The Canon to St Winefride

Several of our parish sisters are making a pilgrimage to Holywell next week, and as I was sorting the canon to St Winefride, it seemed a good idea to publish it here for general circulation.

Ode I, Irmos: The people of Israel, / having fled across the watery deep of the Red Sea with dryshod feet, / beholding the mounted captains of the enemy drowned therein, / sang with gladness: / Let us chant unto our God, / for He hath been glorified!

Venerable-Martyr Winefride pray to God for us!

With the waters of Winifred’s holy well are we cured of maladies of body and soul, for the Lord drew forth a wondrous spring where fell her severed head. Therefore, let us chant unto our God, for He hath been glorified! 

Venerable-Martyr Winefride pray to God for us!

Ineffable was the revival of the holy Winifred at the entreaties of the venerable Beuno; for, affixing her severed head to her lifeless body, the saint restored her to life. Wherefore, let us sing unto our God, for He hath been glorified!

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

Now let us praise Christ; for, honouring the holy maiden, He filleth her spring with an upwelling of grace, that those who immerse themselves in its watery depths may find ease for their pain and sorrows, for He is all-glorious.

Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen

Theotokion: In majesty doth thy Son reign over all, O most immaculate Virgin, and everlastingly doth He hearken with pity to thy maternal supplications, which thou dost unceasingly offer up before His throne, entreating Him on our behalf.

Ode III, Irmos: The people of Israel drank from the hard and rough-hewn stone ,/ which poured forth water at Thy command;/ and Thou, O Christ, / art the Rock and Life /whereon the Church is established, which crieth: //Hosanna! Blessed art Thou Who comest!

Venerable-Martyr Winefride pray to God for us!

Flourishing in the soil of Wales like a tree of comely form, laden with fruit of the virtues, O Winifred; and, watered abundantly by the pure doctrine of thy kinsman, the venerable Beuno, thou didst reserve thy precious virginity for Christ alone.

Venerable-Martyr Winefride pray to God for us!

Rushing forth in great volume, the springs of thy holy well emerge from the rock of Wales and flow down to the sea, O virgin martyr, irrigating thy native land and watering with divine grace the souls of those who cry to Christ: Hosanna!

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

Ever did her noble parents, Terith and Wenlo, see the saint as a precious gem, sparkling with the grace of God, flawless in purity; wherefore, they entrusted her to the holy Beuno, who taught her to cry to Christ: Blessed art Thou Who comest!

Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen

Theotokion: Daily do we offer our entreaties to thee whom thy Son hath given to us, His servants, as a mediator and advocate before Him; and with thankful voices we cry out to thee: Blessed art thou among women! Hosanna to the Fruit of thy womb!

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

Sessional hymn, Tone III, Spec. Mel. Of the divine Faith: Adorned with zeal for the Faith, with piety, reverence and virginity, O Winifred, / as a bride of Christ thou didst prefer to die rather than to submit to the accursed Caradoc; / wherefore, glorified by God, thou ever prayest earnestly unto Him, / that He deliver us, His servants, from the disgrace of the passions.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen

Theotokion, in Tone III: Thou wast the divine tabernacle of the Word, O only all-pure Virgin Mother, / who hast surpassed the angels in purity. / With the divine waters of thy supplications, O pure one, / cleanse me who, more than all others, / have become defiled by carnal transgressions, and grant unto me great mercy. 

Stavrotheotokion, Tone III (replaces the Theotokion on Wednesday and Friday): The unblemished ewe-lamb of the Word, the undefiled Virgin Mother, / beholding Him Who sprang forth from her without pain suspended upon the Cross, / cried out, lamenting maternally: / ‘Woe is me, O my Child! / How is it that Thou sufferest willingly, desiring to deliver man from the dishonour of the passions?’

Ode IV, Irmos: Thy virtue hath covered the heavens, / and the earth hath been filled with Thy glory, O Christ. / Wherefore, we cry out with faith:/ Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Venerable-Martyr Winefride pray to God for us!

In the Christian virtues wast thou tutored and trained by thine uncle, the holy Beuno, O Winifred; wherefore, thou didst cry out with him: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Venerable-Martyr Winefride pray to God for us!

Slain wast thou, O venerable one, when thou didst flee him who sought to outrage thy pure virginity, O venerable martyr; but he was destroyed by the power of the Lord.

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

Arrogant and lustful, the accursed nobleman pursued the holy one and slew her at the doors of the church; but the earth swallowed him alive by the power of the Lord.

Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen

What words suffice to hymn thy wondrous works, O all-hymned Theotokos? Wherefore, we cry out with faith and love to thy Son and God: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Ode V, Irmos: Shine forth upon me the light of Thy precepts, O Lord, / for my spirit riseth early unto Thee and hymneth Thee: / for Thou art our God, / and I flee to Thee, O King of peace.

Venerable-Martyr Winefride pray to God for us!

Emitting the effulgence of the splendid precepts of the Lord, O martyred maiden, when wickedly pursued by the evildoer thou didst flee with haste to the King of peace.

Venerable-Martyr Winefride pray to God for us!

Lord of hosts, King of peace, have mercy upon me, and deliver me from him who intendeth my ruination and spiritual destruction! the holy Winifred earnestly prayed.

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

Let the sword of the impious Caradoc free me from this vain world and its vile illusions, for I prefer the King of peace above all else! the holy maiden cried aloud.

Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen

Slain for piety’s sake, the holy Winifred joined the Theotokos at the right hand of her Son; but in His mysterious dispensation, the King of peace restored her to bodily life.

Ode VI, Irmos: Let not the watery tempest drown me, nor the abyss destroy me; / for I have been cast into the depths of the heart of the sea. / Wherefore, like Jonah I cry aloud: /Let my life ascend to Thee out of the corruption of evils, O God!

Venerable-Martyr Winefride pray to God for us!

Pouring forth thy martyr’s blood, O saint of God, thou didst dye in its streams a crimson robe, as vesture fit for the bridal banquet; and joining the wise virgins, thou didst enter, rejoicing, into the chamber of thy Lord, O Winifred.

Venerable-Martyr Winefride pray to God for us!

Resurrected from the dead when Beuno prayed to God and joined again thy severed head to thy virginal body, O pure maiden, thy remaining life didst thou dedicate to thy Master, in every way avoiding the corruption of evils.

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

In the doctrines of piety did the venerable Eleri undertake to tutor thee, O holy one, that having been rescued from the abyss of hades thou mightest ever cry: Let my life ascend to Thee out of the corruption of evils, O God!

Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen

Never shall we cease to extol thy manifold wonders, O compassionate Lady, nor shall we ever tire of magnifying thy mighty deeds, for thou dost ever rescue us from the depths of the sea of evils wherein we are drowning.

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

Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen

Kontakion, in Tone IV, Spec. Mel. Thou hast appeared: Thou hast appeared today, O Winifred, / pouring forth grace divine through the water of thy well upon all who partake of it with faith / and who, trusting in thy boldness before God, / immerse themselves therein with goodly hope.

Ikos: Grace divine poureth forth in torrents from Holywell, for there did the holy Winifred shed her blood for Christ, and as a sign of His good pleasure with her great sacrifice, He caused a spring to arise where her severed head fell to the ground. Wherefore, O ye Christians, let us draw forth its waters as a great blessing from God; and, ever mindful of the words of the Saviour, that whosoever shall give drink unto his neighbour a cup of cold water shall in nowise lose his reward, let us immerse ourselves in these wondrous waters with goodly hope.

Ode VII, Irmos: Of old in Babylon, the Angel, / descending into the Chaldean furnace, / bedewed the children; / wherefore, they sang: / Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Venerable-Martyr Winefride pray to God for us!

Gwitherin boasteth in thee exceedingly, O saint of God, for in its convent thou didst live a life of piety, singing unceasingly: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Venerable-Martyr Winefride pray to God for us!

Obediently didst thou shoulder the monastic yoke, O venerable one, submitting to the blessed Abbess Tenoi, singing: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

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

Fittingly didst thou succeed the holy Tenoi, O Winifred, and in Gwitherin didst stay until thine own repose, singing: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen

Gazing down upon us from on high, O sovereign Lady, let thy pity fall upon us like rain, that we may cry unto thy Son: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Ode VIII, Irmos: O Almighty Deliverer of all, / descending into the midst of the flame Thou didst bedew the pious youths and didst teach them to sing: / Bless and hymn the Lord, all ye works!

Venerable-Martyr Winefride pray to God for us!

O strange mystery! She who was slain by the sword, her head cut from her body, is restored to life, and liveth on for many years, crying: Bless and hymn the Lord, all ye works!

Venerable-Martyr Winefride pray to God for us!

Death had no dominion over thee, O glorious Winifred, for as thy well gusheth forth miraculous cures continually, so did thy grave become a wellspring of healing for the afflicted.

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

Shrewsbury was adorned with thy sacred relics, O wondrous Winifred, for they were translated thither with great solemnity, as our blessed and all-hymned Lord allowed.

Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen

Glory adorneth thee, O Theotokos, and as a Queen thou art arrayed in spiritual raiment, inwrought with gold and varied colours, and thou dost teach us to cry: Bless and hymn the Lord, all ye works!

Ode IX, Irmos: With hymns we all magnify the Theotokos, / the Chaldæan furnace which of old bore a dew-laden fire, /and the bush on Sinai / which burned without being consumed.

Venerable-Martyr Winefride pray to God for us!

Resembling in grace the heavenly dew which quenched the Chaldæan flames, the waters of the holy Winifred¹s well quench the burning of fevers and the fires of the passions.

Venerable-Martyr Winefride pray to God for us!

As God sendeth rain upon the just and the unjust without distinction, so hath He made the waters of His saint’s well to pour forth healings upon all who partake of them.

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

Come, O ye Christians, and let us praise our Most High God, for in His love for mankind He hath given us Winifred, His favoured one, as an intercessor and advocate before Him.

Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen

Even our most eloquent hymns and orations, adorned with every ornament of human speech, fail utterly to describe the magnitude of thy goodness, O Mother of God.

Troparion of St Winefride, Tone 2: Suffering death for thy virginity, O Holy Winefride,/ through the mercy of God thy body was made whole and restored to life. /Thy healing grace flows in streams of living water./ Pray to God for us that our souls may be saved!

Prayer to St Winefride: O Ye Christians, let us lift up our voices in praise of God for the mighty miracles He hath wrought for us through the pure waters of Holywell and the entreaties of His saint! O blessed Winefride, pure virgin and glorious martyr, so especially chosen, so divinely graced and so wonderfully restored from death to life! Hope of all that fly unto thee with full confidence and humility! As of old the desert rock gushed forth water for thirsting Israel when the staff of Moses smote it, so did the rocky ground of Wales put forth a torrent of grace-filled water when, falling, thy severed head struck it. The one quenched the bodily thirst of the children of God; while the other healeth the manifold infirmities of their souls and bodies. We, though, unworthy, yet thy devoted pilgrims, make our petitions unto thee. Sanctuary of piety, look now upon us with patient eyes; receive our prayers, accept our offerings, and present our supplications at the throne of mercy, that through thy powerful intercessions, our God may be pleased to bless our pilgrimage, and to grant our requests and our desires that are unto salvation; for unto Him is due all honour and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen

The Akathist Hymn to the Passion of Christ

The Holy New-Martyr, St Basil, Bishop of Kineshma loved to celebrate weekly services in honour of the Saviour’s Passion on Thursday evenings, and inspired by this, the Akathist to the Passion of Christ will be chanted each Thursday during Lent.

This week we will do so at the early time of 15:00, in the Oratory Church, but on returning to Nazareth House the following week, we will do so at 18:00, after confessions.

Kontakion 1: Supreme Ruler and Lord of Heaven and earth, seeing Thee, the Immortal King, hanging on the Cross, all creation was changed, Heaven was horrified, and the foundations of the earth were shaken. But we, unworthy as we are, offer Thee thankful adoration for Thy Passion in our behalf, and with the robber we cry to Thee: Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom!

Eikos 1: In completing the choirs of angels, Thou didst not take on the angelic nature, but being the Eternal God, for my sake Thou becamest man, and Thou didst restore to life men who were dead through sin with Thy Life-Giving Body and Blood. Therefore, in gratitude for Thine amazing love, we humbly cry to Thee:

Jesus, God, Eternal Love, Who was pleased to save us who are born of earth!

Jesus, Infinite Mercy, Who didst come down here to us fallen creatures!

Jesus, Who was clothed in our flesh and didst destroy the dominion of death by Thy death!

Jesus, Who dost deify us with Thy Divine Mysteries!

Jesus, Who hast redeemed the whole world by Thy Cross and Passion!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom!

Kontakion 2: Seeing Thee in the Garden of Gethsemane struggling in prayer till Thou didst sweat blood, an angel appeared and strengthened Thee when our sins weighed upon Thee like a heavy burden. For, having taken lost Adam on Thy shoulders, Thou didst bring him to the Father by bending Thy knees and praying. For this I sing to Thee with faith and love: Alleluia!

Eikos 2: The Jews did not know the incredible truth of Thy voluntary Passion. Therefore, when Thou didst say to those who were seeking Thee at night with lanterns: I AM HE, even though they fell to the ground, yet afterwards they bound Thee and led Thee to the judgment hall. But we fall down before Thee on the Way of the Cross and cry with love:

Jesus, Light of the world, hated by evil and worldly people!

Jesus, Who dwellest in unapproachable Light, seized by the realms of darkness!

Jesus, Immortal Son of God, condemned to death by a son of perdition!

Jesus, in Whom there is nothing false, falsely kissed by the traitor!

Jesus, Who givest Thyself freely to all, sold for a sum of silver!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom!

Kontakion 3: By the power of Thy divinity Thou didst foretell to Thy disciple his threefold denial. But even though after this he denied Thee with an oath, yet when he saw Thee, His Lord and Master, in the high priest’s court his heart was touched, and he went out and wept bitterly. Look, then, also upon me, O Lord, and strike my hard heart, that with my tears I may wash away my sins and sing to Thee: Alleluia!

Eikos 3: Having true power as High Priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek, Thou didst stand before the criminal high priest Caiaphas. O Lord and Master of all, Who didst accept torture from Thy slaves, accept from us these prayers and praises:

Jesus, Priceless One Who was bought for a price, adopt me into Thine eternal inheritance!

Jesus, desire of all nations, denied from fear by Peter, reject me not a sinner!

Jesus, Innocent Lamb, torn by cruel scourges, rescue me from mine enemies!

Jesus, High Priest, Who hast entered the Holy of Holies with Thy Blood, cleanse me from fleshly impurity!

Jesus bound, Who hast power to bind and to loose, absolve my grievous sins!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom!

Kontakion 4: Breathing a storm of murderous thoughts, the Jews having listened to the voice of the father of lies and man-slayer from time immemorial, the devil, rejected Thee, the right Way, the Truth, and the Life. But we confess Thee to be Christ, the power of God, in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and we cry: Alleluia!

Eikos 4: Having heard Thy meek and gentle words, Pilate delivered Thee up to be crucified as deserving death, even though he himself bore witness that he had found not a single fault in Thee. Then he washed his hands, but defiled his heart. And wondering at the mystery of Thy voluntary Passion, with compunction we cry to Thee:

Jesus, Son of God and Son of the Virgin, tortured by the sons of iniquity!

Jesus, mocked and stripped, Who givest the flowers of the field their beauty and deckest the sky with clouds!

Jesus, covered with wounds, Who satisfied the hunger of five thousand men with five loaves of bread!

Jesus, King of all, who instead of a tribute of love and gratitude receivest cruel tortures!

Jesus, Who art wounded all the day long for our sake, heal the wounds of our souls!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom!

Kontakion 5: Thou wast all arrayed in Thy divine blood, O Thou Who coverest Thyself with light as with a garment. I know, indeed I know with the Prophet why Thy garments are purple. I, Lord, it is I who wounded Thee with my sins. So to thee Who was wounded for my sake I thankfully cry: Alleluia!

Eikos 5: Foreseeing Thee in spirit covered with shame and wounds, the divinely inspired Isaiah cried in horror: We have seen Him, and He had no form or beauty. And we, seeing thee on the Cross, with faith and amazement cry:

Jesus, enduring dishonour, Who hast crowned man with glory and honour!

Jesus, on Whom angels cannot gaze, slapped in the face!

Jesus, Who was struck on the head with a reed, bow my head in humility!

Jesus, Whose bright eyes were darkened with blood, turn away my eyes from beholding vanity!

Jesus, Who from head to feet hadst not part whole, make me perfectly whole and healthy!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom!

Kontakion 6: Pilate proved a preacher of Thine innocence, when he told the people that he found nothing in Thee deserving death. But the Jews, like wild beasts that have seen blood, gnashed their teeth at Thee and cried: Crucify, crucify Him! We, however, kiss Thy most pure wounds and cry: Alleluia!

Eikos 6: Thou wast a spectacle and marvel to men and angels, and to Pilate who said of Thee: Behold the Man! Come, then, let us worship Jesus Who suffered abuse for our sake, as we cry:

Jesus, Creator and Judge of all, judged and tortured by Thy creatures!

Jesus, Giver of Wisdom, Who gavest no answer to foolish questions!

Jesus, Healer of those wounded by sin, grant me the healing of repentance!

Jesus, Shepherd Who was struck, strike the demons that cause me temptation!

Jesus, crushed in body, crush my heart with Thy fear!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom!

Kontakion 7: Wishing to deliver mankind from slavery to the enemy, Thou didst humble Thyself before Thine enemies, O Jesus, and like a lamb that is dumb Thou wast led to the slaughter, and didst endure wounds all over, that having healed the whole man, he might cry: Alleluia!

Eikos 7: Wonderful patience didst Thou show when, after the sentence of the unjust judge, the soldiers reviled Thee and inflicted cruel wounds on Thy Most-pure Body, so that it was purple with blood from head to foot. Therefore with tears we cry to Thee:

Jesus, Lover of mankind, crowned with thorns by mankind!

Jesus, impassible in Thy Divinity, enduring thy Passion to free us from our passions!

Jesus, my Saviour, save me who deserve all sufferings!

Jesus, forsaken by all, my Strength, strengthen me!

Jesus, my Joy, from all insults gladden me!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom!

Kontakion 8: Strange and wonderful it was when Moses and Elijah appeared to Thee on Tabor and spoke of Thy death which Thou wast about to accomplish in Jerusalem, that having beheld Thy glory there and seen our salvation here, they might cry: Alleluia!

Eikos 8: Everywhere persecuted by the Jews on account of the great multitude of my sins, Thou didst endure my shame and torment. For some say that Thou art opposed to Caesar, others accuse Thee of being a criminal while some cry: Take Him, take Him, and crucify Him. So to Thee, our Lord, condemned by all and led to crucifixion, from the depth of our souls we say:

Jesus, unjustly condemned, our Judge, condemn us not according to our deeds!

Jesus, Who was exhausted on the way under Thy Cross, my Power, forsake me not in the hour of my sorrow and suffering!

Jesus, Who didst cry for help to the Father, mine Exemplar, strengthen me in my weakness!

Jesus, Who didst accept dishonour, my Glory, deprive me not of Thy glory!

Jesus, radiant image of the Father’s Being, transfigure my dark and impure life!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom!

Kontakion 9: All nature was confounded at the sight of Thee hanging on the Cross: in the heavens the sun hid his rays, the earth quaked, the veil of the Temple was torn, the rocks split, and hell gave up her dead. But we worship on the place where Thy most pure feet stood, crying: Alleluia!

Eikos 9: Eloquent orators, even if they speak much, cannot render sufficient gratitude for Thy Divine Passion, O Lover of mankind. But our souls and bodies, our hearts and all our members with compunction cry to Thee:

Jesus, Who was nailed to the Cross, nail down and annul the handwriting of our sins!

Jesus, Who stretchest out Thy hands from the Cross to all, draw me to Thyself, for I too have gone astray!

Jesus, Door of the sheep, pierced in Thy side, lead me through Thy wounds into Thy bridal chamber!

Jesus, crucified in the flesh, crucify my flesh with its passions and desires!

Jesus, Who didst end Thy life in agony, grant that my heart may know nothing but Thee crucified!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom!

Kontakion 10: Desiring to save the world, Thou didst heal the blind, the lame, the lepers, the deaf and the dumb, and didst drive out evil spirits. But the foolish Jews, breathing envy and malice, nailed Thee to the Cross, not knowing how to sing: Alleluia!

Eikos 10: Jesus Eternal King, Thou sufferest in every limb for my intemperance and incontinence, that Thou mightest make the whole of me pure, giving us a pattern in everything that we might follow in Thy steps and cry:

Jesus, unfathomable Love, Who didst not charge with sin those who crucified Thee!

Jesus, Who didst pray earnestly with crying and tears in the garden, teach us also to pray!

Jesus, Who hast fulfilled all prophecy in Thyself, fulfil our heart’s desire for goodness!

Jesus, Who didst surrender Thy spirit into thy Father’s hands, in the hour of my death receive my spirit!

Jesus, Who didst not prevent the division of Thy garments, separate my soul from my body gently!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom!

Kontakion 11: Tenderest songs did Thine immaculate Mother offer to Thee, saying: Even though Thou sufferest on the Cross, yet I know Thee from the womb to be begotten of the Father before the morning star, for I see that all creation is suffering with Thee. Thou surrenderest Thy spirit to the Father. Receive also my spirit and forsake me not as I cry: Alleluia!

Eikos 11: Like a light-receiving lamp the immaculate Virgin stood at Thy Cross burning with love and torn with a mother’s sorrow for Thee, the true Sun of Righteousness that was setting in the grave, and with Her accept these prayers of our heart:

Jesus, Who was lifted up on the Tree that with Thyself Thou mightest lift us fallen creatures to Thy Father!

Jesus, Who didst give the Ever-Virgin as a mother to the virgin Apostle that Thou mightest teach us purity and virginity!

Jesus, Who didst entrust Thy Mother to Thy disciple, the Theologian, commit us all to Her maternal protection!

Jesus, Conqueror of the world and hell, conquer the unbelief, the pride of life, and the lust of the eyes that lurks within us!

Jesus, Destroyer of the power of death, deliver me from eternal death!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom!

Kontakion 12: Grant me Thy Grace, O Jesus my God. Receive me as Thou didst receive Joseph and Nicodemus, that I may offer to Thee my soul like a clean shroud, may anoint Thy most pure body with the fragrant spices of virtue, and may have Thee in my heart as in a tomb, as I cry: Alleluia!

Eikos 12: Praising Thy voluntary Crucifixion, we worship Thy Passion, O Christ. We believe with the centurion that Thou art truly the Son of God Who art coming on the clouds with power and great glory. Put us not then to shame, who are redeemed by Thy blood, and thus cry aloud:

Jesus, long-suffering, by the lamentation of Thy Virgin Mother rescue us from eternal weeping!

Jesus, forsaken by all, forsake me not in the hour of my death!

Jesus, with Mary Magdalene who touched Thy feet, receive me!

Jesus, condemn me not with the traitor and those who crucified Thee!

Jesus, bring me with the good thief into Paradise!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom!

Kontakion 13 (thrice): O Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, accept this small act of thanksgiving offered to Thee with all our soul, and heal us by Thy saving Passion from all sickness of soul and body. Protect us by Thy Cross from enemies visible and invisible, and forsake us not at the end of our life, that saved by Thy death from eternal death, we may unceasingly cry to Thee: Alleluia!

Kontakion 1: Supreme Ruler and Lord of Heaven and earth, seeing Thee, the Immortal King, hanging on the Cross, all creation was changed, Heaven was horrified, and the foundations of the earth were shaken. But we, unworthy as we are, offer Thee thankful adoration for Thy Passion in our behalf, and with the robber we cry to Thee: Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom!

Eikos 1: In completing the choirs of angels, Thou didst not take on the angelic nature, but being the Eternal God, for my sake Thou becamest man, and Thou didst restore to life men who were dead through sin with Thy Life-Giving Body and Blood. Therefore, in gratitude for Thine amazing love, we humbly cry to Thee:

Jesus, God, Eternal Love, Who was pleased to save us who are born of earth!

Jesus, Infinite Mercy, Who didst come down here to us fallen creatures!

Jesus, Who was clothed in our flesh and didst destroy the dominion of death by Thy death!

Jesus, Who dost deify us with Thy Divine Mysteries!

Jesus, Who hast redeemed the whole world by Thy Cross and Passion!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom!

Prayer to the Lord Jesus Crucified

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, Creator of Heaven and earth, Saviour of the world, behold I who am unworthy and of all men most sinful, humbly bow the knee of   my heart before the glory of Thy majesty and praise Thy Cross and Passion, and offer thanksgiving to Thee, the King and God of all, that Thou wast pleased to bear as man all labours and hardships, all temptations and tortures, that Thou mightest be our Fellow-sufferer and Helper, and a Saviour to all of us in all our sorrows, needs, and sufferings. I know, O all-powerful Lord, that all these things were not necessary for Thee, but for us men and for our salvation Thou didst endure Thy Cross and Passion that Thou mightest redeem us from all cruel bondage to the enemy. What, then, shall I give in return to Thee, O Lover of mankind, for all that Thou hast suffered for me, a sinner? I cannot say, for soul and body and all blessings come from Thee, and all that I have is Thine, and I am Thine. Yet I know that love is repaid only by love. Teach me, then, to love and praise Thee. Trusting solely in Thine infinite compassion and mercy, O Lord, I praise Thine unspeakable patience, I magnify Thine unutterable exhaustion, I glorify Thy boundless mercy, I adore Thy purest Passion, and most lovingly kissing Thy wounds, I cry: Have mercy on me a sinner, and cause that Thy holy Cross may not be fruitless in me, that I may participate here with faith in Thy sufferings and be vouchsafed to behold also the glory of Thy Kingdom in Heaven. Amen.

Wiltshire

Sunday 11/24 March

Dear brothers and sisters,

Whilst every weekend is a celebration of the Faith, this first weekend felt especially festive after the first week of the Great Fast.

After a week of quiet services, with compline and the Great Canon of Repentance chanted in the Oratory Church from Monday to Thursday, and the first portion of the Akathist Hymn in Llanelli on Friday evening, Saturday brought the blessing of our Pilgrimage-Liturgy in Margam Abbey, and today our enthusiastic celebration of the Triumph of Orthodoxy in St John’s, Canton. It has been a great blessing to have services every day for the last nine days and the shared joy of this weekend’s Liturgies was the crown.

It was heartening to know that a group of our Wessex parishioners were meeting to chant Great Compline and the Canon of Repentance in the first week of Lent, with the akathist to the Mother of God on Friday, demonstrating that communal prayer is not always reliant on the presence of clergy, especially given the excellent on-line resources we now have for reader services – largely due to the good offices of Father John Whiteford in this Lenten period. See also: http://www.saintjonah.org/services/horologion.htm

Given the immense geographical dispersion of our faithful, reader services can and hopefully will form common bonds of prayer and worship between our Liturgies, whether in Cardiff or further afield.

Tomorrow will see our end of month gathering for an evening service and supper on Porphyrios’s narrow boat: a much anticipated event, with wonderful fellowship. It is incredible that a narrow-boat has become a place of prayer and one of the hubs of our Wessex mission.

As already reported on Facebook, Saturday’s Divine Liturgy for the Saturday of St Theodore was celebrated at Margam Abbey, where the restored nave of the pre-reformation abbey serves as the parish church, just a stone’s throw from the ‘castle’, the former home of the Talbot family through whose benefaction the church was restored in the 19th century.

The stately sanctuary was an imposing place in which to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, especially when we were such a little pilgrimage group which appreciated the majesty of the setting (which feels more like somewhere in the south of France than industrial South Wales), blessing kolyvo at the end of the service, and then enjoying a lovely bring-and-share lunch in the church hall.

We were very happy to have had Father Mark Greenaway-Robins and members of his warm and friendly congregation with us, and enjoyed chatting with them after the Liturgy and during the afternoon. We must thank Anastasia for singing, George for reading and Stefan for serving. Thanks also to our parish brothers and sisters for the lovely lunch.

Today saw our first Lenten Liturgy of St Basil in Cardiff, and we are grateful for our much reduced kliros for chanting our longer Lenten melodies and for the extra musical labours with the Synodikon of Orthodoxy, in which the essence of the celebration was summed up as our Deacons boldly proclaimed, “This is the Apostolic Faith! This is the Faith of the Fathers! This is the Orthodox Faith! This Faith confirmeth the Universe!”

Having prayed for the conversion of those in error, we remembered the departed teachers of the Faith, Hierarchs and Christian Sovereigns, chanting “Eternal Memory”, before beseeching “Many Years” for our living hierarchs, pastors and Christian leaders.

Even though the day had already been long, by popular request, we still added a krestny khod / procession to the end of our celebration, bringing joy to both young and old.

Congratulations to all who partook of the Holy Mysteries and thanks to everyone for such a wonderful celebration, including those who contributed to a hearty lunch, which was very much enjoyed at the end of a long, tiring and austere week.

There will be evening services in Llanelli at 19:00 on Wednesday and Friday, and confessions will be in St Alban’s Church, in Splott, on Thursday, as Nazareth House in unavailable during Western Holy Week. The akathist to the Saviour’s Passion will be chanted at 15:00, and confessions will be arranged around this devotion.

Please communicate confession requests by 18:00 on Wednesday, please.

I know that parishioners are currently discussing participating in the Mystery of Holy Unction in our cathedral at 14:00 on Saturday 20 April, and we hope that car pooling will make it possible for as many as possible to partake of this Holy Mystery. If anyone is interested and without transport please communicate with me or Tracy, so that we may explore group transport options.

Next Sunday, the second Sunday of the Great Fast is the Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica, and the variable portions of the Liturgy may be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ENPLX-KydIW-DZB36ifCNPvA8TfQ6HCZ/view

May God bless you, and give you good strength for the ongoing lenten Fast.

Asking your prayers.

In Christ – Fr Mark

Ending the First Week of Lent – Pilgrimage to Margam

Dear brothers and sisters, I hope that this week is going well for you, and that its simplicity is reminding you of the joy we can take in the simplest things, with fresh bread, some olives, nuts and fruit seeming like a wonderful feast, overflowing with the love and bounty of God.

I hope that parishioners are remembering that this is a season in which we eat according to need, and not according to appetite. As I keep saying, there’s nothing wrong with a rumbling tummy during Lent, and if it never rumbles you’re doing it wrong!

Many thanks to the few that have been able to attend the chanting of Great Compline and the Great Canon at the shrine of St Alban in the Oratory Church, and thanks to Father Sebastian for his limitless generosity.

I know that the very early time of 16:00 was impossible for all but a few parishioners, but we had to fit our Lenten service into the oroarium of the Oratorian Fathers who have prayers at 17:30 each day, before the church is locked for the night. This is yet another reminder of the limitations placed upon us as guests perpetually under someone else’s roof, and as you know, St John’s is used during the week.

It’s been heartening to hear that our Wessex parishioners have come together to pray the Great Canon in Bishopstrow, just outside Warminster ( where the ash staff that St Aldehelm drove into the ground, budded and grew into the ‘bishop’s tree’).

In private prayer, I would very much recommend parishioners continue to pray the portions of the canon whenever possible during the coming weeks of Lent, as part of the penitential praxis of the season, and to follow up the Biblical references that may evade memory or knowledge.

Those who pray the canon, know that it shows the skill of St Andrew of Crete not only as a hymnographer, but also as a Biblical exegete in the patristic tradition. His words can lead is into Biblical discoveries as we plug the gaps in our Old Testament knowledge.

Tomorrow night will see the chanting of the first portion of the Akahist Hymn, according to the custom established in Llanelli from its many years as a parish of the Greek archdiocese.

Compline and the akathist will be chanted at 19:00, in the chapel of St David and St Nicholas in Llanelli.

The Saturday of St Theodore will be marked by our pilgrimage Liturgy in Margam Abbey, (Port Talbot SA13 2TA), where we will bless kolyvo in honour of the Holy Great-Martyr at the end of the service.

We will have a bring-and-share lunch in the church hall, and look forward to exploring the part of the abbey still used as the parish church, as well as the ruins and the ancient carved stones collected from around the area, and testifying to its significance as an ancient Christian site.

If anyone can offer lifts to our young people, this will be appreciated. We currently have five people, who will otherwise travel by train.

At the end of Sunday’s Liturgy, we will serve the moleben for the conversion of those who have departed into error, which is more widely a celebration of the Triumph of the Orthodoxy and the restoration of the holy icons. This service is celebrated across our diocese, and in the cathedral our bishop will solemnly pronounce the anathemas, thereby declaring Orthodox Truth and liturgically declaring the condemnation of those who reject the Faith of the Orthodox Church and who were anathematised by the God-Bearing Fathers of the Holy Ecumenical Councils and Synods.

During the chanting of the ‘Te Deum’ – the Hymn of St Ambrose of Milan – we will venerate the Holy Icons, and you are asked to bring an icon to hold during this service, so that we form an ikonastasis of the faithful bearing the Holy Icons for the celebration of their own restoration.

Please join us if you are able, to celebrate the end of our first week in Lent.

 

Parish News at the Beginning of Great Lent

Dear brothers and sisters,

Greetings on this first day of the Great Fast, and thanks to all who contributed to our weekend celebrations in Cheltenham and Cardiff.

Having left maslenitsa behind, and having enjoyed sharing both food and one another’s company, we now enter into the Lenten season with a first week that is dominated by the words of the Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete.

Having commemorated the fall and the casting out of Adam and Eve from Paradise in our Sunday services, the Great Canon explores man’s sinful rebellion through the ensuing generations of humanity, not only using the myriad examples as a warning, but also positively focussing on the mystery of repentance and return to God, Who desires the repentance, return and restoration of all of His children.

Through the many Biblical examples we hear, we are called to action in these days of the Great Fast, to wake up and take our spiritual life and our salvation seriously, through obedience, repentance, prayer and fasting.

As we hear in the kontakion,

“My soul, my soul, arise! Why are you sleeping? The end is drawing near, and you will be confounded, awake then and be watchful that Christ our God may spare you, Who is everywhere, and fills all things.”

Now is the time for us to arise from slumber, and even as the natural world around us comes to life and brings forth flowers and blossoms, the season of the Fast needs to be a time of growth and blossoming for us, with the knowledge that blossom becomes fruit.

At 16:00 this afternoon, and on the next three afternoons there will be a quiet celebration of compline, with the reading of the Great Canon at the shrine of St Alban, in the Oratory Church of St. Alban-on-the-Moors, Swinton Street, Splott, Cardiff, CF24 2NT.

I know that some of our Wessex parishioners are coming together to chant the canon, and encourage all who are unable to get to a service to add it to their evening prayers, at home.

The Great Canon will likewise be chanted in the Chapel of Saints David and St Nicholas in Llanelli at the later time of 19:00 each evening. Compline with the Akathist Hymn will be chanted there at the same time on Friday.

This Saturday – 23rd March – will see our March pilgrimage to Margam Abbey, where the Divine Liturgy for the Saturday of St Theodore will be celebrated at 10:30.

At the moment, only a tiny handful of parishioners have indicated their intention to attend, so please let me know if you are coming, especially as we may need to coordinate some student-lifts or pick-ups from Port Talbot railway station. As usual, there will be a bring-and-share lunch after Liturgy, with food obviously being Lenten. May I remind you that it is not our local tradition to eat shellfish, whatever happens in other jurisdictions.

As announced at Liturgy and in previous newsletters, the mystery of Holy Unction will be celebrated in our London Cathedral at 14:00 on Saturday 20th April, when His Grace, Bishop Irenei will concelebrate with the clergy of our diocese to consecrate the Holy Oil of Anointing for the strengthening and healing of those who receive partake.

All Orthodox Christians of seven years and over may be anointed at the service, providing they are in good standing within the Church and have prepared by fasting and confession.

Looking forward to next Sunday, when we will celebrate the Triumph of Orthodoxy and the restoration of the holy icons, weather permitting, we will preform a cross-procession / krestny khod at the end of the moleben and we would like parishioners to bring icons to celebrate this triumphal first Sunday of the Fast. Trapeza offerings have the weekend relaxation permitting wine and oil, but no shell-fish / sea-food, please.

I will hear confessions, as usual on Thursday, though they will be in St Alban’s Church before our 16:00 service. If you require a later confession, please let me know, and I will arrange early evening confessions in Nazareth House.

I hope and pray that this week is one of simplicity, withdrawal and peace for you: a week of as few words as possible, with electronic devices switched off unless needed for specific reasons, social-media on the back-burner, a minimal diet that does not try to imitate the food of the rest of the year with ‘pretend’ substitutes, and silence that allows you to hear the birds singing as spring gathers pace and the rumbles of a stomach that is fasting!

Everyone should know, but a reminder that our diet is vegan, and we should forego olive oil and wine (alcohol) on weekdays. Saturday as the Sabbath, and Sunday as the Lord’s Day, have the consolation of wine and oil. Finding food with no oils or vegetable fats can be difficult, but avoiding fried food, sauces and dressings, and obviously oily food is pretty straightforward!

Twenty of our parishioners are reading a kathisma of the Psalter each day, ensuring that it is completed in the parish each day, and I would encourage everyone to read the Psalms of David as much as possible during Lent.

May God bless you and the arena of your Lenten struggle. Καλό Στάδιο!

Asking your forgiveness, for Christ’s sake.

Hieromonk Mark

On the Eve of the Great Fast – the Fall of Man & the Pre-Eternal Council

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

On this Forgiveness Sunday when we commemorate the casting out of Adam and Eve from Eden, we reflect on the fall and exile of the first-father and the first mother through their disobedience and rebellion against God, yet we do so on the threshold of the wonderful journey that leads us from this annual commemoration of the sorrow of banishment to the wonder of Pascha: the great sign and celebration of our salvation, and of our reconciliation with God through the Saviour’s life-giving passion and third-day resurrection.

We embark on this penitential-journey with the foreknowledge of the economy of salvation, of the Victory of the Cross, and the message of the empty Tomb, already knowing that Christ is risen and has conquered death by death.

Though this Sunday is a lamentation for the world-changing effects of the disobedience of the first-Adam and first-Eve, in the imminent penitential-season we will journey to Golgotha and the empty Tomb to rejoice in the saving and life-giving obedience of the Saviour, the second-Adam, born of the Theotokos who is the second-Eve: the Son of God obedient to the will of the Father “even to the death of the Cross”, and the Mother of God obedient to the will of the Most High, announced to her by the archangel to whom she obediently submitted: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”

Through this redemptive obedience, beyond the season of the Great Fast, at Pascha, the three signs of the fall identified by St John Chrysostom – the woman (Eve), the tree and death – will be negated and cancelled out by the Woman (the Theotokos), the Tree (of the Cross), and the new life of the resurrection!

The signs of the fall and the bitter fruits of pride and disobedience were destroyed by humility and obedience, as the Lord born in the flesh, entered the world through the selfless obedience of the Mother of God, redeeming humanity through His own obedience to the Father, even descending into Sheol/Hades to harrow it and lead Adam and Eve and all of His exiled forefathers and mothers on an exodus journey from the slavery and imprisonment of death to the freedom of the life of the heavenly kingdom.

So… as we mourn the bitter fruits of the tree of disobedience in Eden, we already anticipate the end of the Lenten journey, looking to reap the wondrous life-giving fruits of the tree of obedience, which is the Cross – looking forward to celebrating Christ’s victory over death and the harrowing of hell, through the wood of the cruciform Tree of Life set up on Golgotha.

Yet as we remember the exile of Adam and Eve from paradise, we must not fall into the mistake of thinking that the mystery of the Cross was something centuries away from them, after the Old Testament centuries, or that the Lord had to come up with a plan B, having to figure out how the fall would be remedied and fallen humanity restored.

There is an old Slavic icon, (of western inspiration, and not without controversy), the “Pre-Eternal Council – Prevechny Sovyet” which reminds us that even as Adam and Eve fell, even as the effects of their disobedience were pronounced, and even as they were banished, God as all-knowing, all-loving and all-powerful ALREADY had the remedy – already had the answer, and already looked forward to the unfolding of the mystery of salvation in the fullness of time.

Without entering into iconographical and canonical arguments, this icon possesses a powerful message because of the salvific reality it expresses.

The Father, with the dove representing the Holy Spirit upon His breast already presents the Tree of the Cross, upon which the Son is nailed, often with angelic wings covering His body and showing that this is not in the fulfilled event of the crucifixion, but as a pledge and a sign of the sacrificial love and obedience in which the Saviour – met in the Old testament as the angel of Great Council – will enter creation and human-existence to look for and find Adam and Eve, and seek out their children from the beginning of the ages to the end of time.

It is an iconic representation of the council of the persons of the Holy Trinity, the perfect community of love and self-offering, giving and directing love one to another, and manifested in this salvific-plan to be realised and fulfilled Saviour’s future passion, and the Victory of the Cross.

In this icon, in the already conceived economy of salvation, the Father has already raised up the Cross, and the the Only-Begotten Son and Word of God has already accepted its inner meaning and taken it up in His obedience to the Father, and through the centuries of the Old Covenant, God-in-Trinity has already set in motion the journey to Golgotha and the Arimathaean’s Tomb through the generations of the sons of Adam.

In the Old Testament, through their human generations recorded in the ancestral genealogies in the Gospels, Christ-Yahweh is already on the highway seeking out the Prodigal Son, journeying toward his exiled heirs

The encounter with them in His earthly, incarnate-life, His Passion, and the Mystery of the Cross is already unfolding through the Old Testament centuries, not just as a historical and temporal event in Jerusalem centred on an ignominious wooden gibbet, but as the self-emptying, sacrificial-love through which God’s remedy for the fall and its bitter fruits is made real to broken and fallen humanity.

In the vigil service, we hear the words, “Taking up the armour of the Cross, let us make war against the enemy”, so in this season of the Fast, let us imitate Christ, and take up our own Cross, renouncing our self-will, selfishness and the earthly shackles that enslave us, knowing that the Mystery of the Cross in our lives will lead us from death to life, from slavery to freedom and from darkness to light, led forward by the Saviour to Whom we cry, “Glory to Thee, Who hast laid Thy Cross as a bridge over death, that souls might pass over upon it from the dwelling of the dead to the dwelling of life!”

This stark contrast of bitterness, exile and death with sweetness, reconciliation and life runs through this day, and is represented powerfully by the fact that it is traditional for Paschal Hymns to be chanted during the rite of forgiveness at the end of vespers, so that even as we are lamenting the fall and asking forgiveness of one another we are already singing of “a Pascha which has opened for us the gates of paradise’, and even as we embrace one another asking forgiveness and reconciliation, we hear the Paschal words, “Let us embrace each other! Let us call ‘brothers’ even those that hate us, and forgive all by the resurrection!”

Knowing that obedience is at the heart of the Paschal Mystery, let us seek to follow the Saviour from death to life through our repentance and transformation by the Saviour in Whom all things are made new, and Whose Cross and Tomb call us to journey with prayer, fasting and spiritual watchfulness through the season of the Great Fast to the radiant night of Pascha, starting as we now celebrate the vespers of forgiveness, performing the rite of forgiveness as we hear the quiet invitation of the Pascal greeting: Christ is Risen!

Amen.

The Canon to St David: Happy Feast!

On this feast of St David, according to the patristic calendar, we look forward to a slightly belated celebration this evening, when we will honour our national patron with the chanting of his canon and the stikhira of his feast.

We honour St David as a true shepherd and defender of doctrinal Orthodoxy, who opposed falsehood and was not afraid to expose and denounce heresy, guided in his preaching by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In an age of apostasy in which the Church is attacked, with worldly and man-pleasing compromise eroding the fundament of Truth, as false-shepherds make faustian bargains with the fallen world and its rulers, we commend our hierarchs and communities to St David’s protection and intercession, trusting in the power and efficacy of his prayers.

Hierarch of Christ, David, pray to God for us!

Canon of the saint, the acrostic whereof is David droppeth miracles like holy dew, in Tone VI

Ode I, Irmos: With an upraised arm Christ drowned the chariots of Pharaoh and his power, and saved Israel, who sent up the hymn: Let us sing unto our wondrous God!

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

Deign Thou to fill my mouth with eloquence, O Christ, that I may praise the wondrous David, who enjoineth us, saying: Let us sing unto our wondrous God!

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

A youth comely and full of divine grace, thou didst undertake to study well the Scriptures, O holy David, that thou mightest sing unto our wondrous God.

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

Verily did thy fellows behold a dove with beak of gold playing at thy holy lips, O glorious David, teaching thee to sing the praises of our wondrous God.

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

In voices of exultation let us hymn the all-pure and immaculate Theotokos, that, saved by her supplications, we may sing unto our wondrous God.

Ode III, Irmos: All the heavens, which were established by Thee, O Word and Power of God, confess Thine ineffable glory and the creation of Thine all-accomplishing hands; for there is none holy save Thee, O Lord.

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

Despising the vanity of the world, O sacred one, thou didst flee to the venerable Paulinus, great among ascetics, and he taught thee to cry out to the Master of all: There is none holy save Thee, O Lord!

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

Destroying his bodily eyes by constant weeping, the elder Paulinus fell blind; but, full of the power of the Word of God, the holy David healed him, crying out: There is none holy save Thee, O Lord!

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

Replete with the grace of God, David most great set it as his holy task to build many churches and to establish many monasteries, wherein the pious might sing: There is none holy save Thee, O Lord!

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

O the heavenly glory of thine ineffable birth-giving, O holy Virgin and Mother For in manner beyond the comprehension of man thou gavest birth to thine own Creator, the Word and Power of God.

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

Sessional hymn, in Tone I: Withdrawing from the tumults of the world, O holy David, thou didst willingly bend thy neck beneath the yoke of Christ, submitting in obedience to the holy Paulinus, who trained thee to contend with skill against the adversary of our race. Glory to the Judge of thy contest! Glory to Him Who gave thee the victory over Satan! Glory to Him Who hath awarded thee the wreath of victory!

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: Stretching forth thy divine hands wherewith thou didst bear the Creator Who in His goodness became incarnate, O all-holy Virgin, beg thou that He deliver from temptations, sorrows and tribulations us who praise thee with love and cry out: Glory to Him Who dwelt within thee! Glory to Him Who came forth from thee! Glory to Him Who hath delivered us by thy birthgiving!

Stavrotheotokion (replaces the Theotokion of Wednesday and Friday): In awe at Thy great and awesome forbearance, O Saviour, the all-pure one lamented bitterly and cried out to Thee Who wast crucified on the Cross by the iniquitous and Whose side was pierced with a spear by the soldiers: Glory to Thy love for man! Glory to Thy goodness! Glory to Thee Who by Thy death hast rendered man immortal!

Ode IV, Irmos: Thy virtue hath covered the heavens, O Christ, and all things have been filled with Thy praise, O Lord.

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

Pious men offered up praise to Christ at Glastonbury when the holy David restored the monastery there.

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

Poisonous had the waters at Bath become, but by the power of Christ, David made them fit for use again.

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

Enlightening all the Britons, everywhere the holy one went he built churches, wherein to praise the Lord.

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

The Theotokos was full of the beauty of all the virtues; wherefore, the heavens resound with her praises.

Ode V, Irmos: Enlighten me who rise at dawn out of the night, I pray, O Thou Who lovest mankind, and guide me in Thy precepts; and teach me to do Thy will, O Saviour.

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

Having filled the land with monastic habitations, the pious David made his abode in Menevia, where he taught the Saviour’s sacred precepts unto all.. 

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

Mortifying all carnal-mindedness, O God-bearer, rising at dawn out of the night thou didst show thyself to be a worthy model of all the Christian virtues.

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

Imitating the austerities of the ascetics of the Thebaïd, thy monks, bending their will to thine, O saint, committed themselves to fasting and constant prayer.

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

Rising at dawn out of the night, I beg the merciful Mother of God with tears and sighs, that by her intercession I may learn to do the will of her Son.

Ode VI, Irmos: With all my heart I cried out to the compassionate God, and He heard my cry from the uttermost depths of hades, and hath led my life up from corruption.

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

Abstaining from all but bread and pulse, and slaking their thirst with water alone, led by thee thy monks attained deliverance from corruption.

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

Constant was thy mental prayer, O saint, for thou didst follow the injunction of the Apostle to pray without ceasing; and God led thee up from hades.

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

Leading the sheep of thy flock like a good shepherd, O wondrous pastor, thou didst drive from them the demonic wolves, delivering their souls. 

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

Every true Christian crieth out in anguish to the compassionate Bride of God; and, hearkening to our pleas, she entreateth her Son to lead up their life from corruption.

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, in Tone IV: O thou who didst willing take up thy cross and follow Christ the Lord, and didst fill thy land with new communities dedicated to Him, send down from heaven the grace of God, O great and wondrous David, that we Christians may prevail over all heresies, having thee as an invincible ally amid our struggle for piety.

Ikos: Let us now fittingly praise David, the bishop of Christ, for he was called by God from his mother’s womb to sanctify the people of Wales, and by them was chosen to be their chief bishop; and conducting his ministry in a God-pleasing manner, he brought multitudes to salvation by the gifts of the Spirit which abode in him; wherefore, he is the great boast of all the Welsh, and an invincible ally amid our struggle for piety.

Ode VII, Irmos: We have sinned, we have committed iniquity, we have dealt unjustly before Thee. We have neither done nor acted as Thou hast commanded us. But forsake us not utterly, O God of our fathers.

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

Sinful and iniquitous is the accursed heresy of Pelagius, who belittled the power of divine grace and exalted the feeble efforts of man’s will; but David set his blasphemy utterly at nought.

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

Like mute fish did the defenders of Pelagius become, being utterly silenced when the holy one made clear the doctrines of piety by the grace and power wherewith Christ filled his godly mouth.

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

Inspiring the faithful of Wales to turn from heresy and embrace the Truth, David was acclaimed as a champion of piety, who would in nowise forsake the true worship of the God of our fathers.

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

Knowing the magnitude of our sinfulness and the multitude of our iniquities, we would despair of all mercy; but forsake us not utterly in thy supplications, O all-immaculate and merciful Lady.

Ode VIII, Irmos: In the flame the youths gave the command to hymn God the Father and Creator, the consubstantial Son and the Spirit of God: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

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

Ever did the holy David exhort his flock to worship the All-holy Trinity the unoriginate Father, His only-begotten Son, and the all-holy Spirit in Orthodox manner exalting Him supremely for all ages.

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

Having taken up the saving yoke of Christ with single mind, bear it to the end, the holy David cried out to his brethren, and whatsoever ye have seen with me and heard, keep it and fulfil.

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

O the love of the saint for the sheep which Christ, the Chief Shepherd, had given into his care! For, dying, he earnestly besought them to bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages.

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

Lambent is the light of thy grace, and though the furnace of our fiery passions rageth mightily, rescue us from its flames, O Mother of our God Who is exalted supremely for all ages.

Ode IX, Irmos: Finding everlasting deliverance from the dread sentence brought upon our race by our first father Adam, with the bodiless ones we glorify thine Offspring Who was begotten from on high, magnifying thee, the Theotokos, with hymns.

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

Ye saints of Wales, like bees returning with all speed to the hive at the approach of a storm were ye, forewarned by God that thy father and bishop David would soon depart to his Master and Creator; wherefore, ye magnified him with hymns.

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

Dying in body, O holy bishop, thy pure soul took wing, and the venerable Kentigern beheld it, soaring aloft, upborne to the heights of heaven by the hands of angelic beings; wherefore, we praise and glorify thy holy memory with hymns of joy.

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

Empty now lieth thy holy tomb, O protector of Wales, and over the ages thy precious relics have been dispersed near and far; yet in spirit thou abidest with all the saints of the Most High, ever sending heavenly aid to us who magnify thee with hymns.

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

When we must needs stand before the dread tribunal of thy Son and give answer for our countless crimes, O daughter of Adam and Mother of Christ, stand thou with us, and plead for us who magnify thee, the all-holy Theotokos, with hymns.

Troparion, Tone III: Let the Christians of Wales join in gladsome chorus, uplifting their voices in joyous jubilation, as we celebrate the feast of the wondrous David, their holy father and enlightener, who now dwelleth with the saints on high, and doth ever earnestly intercede for us sinners.

Troparion, Tone I: Having worked miracles in thy youth, founded monasteries and converted the pagans who had sought to destroy thee, O Father David, Christ our God blessed thee to receive the episcopate at the place of His Resurrection. Intercede for us, that our lives may be blessed and our souls may be saved.

Parish News: 11 March 2024

Dear brothers and sisters,

Greetings on the feast of Blessed Nikolai of Pskov, the Holy Fool who dared challenge Tsar Ivan the Terrible, and was glorified by the Lord in his poverty and seeming foolishness.

Our weekend was marked by a double-celebration with the Divine Liturgy ‘going out’ of Cardiff and across the Severn, with the first of our mission Liturgies celebrated in Warminster on Saturday, in addition to our Canton-St John’s Liturgy on Sunday.

After having celebrated evening services in Wiltshire on the final Monday of the last two months, and having had singing lessons / practices for our local ladies and gents, celebrating the Liturgy was a source of grace and strength for our faithful living such a distance from our parish base in Cardiff. Thanks to the parishioners and to Ian at the chapel of St Lawrence. 

A litia for the departed was celebrated in each location after our Liturgies, withthe blessing of kutia in Warminster – though it was also enjoyed in Cardiff. It would be good if more parishioners could contribute to cooking memorial-wheat for our services for the departed, and we will post some recipes in Facebook and WhatsApp.

We continue to remember the newly departed Archbishop Anatoly and Nikolai, and prayed for the servant of God Vladimir to mark the anniversary of his repose. Memory Eternal!

Thanks to all who contributed to our Cardiff Liturgy, especially with the expansion of English language chanting, and over the next few weeks I hope that we will also see a variation of readers, as other young men in the parish fulfil this obedience and become accustomed to chanting the readings and thanksgiving prayers.

With the able assistance of our students and young people, the last few Thursdays have seen the chanting of compline, with the akathist after confessions in Nazareth House, and we will pray the night-office of the Church again this week at 19:00, but with a supplicatory canon to the Mother of God and the Canon to St David, the Apostle of Wales, whose feast falls that day. I will hear confessions in the afternoon, and would appreciate requests – as usual – by 18:00 on Wednesday, please.

This Saturday will see the clergy to head to Cheltenham to celebrate the Divine Liturgy for the Saturday of maslenitsa, on which we commemorate all of the venerable fathers and mothers who have shone forth in the monastic life. As usual, we will worship in Prestbury United Reformed Church, Deep St, Cheltenham GL52 3AN.

Confessions will be heard from around 09:30, with the Hours and Liturgy commencing at 10:30. The usual bring-and-share lunch will follow the service, and we know that our matriarchs will be in maximalist mode for blini-week.

The following Saturday, 23rd March, our parish-pilgrimage will be to Margam Abbey, where we look forward to celebrating the Hours and Liturgy at 10:30. Please let me know if you can join us, especially as we may need to arrange lifts from Port Talbot Parkway Station for those without cars.

The mystery of Holy Unction / Soborovanie will be served in our London cathedral on Saturday 20th April at 14:00, and I hope that parishioners who are able to attend may share cars and work together so that as many as possible are able to be part of this diocesan celebration. Only Orthodox Christians above the age of seven years may be blessed to receive this Holy Mystery, and must prepare with confession.

Next Sunday will, of course, be Forgiveness Sunday, and the Liturgy will immediately be followed by the Vespers of Forgiveness, with the rite of mutual forgiveness at the end. This reminds us of the absolute necessity of seeking reconciliation with anyone who we have hurt or offended, even if unintended, asking their forgiveness and forgiving the offence that anyone has caused us. To begin Great Lent otherwise, will see the Great Fast lead us no-where: a spiritual cul-de-sac! We cannot journey towards the Lord’s Pascha with unresolved conflict, or with resentment in our hearts and minds. We must at least have made the first step towards peace and reconciliation, even if we have a considerable way to go on the journey.

After Liturgy and Vespers, we shall then share our last non-Lenten trapeza, though meat has already been given up, yesterday.

The variables for Liturgy may be found here… https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dYl232tSSDKVucg0lIuM7aVn6-yMxsGx/view …and vespers here… https://drive.google.com/file/d/11cC6fYhWuIorAMLk0b5ukOBhxCSPfoAI/view

On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the the first week of the Great Fast, Compline and the Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete will be anticipated by an early celebration at 16:00 at the shrine of the Holy Protomartyr Alban in the Oratory Church, in Swinton Street. As always, many thanks to Father Sebastian and the brethren. We are most grateful.

A bilingual text of the Great Canon may be found at orthodoxaustin,https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XyLJRSiDLIdBetWWNsWoKzu3qKzV2kh1/view though parishioners might chant it in the general order for chanting the canons, in small compline as an economia, or in evening prayers.

Please make sure you have the things you need for the Great Fast, and be ready for the Lenten journey to Pascha.

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

Today in Warminster

Today brought the blessing of finally being able to celebrate a local Divine Liturgy beyond the Severn with our parishioners living in the South and West of England.

Though we were few in number, the Liturgy, brought together parishioners from Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset.
Not everyone was able to be with us, due to work, illness and other pre-arranged duties, but the few of us who gathered in the Chapel of St Lawrence, in Warminster, were touched by the peace and spiritual warmth of our Liturgy.

We look forward to sharing our next Liturgy with those who were unable to be with us today, and by then, we will have taken some of our many icons from Cardiff to adorn the interior of the chapel, where we have been welcomed with incredible warmth and hospitality. We also look forward to welcoming brothers and sisters who live in Cardiff and its environs.
Being pastorally open to those who will hopefully discover us over the coming months, we will endeavour to reflect the identity of the worshipping community, but our Wessex mission will primarily have services in English, seeking to build upon the legacy of the ancient saints of Wessex, among whom we look to St Aldhelm and St Birinus with special devotion.

Celebrating our first Liturgy in Warminster on a memorial Saturday was an occasion for reflection upon the part that past generations have played in loving and preserving the places in which we pray as pilgrims, serve the Liturgy and encounter Christ in the Holy Mysteries.

This includes our new home, the Chapel of St Lawrence, which was bought by the people of Warminster in 1575 as an extra diocesan place of worship, outside the jurisdiction of the bishop of Salisbury. This lovely, peaceful sanctuary is made available to the wider Christian community by the feoffees, who hold the chapel in trust on behalf of the people of the town.

We are extremely grateful to the chair of the feoffees, who has gone above and beyond duty in the proactive welcome offered to our little community, and the practical support and assistance that we have received over the last few weeks. We were so glad that he and the retired rector of Shepton Mallet, the Revd Liz Smith were able to be with us, and share a cup of tea before the litia for the departed with the blessing of kolyva, and a leisurely lunch.
Many thanks to our local parishioners for hospitality, singing, reading, cooking, baking and kolyva making!  We will gather for our end of month evening service aboard Porphyrios’s narrow-boat on Monday 25 March, and look forward to our next Liturgy on Saturday 13 April, which will again be a memorial Saturday.

Parish News – 4 March 2023


Dear brothers and sisters,

Having celebrated the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, the Great Fast grows ever closer, with this week being the last week in which Orthodox Christians consume meat until Pascha, to be followed by cheese-fair (bliny) week during which we consume eggs, fish and dairy foods. We should remember that the customary fast still adheres to this Wednesday and Friday, but with the allowance of fish, wine and oil.

Meat-Fair, next Sunday, will be the last day for the consumption of meat. Please use the next few weeks to use up the foods that need consuming. The first few days of the Great Fast are NOT the time to do this, and we often have serial offenders who do this every year, with no excuse.

We should use also the next two weeks to prepare for the fast, particularly in terms of spiritual resources, ensuring we have the prayer materials needed for our Lenten observance and selecting reading materials as our spiritual food during Lent.

As announced on WhatsApp, we hope to repeat last year’s daily reading of the Psalter, with parishioners and friends of the parish reading a designated kathisma ofthe Psalter, so that it is read in its entirety each day. We would ideally like twenty readers so that each could read one kathisma of the Psalter, in rotation. Anyone wishing to participate should email oltarnik Alexander at psaltergroup@fastmail.com

Members of our communities have been recommending, and indeed buying, various books for l

Lenten reading, with some suggestions below…

  • The Paradise of the Fathers, volumes I and II
  • The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Apophthegmata Patrum: The Alphabetic Collection: 59 (Cistercian Studies Series, 59)
  • On Ascetical Life: St. Isaac of Ninevah
  • A Spiritual Psalter or Reflections on God, by St Ephraim the Syrian, sadly not readily available in the small hardback tome, though available in a paperback traditional English edition: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spiritual-Psalter-Reflections-God/dp/B0C2S22VK1
  • On the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by St. Philaret of Chernigov
  • Orthodox Lent, Holy Week and Easter: Liturgical Texts with Commentary, by Hugh Wybrew
  • Season of Repentance: Lenten Homilies of Saint John of Kronstadt

Today and tomorrow have been set aside for house blessings, and I hope to fulfil more requests before the beginning of the Fast. We all have busy lives, but a house blessing takes little time, and brings God’s grace inti the Christian home, setting it apart and hallowing it through prayer and the sprinkling of holy water blessed at Theophany.

I was very happy to have a group of our young people come to Nazareth House to chant compline/ and the akathist to Mother of God last Thursday evening, following confessions in the afternoon and early evening, and we will – God willing – do the same again, this week, with compline at 19:00. Everyone, not just the parish youth,  is welcome and encouraged to support our weekday service.

May I ask for confession requests by 18:00 on Wednesday, reminding you that anyone working in the day is welcome to request a confession after work, and that we will accommodate school runs and family demands? Please ask!

Next weekend will see our first Wessex Liturgy in the Chapel of St Lawrence in Warminster, and our local parishioners have been busy making preparations for this inaugural public service. We have already celebrated services on Porphyrios’s narrow-boat, and look forward to the Liturgy in the historic chapel, generously made available to us by the feoffees who hold it in trust for the people of Warminster. We will set up the chapel at 9:00, with confessions commencing around 10:00 after the proskomedia. The Hours and Liturgy will be celebrated at 10:30, and we will celebrate a memorial for the departed after the Liturgy, followed by a bring-and-share lunch.

We greatly look forward to welcoming anyone who wishes to join us, being there for all Orthodox Christians, and will endeavour to make them feel at home.

The primary language of this new local mission will be English, though we shall endeavour to be inclusive, reflecting those who come to pray and worship with us.

The following Saturday will see our monthly Cheltenham Liturgy, which will now be on the thirds Saturday of the month. We continue to worship in Prestbury United Reformed Church. As in Warminster set up will be at 9:00, confessions around 10:00 after the and Hours and Liturgy at 10:30, followed by our customary bring-and-share lunch.

Our next parish-pilgrimage will be on Saturday 23rd March, when we look forward to celebrating the Divine Liturgy at Margam Abbey, whose Norman foundation succeeds an earlier Celtic Christian presence attested to by the Celtic crosses and memorial stones preserved a short distance from the abbey church in the museum that houses them. The Hours and Liturgy will be celebrated at 10:30 (despite previous discussions of 10:00) in order to allow time for anyone travelling by train to be collected from the station, if needed.

As announced last week, the mystery of Holy Unction / Soborovanie will be served in the cathedral on Saturday 20thApril at 14:00, and we hope that it will be possible for as many parishioners as possible to attend and partake of this Holy Mystery. We will not serve Unction in our parishes, as we preserve the old Tradition that during the Great Fast, there are conciliar services, in which the bishop and priests of the diocese serve together.

As we settle into St John’s and begin to feel at home, I think it necessary for us to remind ourselves that Sunday is set apart for the Lord, and we need to impress this and the ‘otherness’ of church and the Liturgy upon our children and young people.

The Liturgy is admittedly long for our youngest parishioners. We recognise that, and that they cannot be held to attention for its entire duration. However, we only become accustomed to the Liturgy, and grow into it by being part of it, as participants in the Holy Mysteries.  

We have been very happy to hear the children singing on the kliros during the litanies, and whilst recognising that we cannot expect our youngest parishioners to be at the front during the whole Liturgy, we need to ensure that they come forward to hear the readings, and I have previously asked parents to ensure that their children are with them from the Cherubic Hymn onwards, to be part of worship as the Holy Gifts are offered and consecrated.

However, since our return to St John’s and the enticement of the children’s corner, this has been rather forgotten. So, mums and dad’s, please have your children with you during the most sacred parts of the Liturgy, to pray and worship with you as a family, and to be part of our parish community.

Over the last few days, we have been asked to pray for Masha’s friend, Susan, and for Porphyrios’s daughter’s teacher Miss Kirk, who is in intensive care after being attacked. We also pray for the health of Father Anthony of the Mettingham parish, our parishioners Norman-John and Ludmila, and for Brigid in West Wales; for  Despina as she faces the issues of relocation in Cyprus; for the repose of the newly departed servants of God, Archbishop Anatoly and Nikolai, and for Barnabas whose forty day memorial has just passed. As requested on WhatsApp, we ask your prayers for Lazarus and Liz as they seek to relocate closer to us – encouraging the canon and prayers to St Minas.

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark