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Prayers needed for the Monastery of St Catherine

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Given the Egyptian government threats against the ancient Monastery of St Catherine on Sinai and its brotherhood, Archbishop Damianos and the monks need our prayers!

Canon to the Great Martyr Catherine, the acrostic whereof is: “With hymns do I hymn the ever-memorable Catherine,” by Theophanes, in Tone VIII

Irmos, Ode I: The wonderworking staff of Moses, * striking and dividing the sea in the figure of a cross, * once drowned Pharaoh the pursuing charioteer, * while it saved the fleeing people of Israel * as they fled on foot, * chanting a hymn unto God.

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

Let us hasten today, honoring the Theotokos with hymns, and let us celebrate a spiritual feast; for she is offered as a gift to God in the temple.

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

By the prayers of the all-wise martyr Catherine, O Christ, enlighten Thou the darkened eye of my soul, granting me a ray of thy splendor, O Master, which destroyeth all the gloom of my soul-destroying falls.

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

O all-wise one, guided by the divine commandments of the Master and consumed with love for Him, thou didst hasten to thy struggles rendering the tormentors awestruck with thy knowledge, discourse, wisdom and grace.

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

Directed by the mighty hand of Christ, thou didst escape the tempests of idolatry, O martyr, voyaging dryshod with the sail of the Cross and the divine winds of the Spirit, chanting a hymn unto God.

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

Rejoicing in the beauties of virginity, O wise Catherine, and possessed of divine knowledge from heaven, thou didst right boldly and courageously put to shame the proponents of false knowledge, mightily vanquishing them.

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

O most pure one, he Who proclaimeth thee to be the Theotokos doth reject every heresy; for thou hast given birth unto the ever-existing Word of God, Who immutably assumed flesh, O Birthgiver of God, who art more exalted than all creation.

Irmos, Ode III: O Christ fortify me on the rock of Thy commandments, * Thou who in the beginning didst establish the heavens with understanding * and didst establish the earth upon the waters, * for there is none holy save Thee, O only Lover of mankind.

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

Striving voluntarily of thine own will, thou didst go to thy suffering, emulating Christ; and, having radiantly vanquished myriads of the princes of this world, thou wast revealed to be crucified, O God-pleasing Catherine.

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

With strength of mind didst thou denounce the tormentors, who were overwhelmed in the abyss of godlessness, O all-praised martyr, plainly expounding the dogmas of the knowledge of God, illumined with the wisdom of God.

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

He who whispered thoughts of equality with God into the ears of Eve is now trod underfoot by a young maiden; for, defended with the sword of the Cross, the martyr Catherine hath put him to shame, immeasurably glorying over him.

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

O Birthgiver of God, who alone art most pure, raise up my morbid mind through the activity of the Life Who, from thee, manifested Himself to the world, cleansing the wounds and stripes of my sins.

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

Sessional Hymn of the Great Martyr Catherine, in Tone IV, Spec. Mel.: “Having been lifted up on the Cross …”: Thou didst love Christ thy Bridegroom, radiantly trimming thy lamp and shining forth with virtue, O glorious one. Wherefore, with Him thou hast entered into the bridal chamber, receiving a crown of suffering from Him. From misfortunes do thou deliver us who keep thy memory, O Catherine.

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

Repeat hymn.

Ode IV, Irmos: Thou, O Lord, art my strength and Thou art my power, * Thou art my God and Thou art my joy, * Thou Who, while never leaving the bosom of Thy Father, * hast visited our poverty. * Therefore with the Prophet Habbakuk I cry unto Thee, * ‘Glory to Thy power, O Lover of mankind!’

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

O ever-memorable martyr Catherine, showing the determination of a spiritual athlete, with great endurance thou didst set thyself against the hostile one, trampling him beneath thy beautiful feet by the power of the Cross, O passion-bearer, thou boast of the martyrs.

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

O all-blessed Catherine, bride of Christ, thou art luminous with the radiant beams of divine beauty, splendid in comeliness. Wherefore, in gladness dost thou chant unto the Master: Glory to Thy power, O Lover of mankind!

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

Thou didst set at naught the audacity of the tyrant by the godly discourse of thy wisdom, for thou didst rescue from the abyss of the false worship of demons those who were deceived thereby, teaching them to cry aloud to Christ in hymns: Glory to Thy power, O Lover of mankind!

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

O all-praised one, who hast mightily trampled down the audacity of the enemy, the right glorious and splendid festival of thy memory hath dawned like the sun, and thereon we cry aloud to the Master: Glory to Thy power, O Lover of mankind!

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

The might of those who reject the veneration of the icons of thee, O pure Maiden, and of Him who, in a manner surpassing understanding, was incarnate of thee and enlightened the whole world, and of all the saints, hath now been cast down. Enlighten those who honor thee with faith, O thou who alone art all-hymned.

Ode V, Irmos: O Light never-waning, * why hast Thou turned Thy face from me * and why hath the alien darkness surrounded me, * wretched though I be? * But do Thou guide my steps I implore Thee * and turn me back towards the light of Thy commandments.

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

Aflame with the fire of love for thy Master, O all-glorious martyr, and seeking to behold His incomprehensible beauty, thou didst willingly give thyself over to wounds, radiant with the graces of virginity.

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

Having splendidly adorned thyself with most-sacred sufferings, O good virgin maiden, thou didst ascend to the heavenly bridal chamber of Christ, and hast now been radiantly joined to thy Bridegroom in gladness, O all-blessed one.

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

Thou wast revealed to be an all-radiant maiden who having loved Him Whom thou didst desire, and having followed in His steps by finishing a most difficult struggle, cried aloud unto Him as the fragrance of thy noetic myrrh: I have come, O my Bridegroom!

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

Knowing thee to be the true Theotokos, and knowing the Word of God Who was born from thee, O most pure Lady, we all preach Him Who is known in two independent natures and wills, O Mother and Bride of God.

Ode VI, Irmos: The abyss of my sins and the storm of my transgressions * disquieten me and thrust me down * into the depths of despondency; * but do Thou stretch forth Thy mighty arm, * unto me as Thou didst to Peter, * and save me, O my Guide.

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

The good and most pure Word, beholding thee all resplendent in the radiance and beauty of virginity and empurpled in the blood of thy martyrdom, O maiden, brought thee to dwell in the mansions of heaven.

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

By the Cross thou didst do away with the dominion of the tyrants, denouncing the vanity of earthly wisdom and pouring forth dogmas of divinely inspired teaching, O most wise and ever-memorable Catherine.

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

Mightily enduring the pain of thy wounds, O all-glorious martyr, thou didst cast down to the ground him who of old drove Adam from the sweetness of paradise through deceit, and thou hast been crowned with the crowns of the kingdom.

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

By thy prayers, O Mother, Virgin Theotokos, make thy Son and our Judge, Who doth deliver us from evil circumstances, to be merciful unto me on the day of Judgment, for in thee alone do I place my trust.

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 of the Great Martyr Catherine, in Tone II, Spec. Mel. “Seeking the highest…”: O ye who love the martyrs, * raise up an honored chorus in a most godly manner, * honoring the all-wise Catherine; * for in the arena she preached Christ and trod upon the serpent, ** trampling down the knowledge of the rhetors.

Ikos: Having received the wisdom of God from childhood, O martyr, thou didst also master well all external wisdom; and learning therefrom the movement of the elements and creation through discourse and Him that by His word fashioned them in the beginning, day and night didst thou render thanksgiving unto Him, setting at naught idols and those who worship them, putting down the knowledge of the rhetors.

Ode VII, Irmos: Once in Babylon the fire stood in awe * of God’s condescension; * for which sake the youths in the furnace, * dancing with joyous steps as in a meadow, chanted: * O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

Thou art the boast of martyrs and a teacher of piety, leading a multitude of martyrs unto Christ, thy radiant Bridegroom. And with them dost thou cry aloud, O all-praised one, chanting: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

Thy most wise discourse brought many out of the madness of idolatry unto salvation, and thou didst show them forth as all-radiant martyrs, who cry aloud with thee: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

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

Following in Thy footsteps, the maiden was brought to Thee beheaded by the sword, emulating Thy most pure Passion, crying aloud unto Thee, our Creator, and saying: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

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

The Holy of Holies dwelt within thee in a hallowed manner, O pure Virgin Theotokos, and He became incarnate from thee to save those who cry out in faith: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

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; * ‘ye children bless, ye priests praise, * ye people, supremely exalt Him throughout all ages’.

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

The empress, converted by thy teachings, advanced in piety and, mightily enduring the infliction of pain, was clearly deemed worthy of the everlasting kingdom of heaven, crying out to the Master: Ye priests bless; ye people exalt supremely Christ throughout all ages!

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

Let the entreaties of the faithful be entrusted to the martyrs, for the passion-bearer doth stand before Christ, asking that which is best for all and mediating salvation for those who earnestly celebrate her most holy and honored memory and faithfully cry aloud: Ye people supremely exalt Christ throughout all ages!

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

Opening wide the gateways of paradise, the Bridegroom doth receive thee, O all-wise one; and hath made thee a most radiant dwelling place, revealing thee to be one who shares in His kingdom and His suffering. And, standing now before Him, splendidly adorned, O daughter of the King, forget us not.

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

The tyrant tempted thee with alluring words; the cruel one sought to deceive thee with persuasions, hoping thereby to weaken thy resolve, O glorious one; but, wishing to betroth thyself to Christ, thou didst cry out to the Master: Ye priests hymn; ye people, supremely exalt Christ throughout the ages!

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

O all-immaculate Theotokos, thou art more sacred than the supranatural ranks of angels, for from thy virginal womb, which kneweth not wedlock, thou hast given birth unto their Creator and Lord in two natures, unconfused and immutable, God incarnate in a single hypostasis.

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 Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

Adorned with bridal ornaments, thou hast passed on to the splendid bridal chambers, holding the lamp of virginity in thy right hand and thy severed head in the other. And now, standing before Christ, thy Bridegroom, preserve thou those who hymn thee.

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

Thy prayer was accepted, O divinely wise one, for the Master doth save from temptations those who call upon thy name with faith, O honored one, bestowing health upon them, and delivering them from divers spiritual and bodily ailments. Wherefore, in gladness we bless thee, O Catherine.

Holy Great-Martyr, Catherine, pray to God for us.

Thou hast now attained unto the calm harbor, O martyr, having easily sailed over this world’s sea of threefold waves, and in good order, without succumbing to temptation, O all-wise virgin; bringing an offering of varied riches unto Christ, a multitude of martyrs, O all-blessed Catherine.

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

Joining chorus now with the choirs of virgins within the bridal chambers of heaven, and illumined with rays of thy sufferings, O all-wise Catherine, thou hast loosed the bonds of my falls, earnestly entreating the Benefactor of all, for Whom thou didst shed thy blood.

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

Thou hast been revealed, O Virgin Mother of God, to have given birth in the body, in a manner transcending nature, to the good Word, Whom the Father brought forth from His own heart before all ages, in that He is good, and Whom we now know to be more exalted than all bodies, even though clad in a body Himself.

Troparion of the Great Martyr Catherine, in Tone IV: Thy ewe-lamb Catherine O Jesus, crieth out with a loud voice: * “Thee do I love, O my Bridegroom, * and, seeking Thee, I endure suffering. * in Thy baptism I am crucified and buried with Thee. * I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee; * I die for Thee, that I may live with Thee. * Accept me, who with love sacrifice myself for Thee, * as an unblemished offering!” ** By her supplications save Thou our souls, O most merciful One.

Sunday of All Saints – Parish News

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Dear brothers and sisters, after our Thursday and Friday services in Nazareth House and the Oratory, this weekend has been something of a whirlwind with our Warminster Liturgy, Wessex barbecue and today’s celebration of the Sunday of All Saints.

Having South Wales parishioners joining their brothers and sisters beyond the Bridge was wonderful, with reinforcements for the barbecue in the afternoon.

Having unrushed, relaxed, quality time together is so important, and even huddling together under the gazebo around Branka’s cooking pot during the rain showers was a time of fellowship, and conversation… and even entertainment, when the natural performers of the parish broke into enthusiastic, operatic song!

It is very important that we make an effort to connect with wider ROCOR life, particularly in our thinly spread presence on this western side of the mainland, as well as having a connection to our cathedral.

When we next celebrate in Warminster, it will be the feast of the Holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, on 12 July, and after our festal Liturgy, we will celebrate the solemn blessing (baptism) of the bells in the medieval tower of the chapel, anointing them in their consecration and naming them for the Holy and Right-Believing King Alfred, St Aldhelm and St Birinus.

This will be a rare and special occasion, and we are delighted to be asked to do so by the feoffees of the chapel, which is a “peculiar” outside the jurisdiction of the Anglican diocese, and a sanctuary in which our spiritual place is highly valued and in which we have a welcome degree of autonomy.

I very much hope that a few pilgrims might make their way from Cardiff to Warminster for this occasion.

With students away, parishioners on holiday, Wessex parishioners attending the Ukrainian parish Liturgy near Bristol, and Fathers’ Day, we were a little thin on numbers today, but celebrated the Sunday of All Saints in Cardiff with joy and enthusiasm.

We were happy to welcome back recent acquaintances and have first time visitors, whom we hope to see again soon.

Being the ninth day after the repose of Hierodeacon Avraamy’s father, Valery, we celebrated a litia, also praying for Lyudmila, Leonid, Alexey, and Irina, and for the departed kinsfolk of our parishioners.

In the week ahead, we will have our usual compline with akathist and confessions in Nazareth House at 18:00 on Thursday, and will chant the akathist to the Precious and Life-Giving Cross in the Oratory on Friday at 15:00, with confessions being heard after the service.

Later on Friday, Adam and Serwa’s baptism will be at 19:00 in St Philip’s, and I hope that local parishioners will be able to support our young people on this special day.

As announced on WhatsApp, Saturday will see our Cheltenham Liturgy, celebrated in Prestbury United Reformed Church, Deep St, Cheltenham GA52 3AN. 

The Hours and Liturgy begin at 10:00 and we will celebrate the feast of the Yaroslavskaya Icon of the Mother of God, with our usual bring-and-share lunch after the service.

I am happy to hear that some of our Cardiff sisters are looking forward to this, and hope that a few more people may be inspired to venture to visit our lovely little Gloucestershire community.

The following Saturday (28 June) is St Vitus day, and the solemn commemoration of the battle of Kosovo and the Holy Great-Martyr, St Lazar. A number of us will make the journey to Lazarica, in Bournville for the Divine Liturgy at 09:00.

Next week’s Liturgy will mark the Sunday of All Saints of the Lands of Rus’, and the variables for Liturgy can be found at:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ndLMA9dYyv0B-Vu2WPa3aD1rIMYVDjyM/view

The Apostles’ Fast begins in the morning, lasting until Saturday 12 June (Warminster Liturgy).

Calendars vary slightly regarding the allowance of fish according to local customs, and we should simply stick to the calendar we usually use, and not chop and change to reap the benefits of more generous allowances!

We should ALL try to do something extra in our prayers and spiritual reading during the Fast – perhaps reading a kathisma of the Psalter each day; reading from the Spiritual Psalter of St Ephraim the Syrian; reading the sayings of the desert father; trying to pray an akathist or canon to our name saint each day… and we can help you find this; or reading the appointed supplicatory canon to the Mother of God each evening. We should have a book for spiritual reading, and read every day.

Whatever we do, the days of the fast should NOT simply be like any other day. They should be days of extra prayer, spiritual struggle and devotion, consecrated and made holy to the Lord.

It may not be Great Lent, but it is, nevertheless, a God-given period of fasting and preparation, shaped by the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church. So… Let us attend!

Asking your forgiveness, for Christ’s sake, and praying that you have a blessed and holy fast.

In Christ  – Hieromonk Mark

Pentecost Parish News

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Dear brothers and sisters, greetings for the feast of Pentecost, following our Sunday celebration of Troitsa, for which we thank all who contributed do generously: our oltarniky, including Denys on his first Sunday in the oltar; our devoted singers; and our sisters who worked so hard to ptovide flowers and greenery, especially posies for everyone to hold during vespers for the Day of the Holy Spirit.

The celebration was a blessing not only for us as the people of God, but also for St Philip’s, where must oray for God’s grace and heavenly blessing to permeate its very walls, as stark and bare as they are.

We additionally offered a litia for Father Avraamy’s newly departed father, Valery, and given the stranglehold of the Phanariote-schismatics in Dnipro, and the impossibility of an Orthodox funeral, we will chant the funeral service in Father Luke’s garden chapel tomorrow at 18:00. Please keep the soul of Valery, together with the newly departed Leonid, Lyudmila and Irina in your prayers. Eternal Memory!

This week is, of course, a fast free week, before we begin the Apostles’ Fast, which will last from next Monday (16 June) until the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, which will be celebrated in Warminster on Saturday 12 July (New Style).

As announced, this coming Saturday will not only see our Warminster Liturgy, in the Chapel of St Lawrence, but also our Wessex barbecue at Frankleigh House, Bath Rd, Bradford on Avon BA15 2PB.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Frankleigh+House/@51.3601608,-2.2574467,62m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x48717fa5a00be89f:0x5cbd36aed03c287e!8m2!3d51.3594218!4d-2.2577109!16s%2Fg%2F11bxl2kb90!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDYwNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

To quote Porphyrios… “Following the liturgy, at Frankleigh House Bradford on Avon (directions below) we will have a BBQ to which you are all warmly welcome. 

If you can only make it for the BBQ, this will be starting at around 3pm, once we have cleared up and made our way there following the liturgy. Please let me know if you are planning to come.

From Bath come along the main Bath to Bradford on Avon Rd the A363. 

After sign saying Welcome to Bradford on Avon, carry on for another ½ mile. 

The road winds to the right and on the right is an entrance to a lane with signs saying 79 to 86 Bath Rd, 78 Bath Rd, and Frankleigh House. 

Turn here, onto the lane.

After 10 metres there is a small car park on the left, park here. The truck is a 30 sec walk into the grounds of Frankleigh House.

From Bradford on Avon, follow the road out of Bradford for a mile or so, on the left is a sign saying concealed entrance ahead.

After 100 metres turn into this entrance, which is the lane mentioned above, with the signs etc, then into car park as above. Any trouble give me a ring.”

Sunday will see the third session of chanting/voice tuition, given at 4pm in the Catholic Church Hall in Chipping Sodbury. Please contact Masha for further details.

On Friday 20 June, our catechumens Adam and Serwa will be baptised in St Philip’s at 19:00 in the evening, and I hope the faithful who live locally will support them in this great moment in their spiritual lives.

Saturday 21 June will be marked by our clergy visit to Gloucestershire, and our monthly Cheltenham Liturgy in Prestbury United Reformed Church, beginning with the Hours at 10:00.

Our Wessex evening of prayers and Christian fellowship will be at Frankleigh House on Monday 23 June, and I will give a talk on the rôle of the senses in Orthodox worship in the minster church of St Denys, in Warminster, on Monday 30 June.

Saturday 28 June is the feast of St Vitus, Vidovdan, and the anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo Polje, and group of us will make a pilgrimage to Lazarica to honour St Lazar and his martyred Orthodox Christian warriors on this solemn and holy feast. Liturgy will commence at 09:00.

Looking further ahead, our cathedral will celebrate its lower altar-feast on 17 July, which is also the first anniversary of Father Mark’s priestly ordination, and we very much hope that parishioners will be able to join us in travelling to Chiswick to share in the feast.

Looking forward to next Sunday, given that our Liturgy now finishes two hours before it did in St John’s, Father Mark and I have discussed the issue of trapéza. 

As we now finish in the morning, rather than the early afternoon, we feel that we should ordinarily stick to breaking our fast with a cup of tea or coffee and simple finger food, as we did last week. Provision of food has continued to fall to too few people and has placed pressure on too few sisters. We can now be home in time for lunch, so we should keep things simple, and save more substantial hot food for feastdays.

As we continue to celebrate Pentecost, I very much encourage you to pray the Canon to the Holy Spirit, by the Venerable Theophanes:

English: https://russianorthodoxchurchcardiff.com/a-canon-to-the-holy-spirit-by-theophanes

Slavonic: https://azbyka.ru/molitvoslov/kanon-svjatomu-duhu.html

Asking your forgiveness, for Christ’s sake.

May God bless you.

Hieromonk Mark

Ascension Parish News

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Dear brothers and sisters,

Greetings for the Sunday of the Ascension, and thanks to parishioners for making the day such a joyous and social celebration, at the end of a busy few days of services and travels.

It was good to have Father Mark the Younger back from his Canarian holiday, especially on a day with such a joyful Liturgy. I am very grateful that he was with us, given a night of only a few hours sleep.

Our after-feast celebration follows our Liturgy in the Oratory Church on Thursday, after which we enjoyed a festal meal, before chanting the funeral service for our newly-departed sister, Lyudmila. We also chanted the litia for the departed after compline and the akathist to the Mother of God, the Increase of Reason in the evening, and a panikhida in the Oratory on Friday afternoon.

I am very happy that yesterday’s baptismal Liturgy in Lazarica, in Bournville, afforded Macarius (Chris) the opportunity to receive Holy Baptism before his return to the north of England for the academic summer holiday.

Ideally his baptism would have been in Cardiff, surrounded by parishioners, but lingering illness made that impossible. We congratulate him, and Joseph, who was unexpectedly called upon by Father Nenad to be his sponsor at the font.

Thanks to those from Cardiff, who supported Macarius on such an important day, and to Father Nenad, for the incredible warmth with which our parishioners are always welcomed to St Lazar’s.

Vidovdan, the commemoration of the battle of Kosovo, falls on Saturday 28 June. Celebrating the martyric sacrifice of the Holy Great-Martyr, Prince Lazar, and his Serbian Christian army by the Ottomans on 15 June 1389, some of us will make a pilgrimage-visit for the Divine Liturgy in Bournville. There will be a hierarchical Liturgy the following day.

Father Nenad would very much like to welcome Cardiff visitors to the weekend’s celebrations.

Our next Cardiff baptism, later this month, at 19:00 on Friday 20 June, will see Adam and Serwa enter the waters of baptism, and I hope that local parishioners will be able to be with them for this important step on their spiritual-journey.

Tomorrow sees Lyudmila’s non-Church funeral at the Briwnant Chapel of Thornhill Crematorium, at noon. Her daughter has asked us to let parishioners know that they are very welcome, and that anyone wishing to see the ceremony remotely may do so online.

Website: https://watch.obitus.com

Username: kosu9344

Password: 365725

Please continue to pray for Lyudmila, Leonid, Irina, all newly-departed, and for the servant of God, Alexey (Liza’s father).

This week will see our usual Thursday evening akathist in Nazareth House at 18:00, and I will be available to hear confessions before and after the service

We will have devotions before the relics of the Precious Cross in the Oratory at 15:00, on Friday, and I will again be available for confessions.

Your prayers are asked for Artur, Sarah and their son, Matthew, who will be baptised in Llanelli, on Saturday.

Please continue to pray for Tara, Annie, Olyenka, Stefan and Panagiotis as they continue their exams.

Finally, just to remind you that next Sunday is Trinity-Pentecost, and vespers will immediately follow the Divine Liturgy. Given the kneeling prayers and the lack of hassocks to kneel on in our minimalist, protestant setting, please bring a cushion for your knees!

As posted on WhatsApp, on this day it is our custom to hold posies of flowers during Pentecost vespers, and we encourage parishioners to offer to make five or six posies of flowers and greenery, so that between a small group of people, we have sufficient flowers for everyone.

This shares responsibility and makes light the preparation for the feast. Greenery for the feast will also be most welcome. Please let Branka know if you are able to help.

Given the pressure of time next Sunday, I suggest that we only have drinks and finger-food snacks after Vespers, and we must keep a far more focussed eye on the clock!

Asking your prayers, and forgiveness for Christ’s sake.
May God bless you.
Hieromonk Mark

Parish News: Leave-Taking of Mid-Pentecost

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Dear brothers and sisters: Christ is Risen! Христос Воскресе! 

Here we are in the days of Mid-Pentecost, when we celebrate Christ in the Temple teaching those who were meant to be the enlightened doctors of the Law and theologians of the Old Israel.

 The feast sees the Lord  seeking to bring true knowledge and wisdom to those whose knowledge was in vain and useless without knowing Him, and which remained empty and pointless through their rejection of the Messiah.

In a world in which eyes are constantly turned towards the internet, even turning to “Artificial Intelligence” for “knowledge”, this mid-feast is a reminder that the Saviour, as the Wisdom and Word of God, is the source of the only knowledge we need for our lives in Him.

When we have other so called Christians lapping up the thoughts, meditations and false-wisdom of rabbis, imams and lamas, we can only wonder how Christ, as the Wisdom, Word and Power of God, and as the Way the Truth and the Life, is even part of their lives. As the perfect and complete Incarnate Truth and Incarnate Wisdom, He couldn’t have made it clearer: “No man cometh to the Father, but by Me!”

As well as being the leave-taking of Mid-Pentecost, tomorrow is also the feast of St John the Theologian, and in the festal hymns, in reference to the Last Supper, we chant that in leaning upon the breast of Wisdom, the beloved disciple learned the understanding of all things. 

This tells us all that we need to know regarding the knowledge and wisdom we need in our lives as Christians.

Like the wisdom the Saviour shared in the Temple, and the wisdom and understanding that St John learned at the Saviour’s side, Christ is the source, and the answer to all things, just as He was for the Samaritan woman, St Photini (Svetlana), as she sat beside Jacob’s well at Sychar.

“He that has ears to hear, let him hear!”

As you know, last week was one of pilgrimage and rest in Walsingham, where it was a blessing to be able to pray for our parishioners and their intentions day-by-day, and to celebrate the altar-feast of Mother Melangell’s skete. 

It was a great joy to concelebrate and preached at Lazarica on Sunday, and today has been one for a belated family Radonitsa visit, before vespers for the feast and a panikhida for the soul of the newly-departed Lyudmila, who reposed in the Lord on Saturday night. We ask you all to remember her in your prayers, and it’s wonderful to know that Lyudmila is being commemorated in the Serbian monasteries being visited by Porphyrios and his fellow pilgrims. 

After a service to St Nicholas on Thursday evening in Nazareth House at 18:00, we will chant a memorial services, and will do the same after Friday’s noonday service to the Holy Cross in the Oratory Church. Memory Eternal! Вечная память!

This Saturday will see our Cheltenham celebration, in which we will honour the translation of the relics of St Nicholas the Wonderworker (actual feast on Thursday). The Hours will commence at 10:30, followed by the Divine Liturgy, and our usual bring-and-share lunch after the service. We would love to welcome Cardiff parishioners to the Cheltenham mission.

The following Saturday – 31 May – Fr Nenad has asked me to concelebrate in Lazarica, where eight catechumens will be baptised. It would be lovely to have parishioners join me.

St Philip’s has confirmed that we are able to use the church for Adam and Serwa‘s evening baptism on Friday 20 June – the summer feast of the Kursk Root icon. We also look forward to Chris’s baptism. 

Thanks to Father Mark and Father Luke for affording me the chance to visit Walsingham, and to all who laboured for last Sunday’s celebrations, which do prompt the repeated request for help setting up. Please do not presume others will be there to do so, as this is the surest way to guarantee that nobody will be there when they are needed, preventing proskomedia and confessions starting on time. On Sundays when I am the main celebrant, I will no longer be joining the Liturgy after it has begun. Confessions will be ending strictly when it’s time for the Liturgy.

  This week, confessions will be heard before and after Thursday’s 18:00 service in Nazareth House, and likewise in the Oratory on Friday, though I do ask for requests for Friday pre-service confessions to be sent in advance. As already posted on WhatsApp, serving alone on Sunday will mean that confessions before Liturgy will be pretty much impossible, so the Holy Gifts can be reserved for those needing post-Liturgy confessions, which will need to be succinct, given that there will be a memorial service in addition to the Liturgy. 

Looking forward to Ascension Day (29th May), I hope that the morning Liturgy might be celebrated in Llanelli, and there will be the usual Thursday evening service in Nazareth House at 18:00: a moleben for the feast.

I ask your prayers for my journey back to Wales.

May God bless you all. 

In Christ – Fr Mark

Parish News – the Week of the Myrrh-Bearing Women

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Dear brothers and sisters – Christ is Risen! Христос Bоскресе!As we enter the third week of Pascha, having celebrated the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, yesterday, the need to rejoice in every day of this joyful Resurrection season presses upon us. Repeating myself, hopefully not too monotonously, I encourage all of the members of our community to have the words of the Paschal hymns upon their lips continually, as a means of preserving the Paschal joy in hearts and minds. Again, if possible, pray the Paschal Canon each day.

Paschal joy should overflow in our lives, and we should instinctively wish to share the resurrectional message of the angel, as we read in the Gospels and hear in the Paschal hymns –

“Come from the vision, O ye women, bearers of good tidings, and say ye unto Sion: Receive from us the good tidings of the Resurrection of Christ; adorn thyself, exult, and rejoice, O Jerusalem, for thou hast seen Christ the King, like a bridegroom come forth from the tomb.

The myrrh-bearing women in the deep dawn stood before the tomb of the Giver of life; they found an angel sitting upon the stone, and he, speaking to them, said thus: Why seek ye the Living among the dead? Why mourn ye the Incorruptible amid corruption? Go, proclaim unto His disciples.”

As always, we thank those who laboured for the Lord in celebrating the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, on which it was aptly several sisters of the parish who were first to arrive, already waiting and ready to prepare St Philip’s for Orthodox worship. Having more people to set up at 8:30 is pressingly important, given that clergy entrance-prayers, confessions and proskomedia ALL hinge on set up. It doesn’t happen magically or miraculously, and we would particularly value the presence of our young people to assist.


It was lovely to welcome sisters back from Ukraine visits and to have them singing on our kliros. Thanks to our brothers for sharing the load, given there was only a few singers, and chanting the anaphora so prayerfully in English, with the welcome change of Byzantine chant.This weekend’s celebration came after a week of memorial services, in Bradford-on-Avon (at Wessex end-of-month prayers), in Glastonbury, Swansea and Cardiff.

This week will see our evening akathist (to the Resurrection) in Nazareth House at 18:00 on Thursday, and we will serve a moleben for the sick in the Oratory at noon on Friday, after which I will hear confessions before heading to Warminster, where will celebrate the Hours and Divine Liturgy at 10:30 on Saturday, in the Chapel of St Lawrence in Market Place.As previously announced, I will be in Walsingham during the week beginning 12 May, and though serving that week, it will be one of reading, rest and prayer, so may I ask that communication is only for purposes of prayer requests.

Father Luke will concelebrate with Father Mark the Younger on Sunday 18 May, also hearing confessions, as needed, though those who confess in the week ahead will be blessed to commune on the following two Sundays, unless need for confession arises. If in doubt, Father Mark or Father Luke may be consulted for advice.

We ask for continued prayers for Lyudmila among the sick; for the newly departed Irinia, Sophia, Alexey and Sophia; and for oltarnik Panagiotis whose exams start on Friday, and for Stefan, Tara and Annie, who have exams in the following weeks.

Asking your forgiveness for Christ’s sake.
May God bless you.
Hieromonk Mark

Thomas Week Parish News

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Dear brothers and sisters – Christ is Risen! Христос воскресе!

Thanks to all who contributed to the weekend’s joyful services, keeping the triumph and joy of Pascha alive.

Saturday saw a joyful Thomas Saturday in Cheltenham, with the Liturgy celebrated according to the joyful Paschal order of Bright Week.

The service ended with the breaking of the artos, which has now been cut into slices for distribution to parishioners, who should cut it into small portions for drying, to eat on Sundays and festive days when it’s not possible to attend Liturgy – as a blessing and connection with Pascha, and a symbol of the risen Lord in the midst of his disciples.

With various parishioners away or unwell, Sunday saw a quiet celebration in St Philip’s, where we are slowly settling in and getting used to the building.

It was a joy to have an extra teenage server join Stefan in the altar, and we would like to see some of the gentlemen the parish join the boys on Sundays, as well as encouraging parishioners to consider joining our choir.

Masha raised the possibility the regent from the parish in Chipping Sodbury giving some day-courses in Church singing, including learning the traditional Kievan melodies which were a firm foundation of parish singing in the Russian Orthodox Church before the revolution. I very much hope that we may support this, and take advantage of the vast expertise and knowledge available to us.

On coming Sundays Father Mark and I would greatly appreciate more help with set-up at 08:30 to ensure a timely start for the Hours, and especially for confessions.

With the vestry being the only private space, I am unable to commence confessions until everything needed has been removed, and I do not wish to miss the beginning of Liturgy every week.

Please note that if the vestry doors are closed, confessions are being heard, so do NOT enter. If something is needed from the vestry, please take what is needed between the confessions.

After celebrating the joy of Bright Week and its special orders of service, the Sunday of Thomas sees the resumption of the commemorations of the departed with the chanting of panakhida and litia services. However, these still retain a distinctly Paschal form, resounding with the hymns of Pascha as we celebrate Radonitsa, centred on the Paschal Canon interspersed with the usual litanies for the departed.

Having chanted a litia at the end of Liturgy, I have brought the commemoration lists away with me and will celebrate memorial services throughout the week: at our end-of-the-month gather in Bradford-on-Avon this evening; in Glastonbury with Father Luke, tomorrow; in Swansea with Father Marks and matushka on Wednesday; then in Cardiff on Thursday and Friday, before my monthly Saturday visit to Lazarica.

Please post, message or email any names for commemoration.

Anyone wishing to pray a reader’s Radonitsa. service at home will find a full service on our parish web page, though the Paschal Canon is often reduced to simply praying the Irmos.

We will celebrate a panikhida in Nazareth House at 18:00 on Thursday, at noon in the Oratory on Friday.

If anyone would like to join me for Liturgy in Lazarica on Saturday, the Hours commence at 09:00.

Further to Father Mark’s words before communion, at Liturgy, we should remember that once the Holy Gifts have been brought out, we do not venerate icons. Icons should be venerated before lining up. Once the Holy Gifts have been brought out, Christ is in our midst, and all honour is for His Presence alone.

A reminder, as announced by Fr Mark, that I will be on Walsingham duty in the week commencing 12th May, and though I will be away on Sunday 18th, Fr Luke will assist Fr Mark and hear confessions.

May God bless you.

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

Paschal Parish News: Христос воскресе!

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Dear brothers and sisters, Христос воскресе!

The last week or so has been a rollercoaster for us, having only received the keys for St Philip’s a little over a week ago, and not having our first service until Palm Sunday, with the unnerving bareness and utility of the building as a literally stark challenge for us.

Having started the journey to St Philip’s on 21 January, it has been a long haul, and we are now only just beginning as we see how we can use the building, and can make it spiritually conducive to Orthodox worship. It will be a challenge, but the evolution of our worshipping space in a single week shows us that there is much we can do. As we have said, all ideas are welcome, and some parishioners have already come up with ways to create an Orthodox environment.

Holy Week and Pascha proved to be a concrete sign of what the community can achieve when we all work together, and the blessing of such beautiful services are a testimony to our parishioners’ dedication to serving the Lord and labouring for his local flock.

From Holy Wednesday’s Unction service to the Agape services of Pascha, it was a great joy to gather, with a stream of new people from various traditional Orthodox homelands. It was wonderful to welcome them and chat, and a comfort to know that even in the first week of relocation people were able to find us.

The clergy are extremely grateful for the labours of those who chanted, read, served, provided and arranged flowers, took photographs, cleaned and tidied, moved furniture and showed such kindness and care to clergy, brothers and sisters of the parish and visitors. And… personally, I am extremely grateful to Father Mark the Younger and Father Hierodeacon Avraamy, whose contributions to Holy Week and Pascha, and indeed every celebration, make such a difference and make my own ministrations so much easier. Thank you, Fathers.

One of the greatest joys of this year’s celebration was the flowers, whether the miniature floral halo for the Lord’s icon on the plashchanitsa, the cental stands, the vases of scented blooms or the adornments for the icons. The great island of flowers around the plashchanitsa and the Resurrection icon, was a wonderful offering to the Lord, and it was wonderful to smell the scent of the flowers as well as that of beeswax and incense in our beautiful services.

On the morning of Pascha, we repeated last year’s practice of chanting the Paschal Hours, and communing those were unable to come during the night between this first service and vespers, after which our sisters made tea and coffee to enjoy with kulich.

Having had a correspondence and telephone-call day, yesterday, sending greetings and catching up with people, I remain in Cardiff and will celebrate a 15:00 service in the Oratory tomorrow – Wednesday – chanting the Paschal Hours and moleben, and on Thursday, vespers for the feast of the Life-Giving Spring will be celebrated at 15:00, I will hear confessions after our services. 

I will head to Nazareth House, for 18:00 on Thursday, whwere will will chant the canon to the Mother of God, the Life-Giving Spring, and ask that if anyone would like confession before the service to contact me by tomorrow evening, otherwise I will arrive in time to unlock the church at 18:00. 

The Lesser-Blessing of Waters for the feast of the Life-Giving Spring will be performed in the Oratory Church at noon on Friday, and will also be performed for our Wessex parishioners in Jessica Anne’s home on Monday.

This coming Saturday 26 April, we will have the joy of celebrating the Saturday of Thomas in Cheltenham, with the breaking and distribution of the loaves of Thomas Bread (artos), blessed on the night of Pascha, with artos being brought back to Cardiff for distribution on Sunday.

If we had our own temple, the artos would stand on a table before the open Holy Doors of the ikonostas, and would be censed in every service and carried in a daily procession – “participating” in every service of Bright Week, as a sign of the Lord’s presence in the midst of the disciples.

At the end of Bright Week, these blessed loaves are broken and divided, to be kept as a Paschal blessing, akin to Great Holy Water at Theophany. 

Having been cut up into small pieces and dried, artos may be prayerfully consumed on Sundays and feasts when we are unable to be in church to commune.

Our Cheltenham Hours and Liturgy will commence at 10:00, and we look forward to a shared Paschal meal after our service. 

The address is Prestbury United Reformed Church, Deep Street, Cheltenham Gloucestershire, GL52 3AW.

It would be a great joy to welcome Cardiff parishioners to our little mission within sight of the Cotswold Hills.

Next Sunday, Antipascha, or “Thomas Sunday” will see the Octave of the Resurrection, and as the name suggests, we will commemorate the appearance of the Lord to the disciples and His encounter with Thomas, whose hands encounter the reality of the physicality of the Risen Saviour. The variables may be found at orthodoxaustin:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DQwxP9AkuX0RBIpQYxS3kyx2VULiiEg7/view

I will travel to Wessex on Sunday afternoon, where a memorial service for Radonitsa will be chanted on Monday evening. Having made a Somerset pastoral visit on Tuesday, I will return to Cardiff on Wednesday and we will offer a Radonitsa panikhida in Nazareth House on Thursday evening (1 May), so please submit commemoration lists for commemoration throughout the week, as well as at the Serbian Orthodox on Saturday, when I will go to Lazarica for the Liturgy on Saturday 3 May, to greet our Birmingham friends with the Resurrection and to celebrate a Paschal Liturgy with Father Nenad. It would be lovely if some of our Cardiff parishioners were able to make a pilgrimage to Bournville that day.

In the meantime, as suggested on WhatsApp, I encourage everyone to try to chant the Paschal canon every day in this glorious season.

May God bless you!

Christ is Risen!

Hieromonk Mark

Holy Week Parish News

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Dear brothers and sisters,

How wonderful it has been to be blessed with such a buoyant and joyful festive weekend, showing us the glory, divine authority and power of the Saviour before His voluntary passion.

Friday saw us mark the last day of Great Lent with the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts in the Oratory Church, in the very place where we had celebrated the first day of the Fast, which seems to have passed at an unbelievable pace, and the verses on Lord I have cried reminded us that in our service we were beginning the feast of the raising of Lazarus – a day very special to some of us, especially with the wonderful paraliturgical hymn to which we look forward, and which I share in full!

“Rejoice, rejoice, O Bethany! On this day God came to thee, God came to thee; and in Him the dead are made alive, as is right for He is the Life! He is the Life! He is the Life! And in Him the dead are made alive, as is right for He is the Life!

When Martha went to receive Him, grieving loudly with bitter tears, bitter tears, she poured out the sorrow of her heart to Him, with great sadness, wailing her lament. Wailing her lament, wailing her lament. She poured out the sorrow of her heart to Him, with great sadness, wailing her lament.

She at once cried out unto Him, “My most compassionate Lord! My Lord! At the great loss of my brother Lazarus my heart is broken, help me! Help me! Help me! At the great loss of my brother Lazarus my heart is broken, help me!

Jesus said to her, “Cease thy weeping, cease thy grieving and sad lament, sad lament; for thy brother, My most beloved friend Lazarus, very soon will live again! He will live again! He will live again! For thy brother, My most beloved friend Lazarus, very soon will live again!”

Then He, the faithful Redeemer, made His way unto the tomb, unto the tomb, where He cried unto him who was buried four days, calling him forth, saying, “Lazarus, arise! Lazarus, arise! Lazarus, arise!” Where He cried unto him who was buried four days, calling him forth, saying, “Lazarus, arise!

Come with haste, ye two sisters, and behold a wondrous thing, wondrous thing, for thy brother from the tomb has returned to life. To the beloved Redeemer now give thanks! Now give thanks! Now give thanks! For thy brother from the tomb has returned to life. To the beloved Redeemer now give thanks!

To Thee, O Lord of creation, we kneel down in reverence profound, reverence profound; for all we who are dead in sin; in Thee, O Jesus, are made alive! We are made alive! We are made alive! For all we who are dead in sin; in Thee, O Jesus, are made alive!

Rejoice, rejoice, O Bethany! On this day God came to thee, God came to thee; and in Him the dead are made alive, as is right for He is the Life! He is the Life! He is the Life! And in Him the dead are made alive, as is right for He is the Life!”

In our joyful celebration of the raising of Lazarus in Warminster, and our first service for the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem in Tremorfa, we have celebrated the Divine Sovereignty of the Lord, the Creator and Life-Giver, before His self-emptying and self-effacing love is embodied in His suffering and death, and before the Life-Giving Resurrection to which Lazarus’s own arising points.

Our Warminster Liturgy saw Cardiff parishioners join their brothers and sisters in Wessex, and we were glad to congratulate Lazarus on what we have come to treat as has nameday, as well as George on his baptismal anniversary, singing many years for them, as well as for Isaiah and Seraphim, who also celebrated their baptismal anniversaries.

Arriving in Tremorfa on Palm Sunday was far from ideal, but it was, nevertheless, a blessing to celebrate our entrance to St Philip’s on the feast of the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem.

It was good that so many people confessed and communed on Palm Sunday, and lovely to be able to gather the children before the icons at the end of Liturgy and talk about the joy of the raising of Lazarus, the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem, and how the events of the coming week will not only show His love for us, but will all be done to open heaven to God’s children, through the Saviour’s own glorious resurrection.

The layout of St Philip’s brought us all closer together and allowed for a more intimate celebration of the Liturgy, and though rather bare, it remains a setting in which to create an Orthodox place of prayer and worship, hence our encouraging everyone to share ideas of ways to do this.

This evening saw the mood of the Church change as we entered the solemnity of Holy Week, with the bringing out of the icon of Christ, the Bridegroom, arrayed in the purple robe of mockery and humiliation for our salvation and heavenly-calling, as we chanted in the praises,

As the Lord went to His voluntary Passion, He said to His apostles on the way: “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed, as it is written of Him.” Come, then, and let us also journey with Him, purified in mind; let us be crucified with Him and die for His sake to the pleasures of this life, that we may also live with Him and hear Him say:  “No longer do I ascend to the earthly Jerusalem to suffer, but I ascend to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God; and I shall raise you up to the Jerusalem on High in the Kingdom of heaven.”

Bride-Groom Matins will also be chanted in Father Luke’s chapel at 19:00 tonight and tomorrow.

We will celebrate the Lord’s Passion and resurrection in St Philip’s, and for convenience will repeat our schedule.

  • Wednesday 16/04/25 at 18:30 – The Service of the Oil (Holy Unction) / ПоследованиеСвятаго Елея. Those who are to be anointed with Holy Unction should be of confessing age and have made a recent confession. Please be aware that we are only to be anointed once a year.
  • Thursday 17/04/25 – Holy Thursday at 18:30 – Matins : The Service of the Twelve Passion Gospels / Утреня 12 чтений из Св Евангелия
  • Friday 18/04/25 – Holy Friday at 15:00 – Vespers (the taking out of the Shroud) / Вечерня (вынос Плащаницы). 18:30 – Matins (the burial rite) / Утреня (чин погребения).
  • Saturday 19/04/25 Pascha Night (Saturday into Sunday) 23:30 – Midnight Office, Matins, Paschal Liturgy / Полунощница, Утреня, Божественная Литургия. Following Liturgy we will bless Paschal eggs and food.
  • Sunday 20/04/25 – Pascha – NO LITURGY at 09:00, but the Paschal Hours with Holy Communion for parishioners who cannot attend the night service. In a change of schedule. Paschal Agape Vespers will now be chanted in St Philip’s, at 11:00. As I will already be communing parishioners after the Paschal Hours, we will take the opportunity to sit down for a cup of tea and something to eat after the Hours, and then chant vespers before we pack our things away.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the additional collection for the Holy Land. Our Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russian has had a special place in the Holy Land since the revolution, continuing the legacy of the Imperial period. Despite the forced-seizure of some of the key holy places by the then separate Moscow Patriarchate in the 1990’s, our clergy and monastics still maintain a prayerful presence at places central to the events of our celebrations this week. Every penny will make a difference, not only for the holy places, but also for the suffering and marginalised local Christians who are supported by our presence. If anyone else wishes to contribute, please pass offerings to Father Mark the Younger. May God bless you all!

Asking your forgiveness for Christ’s sake.

May God bless you in this solemn week.

Hieromonk Mark

Parish News – Fifth Sunday of Great Lent

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Dear brothers and sisters.

Happy feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel, and happy nameday to matushka Alla! Many, blessed years! Многая и благая лета!

Thanks to those who made yesterday’s Annunciation Liturgy such a joyful celebration, and provided a lovely lunch, enjoyed together in the lower sacristy.

The feast followed an unusual weekend, with Father Mark the Younger serving alone in Cardiff, whilst I – through pastoral need – served not only in another parish, but another jurisdiction. 

With Father Nenad leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain, I was the last possibility to cover for him in Lazarica and ensure the Divine Liturgy not only for the Serbs, but for the many Russians, Belorussians and Ukrainians who worship and commune in St Lazar’s each weekend.

It was a blessing and joy, and I am grateful to Father Mark for his positive insistence that I should help.

Father Mark was pleased that all went smoothly at St Faith’s, with parishioners ensuring a quick and efficient set up and take down.

It is good to hear that numbers were back to normal after a quiet few weeks.

As you are aware, the Sunday anticipated the centenary of the death of Partiarch St Tikhon, through his foresight our Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia owes its canonical existence, and this was marked by the litia at the end of the Liturgy and observed in Father Mark’s homily.

Later this week, we will chant the akathist to the Divine Passion in Nazareth House at 18:00, and the Divine Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified will be offered in the Oratory at noon on Friday.

After the Friday Liturgy, I will travel to Wessex to celebrate the Lazarus Saturday Liturgy in the chapel of St Lawrence in Warminster Market Place at 10:30 on Saturday.

This coming Sunday – Palm Sunday – will see our first service in St Philip’s, which is not an ideal day to arrive, but we hope that this will begin a more settled period in parish life, despite some concerns about the narrowing time window in which the building is available.

We should stress that despite services being earlier than we have previously celebrated, 09:00 is an entirely normal and standard time for the Hours. Our prime concern is for those travelling long distances!

Of necessity Sunday confessions will begin at 08:30, with the Hours commencing at 09:00. We need to exit the building by 13:00.

Please see the repeated following times for Holy Week and Pascha:

  • 13 April: Palm Sunday. 09:00 Hours and Divine Liturgy.  
  • 16 April: Holy Wednesday 18:30. The Service of the Oil – Holy Unction.
  • 17 April: Holy Thursday 18:30. Holy Friday Matins – the Service of the Twelve Passion Gospels.
  • 18 April: Holy Friday – Vespers at 15:00 and evening service – the Matins of Holy Saturday – at 18:30.
  • Easter night – (Saturday 19th into Sunday 20th), 23:30. Midnight office and procession, followed by matins and Liturgy.

Holy Communion wil be reserved for our  parishioners unable to  attend in the night, and we will agree a time to celebrate the Paschal Hours and commune them in the morning.

As St Philip’s is used in the afternoon, I will seek permission to celebrate Paschal Vespers in the Oratory at 13:00.

There will be additional services in Father Luke’s home chapel at which I shall assist. 

Please think about when you will make you confession ready for Pascha.

The clergy will hear confessions before our evening services in Holy Week, and those receiving Holy Unction will need to have made a recent confession. If required, I will hear confessions after Palm Sunday Liturgy.

On the subject of trapéza, we are very aware that the cooking, preparation and offering of food is often falling upon a tiny group of sisters, and we ask that this responsibility is assumed fairly by the parish as a whole. 

I know that the sisters who feed us are very happy to do so, but encourage all who able to bring an offering for the table to do so and consider asking Branka for ideas. 

From Sunday, we will put a donation basket on the table, so that we each have the option of contributing this way, knowing that sometimes three or four of our sisters are shouldering the expense of feeding a parish. 

May God bless you in these remaining days of the feast. Struggle on and increase that struggle if it has become wrak or lax!

Asking your forgiveness, for Christ’s sake.

Hieromonk Mark