, его родителей, схимонахов Кирилла и Марии (+ 1337; заупокойная литургия по ним с чтением специальной молитвы совершается 28 сентября и в четверток седмицы мытаря и фарисея), и, наконец, подвижников XIX в. Эти духовные связи промыслительно обнаружились через Черниговскую-Гефсиманскую икону Божией Матери.
Знаменательно, что первое чудо от этой иконы было засвидетельствовано в день церковного Новолетия – 1 сентября 1869 года, когда от полного расслабления, продолжавшегося в течение 9 лет, исцелилась 28-летняя крестьянка Тульской губернии Фекла Адрианова. Прожив в гостинице при пещерах, а потом в Лавре до празднования преставления Преподобного Сергия (25 сентября), Фекла совершенно выздоровела. Святитель Иннокентий, митрополит Московский (1797 – 1879; память 23 сентября и 31 марта), узнал о чуде от своей дочери, казначеи Борисовской пустыни, монахини Поликсении. На празднике Преподобного Сергия он сам встретился с Феклой и расспрашивал ее обо всех обстоятельствах исцеления. 26 сентября 1869 года святитель Иннокентий прибыл в Гефсиманский скит и благословил совершить молебное пение пред прославившейся иконой и сам молился со слезами.
До 26 сентября произошло еще три благодатных исцеления и целый ряд чудес в ноябре того же года. Слава иконы Божией Матери распространялась с необычайной быстротой. Измученные страданиями и болезнями, жаждущие телесного и духовного исцеления, люди самых разных сословий с твердой верой шли к чудотворной иконе, и милость Божия не оставляла их. К началу XX в. было засвидетельствовано более 100 чудес. Большим почитанием пользовалась икона у подвижников Гефсиманского скита: у схимонаха Филиппа (+ 18 мая 1868), основавшего пещеры, у его трех сыновей – иеросхимонахов Игнатия (+ 1900), Порфирия (+ 1905?) и Василия (+ 1 апреля 1915). Сохранились сведения о той глубокой любви, которую проявлял к Черниговской-Гефсиманской иконе старец иеромонах Исидор (+ 3 февраля 1908). Первоначально празднование иконе было установлено 16 апреля, в тот же день, что и празднование Черниговской-Ильинской иконе, а затем перенесено на день прославления – 1 сентября. Ныне в Троице-Сергиевой Лавре известны чтимые списки с Черниговской-Гефсиманской иконы в храме в честь Преподобного Сергия, в монастырской трапезной и в притворе Троицкого собора, писанные старцами Гефсиманского скита и Зосимовой пустыни.
It was with great joy that we greeted the news of the election of His Grace, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, as First-Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and as Metropolitan of New-York and Eastern America.
At the very beginning of the life of our Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia – then known as the Russian Church in Exile – the presidency of His Eminence, Metropolitan Anthony of Kiev and Galych initiated a glorious succession of men of deep faith, asceticism and prayer as First-Hierarchs of the Church in the diaspora.
During the rule of the ever-memorable Metropolitans Anthony, Anastasy, Philaret, Vitaly, Lavr and Hilarion, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia has been a defender of sacred Tradition and of the freedom of the Church, and – as a bastion of holiness – has produced men and women of great sanctity, some of whom we look to as the saints of tomorrow, yet to be glorified by the Church, though already glorified by God.
Even as the godless Soviets sought to control and destroy the much-suffering Church in the Soviet Union, the First-Hierarchs of the exiled Church led and defended free Church life in exile, and prayed fervently for those who suffered under atheist Bolshevism. But, such was God’s sovereign-will, that there was no short-lived communist junta and the hoped-for return from exile – no going home, and no freedom for the Church behind the Iron Curtain for nigh on seventy years.
As exiles became reconciled to life in the new lands in which they had settled, and as the Holy Synod moved from Constantinople to Sremski Karlovtsi, and thence to Vienna, Munich and New York, our Church Abroad settled, grew and flourished in the Americas, Europe and Australasia, with non-Slav faithful finding Orthodox Christianity in its temples and communities.
As the children of the successive waves of exiles shared their Orthodox Christian Faith and welcomed local peoples, our Church grew and developed, no longer an ethnic and predominantly Slavic Church of exiles, but a multi-national, multi-lingual and multi-cultural Church embracing people of all nations, yet cherishing the enduring spiritual inheritance and legacy of Holy Rus’.
This is wonderfully illustrated by the make-up of our own parish, with its mixture of peoples, languages and nationalities, and this is very much the inheritance that Vladika Nicholas understands as the identity of our beloved ROCOR.
Just over a hundred years after the beginning of organised Church life in the diaspora, we shall soon hear his name, as Metropolitan and First-Hierarch, knowing that with his integrity and Faith, he will develop, defend and preserve the legacy that will be handed over to him when he is enthroned this coming Sunday.
We may be joyfully confident that his rule as First-Hierarch of our Church will be one in which the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia will spiritually prosper in holiness and truth, and in which the rights and freedoms of our Church will be defended and preserved.
We pray for God’s blessing upon Bishop Nicholas, that his rule may be long, spiritually-fruitful and blessed.
St John’s was certainly a very joyful place today, with so many children in church, and the blessing of hearing confessions of those old enough to do so and to commune them with the Holy Mysteries. It was also young Vanya’s nameday, though we didn’t realise this until we had gone to trapeza.
We wish Vanya, as well as all of our Natalias ‘Many Years’.
Your prayers are asked for the newly arrived children from Ukraine, as some of them have just started school here in Wales, with so much that is new unfamiliar – especially language! We especially ask your prayers for Vanya, Misha and Denys, asking God to bless them – and all of our children – in their studies, through the prayers of St Nicholas and all the saints.
Our congregation also had plenty of new faces today, including the two young Ukrainian sopranos on the kliros, and the newly arrived Ukrainian faithful who are now part of our parish family.
The greatest surprise was to have unexpected visitors from London, and to be able to welcome them to the Liturgy and community.
Before I joined parishioners for trapeza, I celebrated a memorial for the newly-departed Larissa, and ask you to remember her in your prayers, together with the newly-departed Metropolitan Kallistos, Ioann, Valentina, Valentina, and Alexander.
We also pray for the soul of the newly-departed Queen Elizabeth, and for the new King, as he ascends the throne.
On Monday 19th September, the royal funeral will be broadcast on a big screen in St John’s Church, and any Orthodox parishioners who would like to join the Canton parish on this occasion are most welcome. A book of condolence may be found before the votive candle stand on the altar-step, and parishioners are welcome to add their condolences to those of the local community.
Next Sunday will be the feast of the Uncovering of the Relics of the Holy Wonder-Workers Peter and Febronia of Murom, with the variables to be found at Orthodoxaustin:
Confessions will be heard on Friday afternoon and in the early evening before our 19:00 catechesis session in St Mary Butetown. May I please have requests for confession before 22:00 on Wednesday.
The New Church Year begins on Wednesday this week, and we will pray for God’s blessing of the New Indiction with an evening service in the Chapel of St David and St Nicholas, in Llanelli.
Thank you to all who made today such a joyful celebration of Faith, especially those who looked after our new visitors so warmly, and congratulations to all who communed of the Holy Mysteries. Поздравления с причастием!
Their united lives of devotion and their example of righteousness and holiness impressed themselves upon the faithful, who recognised qualities to be emulated in Holy Matrimony, reminding us that the first duty of each Orthodox husband and wife is to nurture one another in Faith and to lead one another into the Kingdom of Heaven.
