Having celebrated a joyful and well attended Ascension day Liturgy in the church of St Mary the Virgin, in Butetown, it was a wonderful to sustain the feast with the baptism of Melangell (Menna), in St Nicholas.
A short distance from the medieval parish church, in the garden of what was once the church hall, the trees sheltered us from both sun and wind, as the baptismal waters were blessed; as Melangell was anointed with the oil of the catechumens before her immersion in the baptismal waters; and her chrismation and tonsure.
It was an occasion of great joy and celebration, followed by a baptismal tea – with a Welsh-Sicilian ‘baptismal-cake’ – then a musical interlude in the house, where Melangell played the harp, and Aldhelm entertained with traditional Dorset dance tunes on the accordion – including a specially composed Dorset jig for the occasion… though we were content to tap our feet and continue drinking tea, rather than responding in a more energetic fashion.
We thank Melangell for her great hospitality and the warmth with which all were welcomed in St Nicholas, and likewise thank the congregation, who in services and the catechism group, have welcomed Melangell into the community with equal warmth and generosity.
May the Lord grant the newly enlightened handmaiden of God, Melangell, many years!
Dear brothers and sisters – on this day on which we celebrate the Meeting of the Vladimir Icon, we also celebrate the Holy Equals to the Apostles Constantine and Helena.
Though we have a lack of Constantine’s, we greet our sisters baptised in honour of the Holy Empress Helena, congratulating them, asking God’s blessing and praying that he will preserve them for many years!
Многая и Благая лѣта!
Canon of the saints, Tone VIII.
Ode I, 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 Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
O Thou Who alone art the King of heaven, through the entreaties of Thy favoured ones, free Thou my lowly soul from sin, which now reigneth within me.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
As one who loved the kingdom on high, O blessed Constantine, believing with a pure mind, thou didst worship the King and Master of all.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Illumined with divine light, O divinely wise Helena, thou didst truly forsake the darkness of ignorance and most sincerely enslave thyself to the King of the ages.
Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Lady, thou portal of the divine East, open unto me the door of repentance, and by thine intercession deliver me from the gates of deadly sin.
Ode III, Irmos: O Lord, Creator of the vault of Heaven * and Builder of the Church, * do Thou strengthen me in Thy love, O Summit of desire, * O Support of the faithful, * O only Lover of mankind.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Thou didst strive to receive heavenly rewards; wherefore, O divinely wise father, thou didst follow Him Who called thee, forsaking the darkness of the falsehood bequeathed to thee, and didst become a luminary through the divine Spirit.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Having cleaved unto Christ and set all thy hope on Him, O most honoured one, thou didst attain unto His sacred places, wherein the Supremely good One, having become incarnate, endured His most pure sufferings.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Burning with divine desire, O divinely blessed one, thou didst uncover the precious Cross, the weapon of salvation, the insuperable victory, the hope of Christians, which had been hidden in malice.
Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Having fallen away from my sacred citizenship, O most pure one, I have become like a beast and am wholly condemned. O thou who hast given birth to the Judge, deliver and save me from all condemnation.
Lord, have mercy.Lord, have mercy.Lord, have mercy.
Sessional Hymn of the saints, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom …”: Having stretched forth thy senses toward heaven and acquired the beauty of the stars, thou wast taught by them the mysteries of the Lord of all; and the weapon of the Cross shone forth in their midst, signifying that in which thou shouldest conquer and achieve dominion. Wherefore, opening the eyes of thy soul, thou didst read the writings and learn about the image. O most honored Constantine, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who celebrate thy holy memory with love. (Twice)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion, Tone VIII: Having conceived the Wisdom and Word in thy womb without being consumed, O Mother of God, thou hast given birth for the world unto the Nourisher of all and Fashioner of creation; and thou didst bear in thine arms Him Who holdeth all things. Wherefore, I beseech thee, O all-holy Virgin, and glorify thee with faith: May I be delivered from transgressions, and, on the day of judgment when I shall stand before the face of my Creator, O pure Virgin Sovereign Lady, grant me thine aid; for thou canst do all things whatsoever thou dost will, O thou who art all-hymned.
Ode IV, Irmos: O Lord, I have heard the mystery of Thy dispensation; * I have considered Thy works, * and I have glorified Thy Divinity.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Christ the Lord pursued thee from heaven, as He had Paul of old, O Constantine, teaching thee to worship Him as the only King.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
With a most radiant sign of stars, O blessed one, Christ the Sun illumined thee, showing thee to be a luminary for the darkened.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O blessed one, thou wast God-loving in nature and right wondrous in thy divine works; wherefore, we glorify thee with faith.
Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Ever-virgin who hast given birth to the Sun of righteousness, illumine my soul, which hath been darkened by sins.
Ode V, Irmos: Rising early we cry to Thee, O Lord; * save us, for Thou art our God, * and we know none other besides Thee.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Having risen at dawn unto the never-waning Sun and Master, O divinely wise emperor, thou wast filled with light.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Wearing love and perfect loving-kindness like a robe of royal purple, thou hast now made thine abode in the kingdom on high.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Helena, thou hast joined the choirs of the incorporeal ones, having pleased God by thy virtuous works.
Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Cleanse thou my soul, which hath been defiled by carnal pleasures through the treachery of the serpent, O Virgin.
Ode VI, 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. Most gloriously didst thou assemble the divine choir of the God-bearing fathers,
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
O Constantine, and through them make steadfast the storm-tossed hearts of all, that they might glorify the Word as equal in honor and co-enthroned with the One Who begat Him.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Having believed on the living Lord Who giveth life unto all, O Helena, thou didst spurn the abominable worship of vain idols and joyously received the kingdom of heaven.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Guided by Thy hand, O Word, through Thee the sovereigns thrust aside the most profound darkness of ignorance and the tempest of cruel godlessness, and arrived, rejoicing, at the calm havens of piety.
Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Heal thou my heart, which hath grown incurably sick and hath been grievously wounded by the sting of the evil one, O Maiden, and by thine entreaties grant healing unto me, and save me who trust in thee, O most pure one.
Lord, have mercy.Lord, have mercy.Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Today the Virgin …”: Today Constantine and his mother Helena * have revealed the Cross, the most precious Tree, * which putteth to shame all the Jews * and is the weapon of faithful kings against the adversary. ** For our sake the great standard hath appeared, terrible in battle.
Ikos: Let us honor Constantine, and Helena his mother; for, hearing the words of David, they recognized the three parts of the Cross in the cedar, the pine and the cypress, upon which the suffering of the Savior was accomplished. And having found it, in preparation to display it before the people, they set it before all the Jews, hidden because of their hatred and jealousy; revealing it to be the great justification. Wherefore, they have been revealed to all as victors, bearing the invincible trophy, the great standard, terrible in battle.
Ode VII, Irmos: The Hebrew children in the furnace * boldly trampled upon the flames, * changing the fire into dew, they cried aloud: * ‘Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, throughout the ages’.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Keeping Thy precepts, Constantine submitted to Thy law. Wherefore, he hath cast down hordes of the iniquitous, crying out to Thee: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God!
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
The Tree which hath drawn all from the pit of destruction, O right wondrous one, and which was buried out of malice, thou didst disclose unto us, burying the most pernicious demons forever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
By godly works thou didst make thy heart a temple of God, O Helena, and didst likewise build sacred churches for Him, where for our sake He endured His most pure sufferings for our sake.
Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Willingly committing sins, and enslaved by unseemly habits, I flee now to thy tender compassion. O most holy Sovereign Lady, save me who am in despair!
Ode VIII, Irmos: In his wrath the Chaldean Tyrant made the furnace blaze, * with heat fanned sevenfold for the servants of God; * but when he perceived that they had been saved by a greater power * he cried aloud to the Creator and Redeemer, * ‘O ye youths bless, O ye priests praise, * O ye people, supremely exalt Him throughout all ages’.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Arrayed in loving-kindness as in a robe and in goodly meekness as in cloak, O glorious one, thou wast adorned with a mind perfect in the virtues as with a crown; and having been translated from earth to the kingdom on high, thou dost cry aloud: O ye priests bless; O ye people supremely exalt Christ throughout all ages!
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Beholding thee rejoicing with thy divinely wise son, in the kingdom of God, O glorious Helena, we magnify Christ Who hath shown us your honoured festival, which illumineth us more brightly than the rays of the sun, wherefore we chant with faith: O ye people supremely exalt Christ throughout all ages!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Wondrous is thy desire and godly thy character, O glorious Helena, thou boast of women! For having attained unto the places where the precious sufferings took place, thou didst adorn them with all-beauteous temples of the Master of all, crying: O ye people supremely exalt Christ throughout all ages!
Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Theotokos, enlighten the eyes of my soul, which have been blinded by many crimes; grant peace to my mind and heart, which have been vexed by multifarious pleasures, I pray, and save me who cry: O ye priests bless; ye people supremely exalt the pure one throughout all ages!
Ode IX, Irmos: Heaven was stricken with awe, * and the ends of the earth were filled with amazement, * for God hath appeared in the flesh, * and thy womb was rendered more spacious than the heavens. * Wherefore, the ranks of men and of angels * magnify thee as the Theotokos.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
The tomb wherein thy sacred and precious body doth lie, O Constantine, doth ever pour forth the radiance of divine healings upon those whoever approach it in purity, driving away the darkness of divers passions and illumining those who praise thee with never-waning light.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Having finished thy life in holiness, thou hast now made thine abode with the saints, full of sanctity and enlightenment. Wherefore, ever pouring forth rivers of healings, thou dost burn up our sufferings, giving drink to our souls, O blessed Helena.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O unoriginate and immortal King, Thou hast vouchsafed Thy heavenly kingdom to the holy Helena and the great Constantine, whom of old thou didst grant to reign piously on earth, and who loved Thee in purity, O Lord. By their supplications have pity on us all.
Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Having conceived, thou hast given birth to the King and Creator of all, O Virgin. And, lo! as a Queen thou standest forth now at His right hand. Wherefore, I beseech thee: at the hour of judgment deliver me from the left side, and number me with the sheep on the right.
Troparion, Tone VIII: Beholding the image of Thy Cross in the sky, * and like Paul receiving a call not from men, * Thine apostle among kings placed the imperial city in Thy hands, O Lord. * Do Thou ever preserve it in peace, ** through the supplications of the Theotokos, O Thou Who alone art the Lover of mankind.
“Lift up your gates, O you princes and be lifted up, ye everlasting doors, and the king of glory shall enter in.”
Dear brothers and sisters – Greetings on this joyful feast of the Ascension, as we celebrate the Saviour ascending with our humanity into the Kingdom of God, where He is for ever human as well as divine, knowing the joys and sorrows, the challenges and trials of our lives, because He lived such a life.
In this knowledge, we pray to Him as One who joined Himself to us in the mystery of His Incarnation.
We pray to Him as One who started life as a refugee in the flight to Egypt; as One who wandered and had nowhere to call His own; as One who lived in simplicity and non-acquisitiveness; as One who hungered and thirsted; as One who wept and felt sorrow; as One who experienced torture and pain; as One who understood betrayal and condemnation; as One who endured and embraced human-nature and human life for the sake of humanity – to redeem it, perfect it, and raise it in glory.
We take comfort that in His self-abasement the ascended Lord deigned to live among us, sharing human life with us and showing us the promise of future life in the age to come, as He takes the ‘robe of Adam’ to be glorified in the Heavenly Kingdom: a promise and calling for each of us who have been baptised into His death and glorious resurrection.
Do you see then to what height of glory human nature has been raised? Is it not from earth to heaven? Is it not from corruption to incorruption? How hard would not someone toil in order to become the intimate friend of a corruptible king here below? But we, although we were alienated and hostile in our intent by evil deeds, have not only been reconciled to God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, but we have also soared aloft to sonship, and now our nature is worshipped in the heavens by every creature seen and unseen.
We now enter the final days of Pascha and there will be a celebration of the Hours and Divine Liturgy in Llanelli for the Leave-Taking of Pascha, on Wednesday 1 June at 10:00.
The following morning, Thursday 2 June, the Liturgy of the Ascension will celebrated in the Church St Mary Butetown, North Church Street, at 10:30. As this is a bank-holiday, I hope that a good number of parishioners will be able to attend.
As you may be aware, there is a service in St John’s on Thursdays at the same time, so Father Dean stepped in with his usual matter-of-fact generosity. Many thanks Father!
We return to St Mary’s for a pre-baptismal talk at 19:00 on Friday, and look forward to the baptism of Melangell (Menna) in the village of St Nicholas at 14:00 on Saturday afternoon.
We return to St John’s for the Sunday Hours and Divine Liturgy at 11:00 – ending a mobile week of multiple venues!
Christ is Risen!
Fr Mark
Wednesday 1 June, 10:00– Hours and Divine Liturgy for the Leave-Taking of Pascha.
Venue: The Chapel of St David and St Nicholas, in the garden of Father Luke’s home at 11 New Rd, Dafen, Llanelli, SA14 8LS.
Thursday 2 June, 10:30 – Hours and Divine Liturgy for the Ascension of the Lord.
Venue: The Church St Mary the Virgin, North Church Street, Butetown, Cardiff.
Anyone requiring confession before Liturgy should contact the clergy to make arrangements.
Friday 3 June,18:00 – Confessions, 19:00 catechesis talk on Baptism.
Venue: The Church St Mary the Virgin, North Church Street, Butetown, Cardiff.
Saturday 4 June, 14:00 – Baptism of Melangell (Menna) in St Nicholas CF5 6SH (village). Parishioners are invited, and those able to be part of the occasion are asked to email Menna: menna135@yahoo.co.uk
Sunday 5 June, 10:15– Confessions,11:00Hours and Divine Liturgy
As we celebrate the feast of the holy martyr Alexander of Rome, we congratulate our devoted oltarnik Alexander on his name day, praying that God may grant him abundant blessings and preserve him for many years!
The Holy Martyr Alexander suffered for Christ at the beginning of the fourth century. He was a soldier serving in the regiment of the tribune Tiberian at Rome. When he was eighteen, the Roman emperor Maximian Hercules (284-305) issued an edict that all citizens were to go to the temple of Jupiter outside the city on a designated day to offer sacrifice.
The tribune Tiberian assembled his soldiers and he ordered them to go to this festival, but Alexander, raised from childhood in the Christian Faith, refused and said that he would not offer sacrifice to devils. Tiberian reported to the emperor Maximian that there was a soldier in his regiment who was a Christian. Soldiers were immediately sent to arrest Alexander.
Alexander was asleep, but an angel woke him and warned him of his impending martyrdom, saying that he would be with him during this time. When the soldiers arrived, Alexander came out to meet them. His face shone with a light so bright that the soldiers fell to the ground when they saw him. The saint upbraided them and told them to carry out their orders.
Standing before Maximian, Saint Alexander boldly confessed his faith in Christ and he refused to worship the idols. He said that he was not afraid of the emperor, nor of his threats. The emperor tried to persuade the young man with promises of honors, but Alexander remained steadfast in his confession, and denounced the emperor and all the pagans. They tortured the holy martyr, but he bravely endured all the sufferings.
Maximian remanded Saint Alexander to the tribune Tiberian, who was being sent to Thrace to persecute Christians there. So they brought the martyr to Thrace, fettered in chains. At this time an angel told Saint Alexander’s mother, Pimenia, of her son’s martyrdom. Pimenia found her son in Carthage, where he stood before Tiberian and again he steadfastly confessed himself a Christian.
They subjected him to torture before the eyes of his mother, and then they took the prisoner on his final journey, walking behind Tiberian’s chariot. The brave Pimenia asked the soldiers to let her go to her son, and she encouraged him to undergo torments for Christ. The soldiers were astonished at the stoic strength of the martyr and they said one to another, “Great is the God of the Christians!”
The angel appeared to the martyr several times, strengthening him. By night a fearsome angel appeared to Tiberian with sword in hand, and commanded the tribune to hasten to Byzantium, since the martyr’s end was drawing near. Tiberian hurried on his way.
In the city of Philippopolis, Tiberian retried Saint Alexander in the presence of the city dignitaries gathered for this event. At this trial Saint Alexander remained steadfast. During his grievous journey the holy martyr had been repeatedly subjected to cruel tortures. He was strengthened by God, however, and he endured all the torments.
He gave strength to the soldiers weakened by thirst, asking the Lord to provide a spring of water for them. During the journey, the martyr prayed beneath a tree, asking for strength in his sufferings, and the fruit and leaves of this tree received a curative power. At a place named Burtodexion, the saint again met his mother Pimenia, who fell weeping at his feet. The holy martyr said to her, “Do not weep , my mother, for the day after tomorrow, the Lord shall help me finish matters.”
In the city of Drizipera Tiberian imposed the death sentence on the saint. The holy martyr gave thanks to the Lord for giving him the strength to endure all the torments, and to accept martyrdom. The soldier who was supposed to carry out the execution asked the saint’s forgiveness, and for a long time he could not bring himself to raise his sword, for he saw angels waiting to take the soul of the martyr.
The saint prayed and asked God to remove the angels, since he wanted to go to the Lord. Only then did he cut off the saint’s holy head. The saint’s body was cast into a river, but four dogs dragged it out of the water, and they would not let anyone near it, until Saint Alexander’s mother Pimenia came. She took up the remains of her martyred son and reverently buried them near the River Ergina.
Healings began to take place at the grave of Saint Alexander. Soon the holy martyr appeared to his mother in a dream, in which he comforted her and said that soon she too would be transported to the heavenly habitations.
The Orthodox Church in America: 5/23/2017
Troparion, Tone 3: Thy holy martyr Alexander, O Lord, through his sufferings hast received an incorruptible crown from Thee, our God. For having Thy strength, he laid low his adversaries, and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. Through his intercessions, do Thou save our souls!
Kontakion, Tone 2: Thou hast appeared as a bright star announcing Christ with thy radiance, which is repulsive to this world, O Martyr Alexander; extinguishing the allure of false gods, thou didst enlighten the faithful, ever interceding for us all.
Christ is Risen! Христосвоскресе! Hristos a înviat! Χριστόςἀνέστη!
Sunday brought us the double joy of celebrating the Samaritan woman – St Photini/Svetlana – and the translation of the relics of St Nicholas from Myra to Bari. I was very happy to be able to preach on the Samaritan woman, in addition to celebrating the great Wonderworker in a festal moleben, with the faithful being anointed with manna from the relics of St Nicholas in the basilica in Bari.
During the moleben, we prayed for Daniel and Katherine, who were crowned in holy matrimony by Daniel’s priestly father on Sunday afternoon in the Old Rite Russian Orthodox Church of St Nicholas the Wonderworker (Moscow Patriarchate) in Edinboro, Pennsylvania. We pray for a blessed marriage and ‘many years’, to the newlyweds and their families – especially to Father Seraphim and matushka Solomonia. What a blessing for the newlyweds to be crowned in a temple dedicated to St Nicholas on his Spring Feast.
Later, on Sunday, I had the opportunity to speak to those recently confirmed in the Anglican ministry area, and tell them a little about the Orthodox Church, also taking the opportunity to talk with the Anglican clergy about parish life in the wake of the arrival of refugees from Ukraine.
This coming Sunday is the Sunday of the Blind Man, and we will celebrate the Hours and Liturgy at the usual time of 11:00, with our customary bring-and-share-lunch after the service.
The variable parts of the Liturgy may be found at Orthodox Austin, as usual:
As there will be no catechesis group this Friday, I will hear confessions in Deacon Mark’s office on Saturday, and ask all of those requiring confessions to email me by Thursday: otetzmark@hotmail.com
May God bless you, and may you continue to rejoice in the Resurrection of Christ as we come towards the end of the Paschal season.
Today, as we celebrate the feast of the Holy Equals-to-the-Apostles, Cyril and Methodios, we pray for the brotherhood of the Slav Orthodox Churches and Christian peoples, in the face of such destructive forces unleashed in the world.
Through the holy brothers Cyril and Methodios, the Byzantine state planted the seeds of the Gospel in the lands and hearts of the Slavic peoples, and through them so many none-Slavs received the Light of Christ and the Orthodox Faith, especially through the diaspora of the Slav Orthodox fleeing the godless Soviet-yolk.
Here in Britain, in our ROCOR parishes, the inheritance of St Cyril and St Methodios is united to the heritage of the Roman Christian martyrs of Britain, and of the Celtic and Anglo-Saxon saints, and we see this legacy in our own community, with its growing numbers of local faithful, in each admittance to the catechumenate, in each baptism.
Sadly, Constantinople, the Queen of Cities, has fallen, geopolitically and spiritually, and the successor of the Orthodox patriarchs now sows discord and schism, not only in the lands of St Vladimir, but also in Moravia, where the Saints Cyril and Methodios preached the Gospel in their mission, sent by the pious Emperor Michael in response to the request of St Rostislav the Great of Greater Moravia, the Equal to the Apostles.
In the much-suffering Ukrainian land, the last few days have been marred by more church seizures, attacks, and assault by the godless schismatics, and as the true Ukrainian Orthodox Church experiences the passion and sufferings of the Holy Martyrs and Confessors, we commend its faithful people, with their hierarchs and pastors to the prayers of the holy brothers whose legacy should be a bond of unity and love rooted in Christ in the Gospel.
Equally we pray for the parishes in the Czech Republic, bullied, attacked and harassed by the agents of schism, entrusting them to the prayers of Saints Cyril and Methodios.
I will never forget asking my Slovak school children who their heroes were, and constantly hearing the answer, ‘Kyril i Metod’. What a joy it was to hear late twentieth century children hold the Evangelists of the Slavs in such great esteem.
Let us pray that our children and grandchildren, and every successive generation will find a place for Saints Cyril and Methodios in their hearts and strive to preserve their legacy, and that of their holy disciples who preached the Gospel after them.
May we embrace their legacy of mission, of teaching and spreading the Light of Christ, and may their legacy be a source of unity, brotherhood and sisterhood.
A PRAYER FOR ORTHODOX UNITY
O Lord Jesus Christ our God, head of the Church that is thy Body, who prayed for thy disciples to the Father, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me”: To thee we confess that thy Church is one, and cannot be divided; we mourn for all who separate themselves from Her; we pray that thou mayest make the schisms to cease. We put not our trust in princes, nor in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation; rather, we put all our hope in thee, and we beg of thee, send thy Holy Spirit to guide our hierarchs, that they may rightly divide the word of thy truth, and that they may bear witness to the unity of the Church in all their decisions. Preserve us, O Lord, from the Evil One and all his attempts to divide us, from the machinations of governments, from the ambitions of fallen men, and from the sin of pride. Heal the wounds caused by our lack of love, and fill us, and our hierarchs, with love for one another as brothers in Christ. Keep us in thy truth; thy word is truth. To thee, and thy Father, and the Holy Spirit: the Holy Trinity, the source and manifestation of all unity, one in essence and undivided, do we ascribe all praise, honor, and glory, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Troparion, Tone 4: In that ye share the ways of the apostles, O divinely wise Cyril and Methodius, ye teachers of the Slavic lands, entreat the Master of all, that He confirm all the Slavic nations in Orthodoxy and oneness of mind, grant peace to the world and save our souls.
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 3: Let us honor our two sacred enlighteners, who poured forth upon us a spring of divine knowledge through their translation of the divine Scriptures. Drawing forth abundantly therefrom to this very day, we bless you, O Cyril and Methodius, who stand before the throne of the Most High and fervently pray for our souls.
Christ is Risen! Христос воскресе! Hristos a înviat! Χριστός ἀνέστη!
Sunday was a particularly joyful Liturgy as we welcomed the latest arrivals from Ukraine, welcomed the newly-enlightened Georgije, belatedly greeted Deacon Mark and Yuriy for their name-days and celebrated matushka Alla’s birthday.
Attendance was very good and trapeza a place of lively socialising and fellowship, and warm and friendly conversations: a great blessing.
We will celebrate the spring feast of St Nicholas this coming Sunday, with the Hours at and Liturgy at 11:00, commemorating the translation of his relics from Myra to Bari.
Having resumed catechesis at St Mary’s Church, North Church Street, Butetown, last week, we will meet in the parish room at the usual time of 19:00 this coming Friday continuing with reflections on the Holy Spirit.
I will hear confessions before the study group and would appreciate those wishing to confess to email by Wednesday night – otetzmark@hotmail.com – thanking those who have already contacted me.
As usual, I will be able to hear confessions for parishioners communing on Sunday, but after a long time confessing before last Sunday’s Liturgy, we must move some confessions/communions to after the Liturgy. Time is so short before the Liturgy that we must be careful with the time. Canonically the Liturgy must begin before noon, and people are already fasting for a long time after long journeys for some communicants.
Having recently baptised George, we look forward to Menna’s baptism on Saturday 4 June, when she will baptised with the name Melangell – just in time for her name-day. We look forward to further baptisms in the near future, and will shortly be making another student a catechumen.
Finally – tomorrow is the feast of mid-Pentecost, and the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 10:00 in the Chapel of St David and St Nicholas, at 11 New Rd, Dafen, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire SA14 8LS.
The chapel is in the rear garden, and access is through the house and conservatory.
Christ is Risen! Христос воскресе! Hristos a înviat! Χριστός ἀνέστη!
As we celebrated the Divine Liturgy in Cheltenham today, our thoughts were very much with Mother Melangell, as she celebrated the altar-feast of her skete, named for the icon of the Mother of God, “Unexpected Joy”.
The story of this icon appears in The Fleece Bedewed, by St Dimitri of Rostov: a work which describes various miracles of the Mother of God.
The icon “Unexpected Joy” actually consists of an icon within an icon, with words of dialogue and narration often woven into its design.
We see a young man, who despite a life of crime never lost his devotion to the Mother of God, and prayed before the icon of Our Lady and the Infant Saviour every day, repeating the Archangel’s greeting: “Rejoice, O Virgin full of grace!”.
However, his prayer never stopped him then going out and stealing until the Mother of God interceded in this situation, for when he turned to the icon, he saw the Mother of God and Christchild in the flesh, and the Infant Saviour had bleeding wounds on His hands and feet, and blood flowed from a wound in His side. The horrified man fell to his knees and instinctively questioned the Mother of God: “O Mistress! Who did this?”
The life-changing answer for the man was in the challenge of the Virgin’s quiet words: “You and other sinners. Over and over again you crucify My Son by your sins.”
The horrified man cried out, “Have mercy upon me,” but the Mother of God rebuked him saying, “You call Me the Mother of mercy, yet you offend Me and bring Me sorrow by your deeds.”
In this, is a challenge for us all. We call the Saviour our Lord, yet we disobey and offend Him; we call our Lady Mother, yet we bring hurt and insult that we would not even think of throwing at our mother according to the flesh.
The man, who had tried to mix devotion to the Mother of God with a life of disobedience and crime appealed to her, as a source of help, hope and rescue:
“No, Mistress. May my malice not overcome your indescribable kindness and mercy! You alone are the hope and safe haven of all sinners! Have mercy upon me, O benevolent Mother! Entreat your Son and my Creator on my behalf.”
The horror of the words he had heard had already awakened his soul and brought him to profound repentance, and seeing this purification and change the Mother of God entreated her Son, our Saviour:
“My benevolent Son! For the sake of My love have mercy upon this sinner.” But the Son replied to Her: “Do not be angry, My Mother, if I do not obey You. I, too, entreated My Father to have this cup of suffering pass Me by.”
Though the Mother of God continued to pray for this man, who brought her Son grief and great sorrow, the Saviour seemed immovable until Our Lady placed the Infant on His own feet and prepared to fall at His feet to beg for the repentant thief.
It was then that the Saviour spoke and stopped her:
“What do you wish to do, Mother?!”
And the Mother of God, our perpetual-intercessor replied, “I shall remain, lying at Your feet together with this sinner until You forgive him his sins.”
The Saviour replied, “The law requires a son to venerate his mother, while justice demands that the giver of the law be himself obedient to the law. I am your Son; you are My Mother; I am obliged to do you homage by fulfilling your request. Let it be as you wish! His sins are now forgiven for your sake! And as a token of forgiveness, let him press his lips to My wounds.”
The man rose up, trembling, still wrapped in the vision and approached the Infant Saviour, and kissed His wounds, and begged that he should always be able to see his own sins and repent of them, and in the gift of this knowledge, his life was transformed, and he lived the rest of his life in knowledge and repentance.
This knowledge is one so greatly needed, as we become conscience-numbed, very often not even understanding that our behaviours are even sins. The world – and even the Christians in the world – loses all sense of sin and error. People come to confession, saying that they can’t really think of anything that has gone wrong since their last confession, and that all seems to be well.
We need to ask the Mother of God to intercede for us, that we might receive the knowledge of the repentant criminal remembered through this miracle recorded by St Dimitri, and we need to remind ourselves how like this once deluded man we are, asking how we can be spiritually wakened and enlivened, as he was – being mindful of our errors, the need to change and repent.
Let us begin by praying the Canon to the Mother of God by the Monk Euthymios, the Chancellor, that we might be brought to realisation and repentance, and to amendment, and newness of life, in which we understand our culpability and our responsibility for the Saviour’s sacred wounds.
Having celebrated the feast of St George on Friday, we served a moleben to the Great-Martyr after Sunday’s Liturgy.
I thought I would share a photograph from my cell icon-corner, where prayers are offered to St George for our parishioners, benefactors and friends.
Holy & Glorious Great-Martyr, Wonder-Worker & Trophy-Bearer George, Troparion, Tone IV: With faith thou didst fight the good fight, O athlete of Christ, didst denounce the ungodliness of the tyrants and didst offer thyself to God as a right acceptable sacrifice. Wherefore, thou hast received a crown of victory, O holy one, and by thy supplications dost bestow the forgiveness of transgressions upon all.
Troparion in Tone IV: As a liberator of captives, a helper of the poor, and a physician of the infirm, O champion of kings, victorious great martyr George, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.
Holy, glorious and praiseworthy St. George! We who venerate thy holy icon, beseech thee, as a known intercessor for our longings: pray with us to God, Whose loving kindness we implore, mercifully to hear us entreating His goodness, and not to abandon our requests which are needful unto salvation and life; that He might grant victories over adversaries; and furthermore we pray thee abjectly, thou holy Trophy-Bearer, to strengthen the Orthodox Christians in their battles, by the grace given thee; crush the power of insurgent foes, that they may be disgraced and brought to shame, and their presumption shattered; may they know that we have Divine help, and thy mighty defence made known unto all in sorrow and trouble. Entreat the Lord God and Maker of all creation to deliver us from eternal torment, that we may always glorify the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
