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Seeking the Prayers of St Porphyrios of Gaza

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At this time of great sorrow and suffering, whilst we pray for the peace of the Holy Land and for all who suffer the cruel effects of war, let us turn to St Porphyrios, begging his intercessions for those in besieged Gaza (starved of food, water, medicines and power).

It was in Gaza that St Porphyrios laboured for the Lord and the Christian Faith, fighting the falsehood of paganism with the truth of Faith, his sacred relics lying in the now bomb-damaged monastery that bears his name, and which has sheltered local people regardless of religion – a citadel of humanity, mercy and Christian love for all.

We beseech his prayers and protection for all of the Christians of the Holy Land – a threatened minority facing persecution, hardship and constant violence and hate.

Saint Porphyrius, Archbishop of Gaza, was born about the year 346 at Thessalonica. His parents were people of substance, and this allowed Saint Porphyrius to receive a fine education. Having the inclination for monastic life, he left his native region at twenty-five years of age and set off for Egypt, where he lived in the Nitrian desert under the guidance of Saint Macarius the Great (January 19). There he also met Saint Jerome (June 15), who was then visiting the Egyptian monasteries. He went to Jerusalem on pilgrimage to the holy places, and to venerate the Life-Creating Cross of the Lord (September 14), then he moved into a cave in the Jordanian wilderness for prayer and ascetic deeds.

After five years, Saint Porphyrius was afflicted with a serious malady of the legs. He decided to go to the holy places of Jerusalem to pray for healing. As he lay half-conscious at the foot of Golgotha, Saint Porphyrius fell into a sort of trance. He beheld Jesus Christ descending from the Cross and saying to him, “Take this Wood and preserve it.”

Coming out of his trance, he found himself healthy and free from pain. Then he gave away all his money to the poor and for the adornment of the churches of God. For a time he supported himself by working as a shoemaker. The words of the Savior were fulfilled when the saint was forty-five years old. The Patriarch of Jerusalem ordained Saint Porphyrius to the holy priesthood and appointed him custodian of the Venerable Wood of the Cross of the Lord.

In 395 the bishop of the city of Gaza (in Palestine) died. The local Christians went to Caesarea to ask Metropolitan John to send them a new bishop who would be able to contend against the pagans, which were predominant in their city and were harassing the Christians there. The Lord inspired the Metropolitan to summon the priest Porphyrius. With fear and trembling the ascetic accepted the office of bishop, and with tears he prostrated himself before the Life-Creating Wood and went to fulfill his new obedience.

In Gaza there were only three Christian churches, but there were a great many pagan temples and idols. During this time there had been a long spell without rain, causing a severe drought. The pagan priests brought offerings to their idols, but the woes did not cease. Saint Porphyrius imposed a fast for all the Christians; he then served an all-night Vigil, followed by a church procession around the city. Immediately the sky covered over with storm clouds, thunder boomed, and abundant rains poured down. Seeing this miracle, many pagans cried out, “Christ is indeed the only true God!” As a result of this, 127 men, thirty-five women and fourteen children were united to the Church through Holy Baptism, and another 110 men soon after this.

The pagans continued to harass the Christians. They passed them over for public office, and burdened them with taxes. Saint Porphyrius and Metropolitan John of Caesarea journeyed to Constantinople to seek redress from the emperor. Saint John Chrysostom (September 14, January 27 and 30) received them and assisted them.

Saints John and Porphyrius were presented to the empress Eudoxia who was expecting a child at that time. “Intercede for us,” said the bishops to the empress, “and the Lord will send you a son, who shall reign during your lifetime”. Eudoxia very much wanted a son, since she had given birth only to daughters. Through the prayer of the saints an heir was born to the imperial family. As a result of this, the emperor issued an edict in 401 ordering the destruction of pagan temples in Gaza and the restoration of privileges to Christians. Moreover, the emperor gave the saints money for the construction of a new church, which was to be built in Gaza on the site of the chief pagan temple.

Saint Porphyrius upheld Christianity in Gaza to the very end of his life, and guarded his flock from the vexatious pagans. Through the prayers of the saint numerous miracles and healings occurred. The holy archpastor guided his flock for twenty-five years, and reposed in 420 at an advanced age.

The Canon to St Porphyrios of Gaza

The composition of George, in Tone IV

Ode I, Irmos: Having traversed the depths of the Red Sea with dry-shod feet, Israel of old vanquished the might of Amalek in the wilderness by Moses’ arms stretched out in the form of the Cross.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.

The Church, adorned today with thy teachings as with royal purple, O Porphyrios , is made splendid thereby, and hymneth the Lord of all.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.

Having shone forth in divine discourses during thy life, thou hast been shown to be a beacon for all men, ever illumining them with thy deeds and teachings, and enlightening the ends of the earth.

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

Cleansed by the sprinkling of the Holy Spirit and arrayed in a garment of divine virtues, O Porphyrios, thou didst enter into hallowed places to minister as a priest unto Him Who anointed thee.

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

The Son of God, wishing to speak to those who are on earth of His ineffable love for mankind, which passeth understanding, O Bride of God, was born of thee in the flesh, granting regeneration unto the faithful.

Ode III, Irmos: Thy Church rejoiceth in Thee, O Christ, crying aloud: Thou art my strength, O Lord, my refuge and my consolation!

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us. 

Beneath thy feet didst thou lay low the arrogance of the godless who spake against the God of all Himself.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us. 

With the fire of thy words didst thou wisely consume the kindling of Manes, and to the faithful didst thou extend the enlightenment of thy doctrine.

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

Setting the feet of the faithful firmly upon a steadfast rock, O Porphyrios, thou didst shake the foundation of the godless from its very footing.

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

All the earth is full of the true knowledge and ineffable glory of thy Son and God, O pure one.

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

Sessional hymn, Tone III: Thou didst shine forth in thy deeds like the morning star and didst drive all heresy from the Church, O holy hierarch Porphyrios; and thou didst enlighten the hearts of the faithful, that they might hymn and glorify the Lord. Wherefore, celebrating thy memory today, we cry out to thee: Entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.

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: He Who alone is Lord, without separating from His divine nature, yet taking flesh in thy womb, remained God though He became a man, preserving thee after thy birth-giving an immaculate Mother and Virgin as thou wast before giving birth. Him do thou entreat, that we be accorded great mercy!

Stavrotheotokion (in place of the Theotokion on Wednesdays and Fridays): The unblemished ewe-lamb of the Word, the incorrupt Virgin Mother, beholding Him Who sprang forth from her without pain hanging upon the Cross, lamenting maternally cried out: “Woe is me, O my Child! How is it that Thou dost suffer Who art to deliver man from the indignity of the passions?”

Ode IV, Irmos: Beholding Thee lifted up upon the Cross, O Sun of righteousness, the Church stood rooted in place, crying out as is meet: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us. 

Having within thy soul the Sun of righteousness and the most radiant splendour of the Faith, O Porphyrios, thou didst illumine all the fullness of the Church with thy discourses.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us. 

Made steadfast in the love of God the Word, O Porphyrios, thou didst disdain all the allurement of visible things. Wherefore, we honour thee as an equal to the angels and an honourable and holy hierarch.

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

As thou didst partake of the ineffable Mysteries, O Porphyrios, thou didst preserve them by thy pure actions in a pure and ineffable manner, as a worthy initiate of the mysteries.

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

Gloriously is the Church adorned with thy divine magnificence, O pure one; and, manifestly embellished thereby, it doth glorifieth thee with love, hymning thy birth-giving.

Ode V, Irmos: Thou hast come, O my Lord, as a light into the world: a holy light turning from the darkness of ignorance those who hymn Thee with faith.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us. 

With thy words of truth thou didst break the chains of the rhetors, O Porphyrios, establishing the dominion of faith in all ways.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us. 

Having drawn forth the Comforter on earth, O venerable one, thou didst pour forth bountiful rivers of the teachings of piety, O Porphyrios.

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

Having dried up the torrents of ungodliness with the fire of thy words, O Porphyrius, thou didst enlighten men with the proclamation of piety.

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

Strengthened by thee, O all-pure one, with the power of the Spirit we vanquish the adverse foes of the truth of Christ.

Ode VI, Irmos: I will sacrifice to Thee with a voice of praise, O Lord, the Church crieth unto Thee, cleansed of the blood of demons by the blood which, for mercy’s sake, flowed from Thy side.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us. 

O Porphyrios, we all truly have thee as a spiritually animate image of the virtues ever shining forth unto divine deeds; wherefore, we honour thee.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us. 

Robed in the power of the Comforter as are those who behold the Word face to face, thou hast been shown to be invincible to the foe, driving away and cutting down their impiety.

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

Renewing men by the water of baptism and adoption, thou didst lead them forth as children of the Creator, and didst present them pure and immaculate, O Porphyrios.

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

Mindful of thy divine mysteries and ineffable glory, which transcend recounting, we who boast in thee, O all-pure one, unceasingly glorify thee as the true Theotokos.

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

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

Kontakion, Tone II: Adorned with thy most sacred ways, thou wast resplendent in the vesture of the priesthood, O all-blessed, divinely wise Porphyrios; and by thine exaltations thou dost spread beauty of healings, praying unceasingly in behalf of us all.

Ode VII, Irmos: The children of Abraham in the Persian furnace, afire with love of piety more than with the flame, cried out: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us. 

The Church of Christ, assailed by contrary winds and assaults, O father, didst thou firmly establish with might; and it chanted unto Him: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us. 

With valour didst thou triumph over the assemblies of heretics, O wise father, arrayed in the armour of the Word; and thou didst cry out to Christ in thanksgiving: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

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

Thou didst enter into the paradise of noetic virtues, where thou didst pluck beauteous flowers of truth, with which thou hast shed a sweet fragrance throughout the world, O father Porphyrios.

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

O Virgin, the mighty Word of God, Who was born of thee, hath given thee as strength and dominion unto all the weak who cry out: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Ode VIII, Irmos: Stretching forth his hands, Daniel shut the lions’ mouths in the pit; and the young lovers of piety, girded about with virtue, quenched the power of the fire, crying out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us. 

With thy words didst thou arm and establish the Church of Christ, O wise one. Wherefore, it doth ever triumph over the assault of heresies and doth chant victoriously unto Christ, crying out: Bless the Lord, O ye works of the Lord!

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us. 

Having thy mind continually on heaven, O Porphyrios, thou didst ineffably obtain a divine release unattainable by the senses; and beholding the mysteries of Christ with faith, thou didst cry out to Him: Bless the Lord, O ye works of the Lord!

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

By thy prayers, O Porphyrios, thou didst stop the mouths of the noetic lions that were wickedly roaring forth blasphemies; and with the mighty darts of thy divine words thou didst crush their jaws, earnestly crying out to Him Who made thee strong: Bless the Lord, O ye works of the Lord!

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

He Who sitteth upon the throne of the Father’s glory, His Son and Word, Who was born of thee in the flesh, O pure one, hath made thee a divine chariot and a most glorious throne, who alone art hymned by all mortals as their Mistress.

Ode IX, Irmos: Christ, the Chief Cornerstone uncut by human hands, Who united the two disparate natures, was cut from thee, the unquarried mountain, O Virgin. Wherefore, in gladness we magnify thee, O Theotokos.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.

As precious gifts thou didst bring to the munificent Master thy God-pleasing virtues, and those who have been delivered from heresy by thee, magnifying the Creator of all, O venerable father.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us. 

With the showers of thy tears thou didst quench the flame of the passions; thou didst serve the Creator with dispassion, and hast been vouchsafed greater glories, O Porphyrios, ever hymning and magnifying Him.

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

Joining chorus with the angels, saints and the venerable on high, O father Porphyrios, entreat the Lord and Benefactor in behalf of those who hymn and praise thee with faith.

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

The Master, Who for our salvation became a man, hath given thee, O pure one, as a mediator, protection and healing, unto all who glorify thee with faith and magnify Him with love.

Troparion, Tone IV: The truth of things revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, a model of meekness and teacher of abstinence; wherefore, thou hast won the heights by humility and riches by poverty. O father Porphyrios, entreat Christ that our souls be saved!

Weekly News: 3/16 October

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Dear brothers and sisters,

Though we were still a bit short of singers and servers for Sunday Liturgy, it was good to see things settling down to a normal sized congregation, and to have new visitors, whom we hope will return in the future. It was lovely to welcome some of the students from neighbouring Newman Hall, and to be able to chat to them afterwards – on subjects both theological and feline.

We were pleased to have a handful of visitors from our Llanelli mission, making the geographical span of worshippers reach from Carmarthen to Warminster! It’s good to see parishioners car-sharing and ensuring that the maximum number of parishioners are able to reach Liturgy from the further limits of our South Wales and Wessex pastoral area.

With no trapeza at the moment, a good number of parishioners enjoyed social time across the road in Brodie’s café, where we seized the opportunity to discuss plans for a forthcoming pastoral visit to our Wessex parishioners and the need to find a place for Wiltshire Liturgies.

After yesterday’s Liturgy, I was heartened to hear expressions of interest in our pilgrimage to Llancarfan to honour St Cadoc on Saturday 28th October. Our intention is to celebrate the Divine Liturgy at 10:00. Anyone interested should contact Tracy: t_sbrain@yahoo.co.uk

Our 2022 pilgrimage was very enjoyable and informative, and the welcome we received was warm and generous. See: https://russianorthodoxchurchcardiff.com/celebrating-st-cadoc-at-llancarfan

Today saw me in one of the other churches in the same ministry area as Llancarfan, with a funeral in the medieval church in Peterston-super-Ely. I am indebted to Canon Martyn Davies, the rector, and to the Anglican diocesan authorities for allowing an Orthodox funeral in the village church, and for his generous welcome. It was a pleasure to celebrate in such a wonderful setting, and to chant the ancient words of our funeral hymns in a church that has been a local place of worship and prayer since the Celtic Age of the Saints. For most of the congregation, it was the first Orthodox service they have ever attended and people were very positive and appreciative. Please remember the newly-departed Irina in your prayers. Memory Eternal!

Yesterday’s confessions were certainly numerous, though I think we need to be very clear that Sunday confessions (with great time-pressure) are not the time to discuss general personal or family problems, but the time in which we approach Christ in repentance to confess our sins and seek his healing and forgiveness. There is plenty of time outside confessions to talk about other issues. This week’s confessions will be heard on Friday afternoon/evening, before the talk on the intercession of he saints at 19:00. Requests by noon on Thursday, please.

In addition to our prayers for all who are suffering in the conflicts of the Holy Land and Ukraine, we continue to pray for Maria, Nikolai, Catalin, and Oswald, who are travelling; Brigid, Ludmilla, Mike and Steve, in their sickness; Porphyrios’s father Paul as he undergoes medical treatment; and the newly departed Irina.

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

Akathist to the Mother of God “Queen of All”

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AKATHIST
TO THE WONDERWORKING ICON OF THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS “PANTANASSA”

Feast – August 18/31

In Greece, in the holy monastery of Vatopedi, on Mount Athos, there is located the miracle- working icon of the Mother of God named “Pantanassa” (All-Reigning or Queen of All). 

This is a small icon from the 17th century, which from these ancient times has been a focus of pilgrimage for those seeking healing and comfort from the Most Holy One from illness and temptations. 

This icon of the Mother of God is especially known for healing those who pray before it with sincerity from the sickness of cancer.

Kontakion 1: We, Thy faithful servants, standing before Thy Newly-Appeared Icon suppliantly cry unto Thee, O Queen of All: send Thy healing to Thy servants who come to Thee today that all together we may joyfully cry unto Thee: Rejoice, O Queen of All, do Thou heal our ailments by Thy grace!

Ikos 1: An Archangel descended from Heaven and said to the Queen of all: Rejoice! And beholding Thee, O Lord, taking bodily form he cried to Her saying such things as these:

Rejoice, the Crown of our salvation.

Rejoice, the Fulfilment of our Creator’s plan.

Rejoice, Thou through Whom God had been made incarnate.

Rejoice, Thou in Whom Invisible became visible.

Rejoice, Thou Who accepted in Thyself the Mercy of peace.  

Rejoice, Thou Who had made the cloth of flesh for the Word.

Rejoice, incredible Highest Glory.

Rejoice, Heavenly Manna Who has animated many hearts.      

Rejoice, the Star Who radiates grace.

Rejoice, the Spring Who is an effusion of living water.

Rejoice, O Birth-Giver of God blessed among women.

Rejoice, Undefiled Virgin Who gave birth to our Saviour.

Rejoice, O Queen of All, do Thou heal our ailments by Thy grace!

Kontakion 2: Through Thee, O Virgin, the Everlasting Word has become the Infant Child giving healing to those who honour His Birth and Thee crying: Alleluia!

Ikos 2: Seeking to know knowledge that cannot be known, the Virgin cried to the ministering one: “Tell Me how can I, a pure Maiden, be the Mother of the Highest?” Gabriel spoke to Her with fear crying aloud thus:

Rejoice, chosen by the Highest Council.

Rejoice, the quick-hearer of praying voices.

Rejoice, Treasure of the Christ’s world.

Rejoice, the Hope and Strength of Thy people.                          

Rejoice, the miraculous Destroyer of cancer’s wounds.            

Rejoice, the Healer of other sickness.

Rejoice, the only Intercessor of the world.

Rejoice, the true Redemption of sorrow.

Rejoice, the Relief of weeping and tears.

Rejoice, Thou Who opens to all the entrance of salvation.        

Rejoice, the Government of all who live on Athos.                    

Rejoice, the Mace of monks and laity.

Rejoice, O Queen of All, do Thou heal our ailments by Thy grace!

Kontakion 3: The Power of the Most High had overshadowed Thee, O Virgin, and having accepted flesh and showing Thee to be a good pasture for those who desire to reap salvation, and who sing: Alleluia!

Ikos 3: Thy icon called “Queen of All” was miraculously glorified when it appeared conveying healing. Do Thou give healing to those who with faith sing before it that such healing would be multiplied by songs such as these:

Rejoice, the Mother of Unfading Light.

Rejoice, the Victory of those who suffer to the end.

Rejoice, the Medication of those who are in illness and sorrow.

Rejoice, the inviolable Wall of all orphans and widows.

Rejoice, Thou Who opens the doors of Paradise.

Rejoice, Thou Who defends all who labor and are burdened.  

Rejoice, the Intercessor for the salvation of all.

Rejoice, Thou Who prays for mankind.

Rejoice, the Heavenly Ladder that rises from the earth to Heaven.

Rejoice, the Living Water that cleanses deadly sins.

Rejoice, the Lamb that protects the hearts of the honest ones.

Rejoice, the Cover that spreads over the children of the Church.

Rejoice, O Queen of All, do Thou heal our ailments by Thy grace!

Kontakion 4: Granting life to the whole world the Lord settled in Thy womb immaculately and showed Thee to be the Mother for the faithful calling them to sing in peace: Alleluia!

Ikos 4: Thou hast done amazing things, O Place of God, by healing through Thy Holy Icon. Accepting the streams of Thy healing we sing, O Queen of All, the song of thanksgiving:

Rejoice, the Medicine that reduces pain.

Rejoice, the Coolness that cools fever of the ailments.

Rejoice, Thou Who cauterise the illness of cancer like fire.

Rejoice, Thou Who lifts from the bed of illness those who are forgotten by doctors.                                                                      

Rejoice, Thou Who shows Thine All-Pure Image to those who are chosen.

Rejoice, Thou Who absolves us from sinful chains.

Rejoice, Thou by Whom we receive deliverance from death.

Rejoice, Thou by Whom uncountable ranks of the faithful are justified.

Rejoice, the Height Who is not reachable by human thoughts.

Rejoice, the Depth Who is reachable only by the Word.

Rejoice, the Prophecy of patriarchs who lived before Thee.

Rejoice, the Preceptor of hierarchs who prayed unto Thee.

Rejoice, O Queen of All, do Thou heal our ailments by Thy grace!

Kontakion 5: Acknowledging Thee as the Most-Pure Temple of the Savior, O Virgin, we fall down before Thee asking, O Pure One, make us the temples of God, who sing to Him: Alleluia!

Ikos 5: The ranks of the Angels having seen the Creator of all mankind sitting in Thy hands and acknowledging Thee as the only Glorious Lady even though Thou hast called Thyself “the Servant,” strive to serve Thee with such songs as these:

Rejoice, Thou Who art placed by God higher than all Heavenly Powers.

Rejoice, Thou Who fillest the world with miraculous healing.

Rejoice, Thou Who hearest songs of praise and glory from Heaven.

Rejoice, Thou Who accepts thanksgiving from earth.

Rejoice, Thou Who destroyed the seed of corruption.

Rejoice, Thou Who destroyed the yoke of the devil’s tricks.

Rejoice, Thou Who had filled the place of weeping with joy.

Rejoice, Thou Who transfers sorrow into heavenly gladness.

Rejoice, the Fragrance that pleases God.

Rejoice, the great Merriment of penitent sinners.

Rejoice, the Armour of truth that defends from temptations.

Rejoice, the Shield of defence that protects from hostility and adversity.

Rejoice, O Queen of All, do Thou heal our ailments by Thy grace!

Kontakion 6: The God-proclaiming Preachers, the Saviours Disciples, stood miraculously before Thee, O Virgin, when Thou ascended from the earth to Heaven, and with one heart and one mouth they sang to God: Alleluia!

Ikos 6: Marvellous grace shone from Thy icon, O Queen of All, when a young man, obscured by Satan’s teaching, fell down before the icon and was immobile; but after he was rescued by Thee from dark bonds, with fear and joy he cried aloud to Thee thus:

Rejoice, the Amendment of wicked life.

Rejoice, the Consolation of those who suffer exceedingly.      

Rejoice, the Dispersal of demonic regiments from the Church.

Rejoice, the Dispersion of sinful haze.

Rejoice, the Abrogation of invisible tricks.

Rejoice, the Victory over satanic magic.

Rejoice, the Lamp that shows a way for those who have been charmed.

Rejoice, the Cloud that covers the innocent ones from evil.

Rejoice, the Hill that feeds us with heavenly manna.

Rejoice, the Valley that satiates us with Christ’s humbleness.

Rejoice, the Rock of the Heavenly Kingdom.

Rejoice, the Mirror of Heavenly Light.

Rejoice, O Queen of All, do Thou heal our ailments by Thy grace!                 

Kontakion 7: O God, Who was incarnate from the Virgin wishing to be given as food for the faithful, that being the communicants of Thy Precious Body and Blood they would know that Thou art truly God. We being amazed by this Thy wisdom cry aloud: Alleluia!

Ikos 7: Having the Last Supper with His disciples, the Creator revealed to us a new sacrament, and praying to the Queen of All to vouchsafe us of the Divine Holy Things we dedicate to Her such songs:

Rejoice, Thou Who givest the Heavenly Bread.

Rejoice, Thou Who gave birth to Eternal Life.

Rejoice, the Chalice that joins us to Christ.

Rejoice, Thou Who unites our soul and body with God.

Rejoice, O Queen of All, do Thou heal our ailments by Thy grace!

Rejoice, the Golden Spoon full of Divine Mystery.

Rejoice, the Precious Covenant Box, the Container of the Great Holy Thing.

Rejoice, the Finger which directs us to the Holy Eucharist.

Rejoice, the Table that offers us the Holy Food.   

Rejoice, Thou Who situates the worthy communicants at the right side.

Rejoice, Thou Who delivers from hell those who love the Divine Liturgy.

Rejoice, Thou Who leadest we mortals to the Source of immortality.

Rejoice, Thou Who girds Thy children with peace and strength.

Rejoice, O Queen of All, do Thou heal our ailments by Thy grace!     

Kontakion 8: Having beheld the fearful Nativity we have laid aside all earthly care and have raised our hearts on high, because the Most High has come to summon those who sing to Him: Alleluia!

Ikos 8: Being always in the Father’s bosom, the indescribable Word became flesh on earth. The Great God magnified the Virgin and regarded the humbleness of His Handmaiden, who now hears such things as these:

Rejoice, Thou Who contained the Uncontainable God.

Rejoice, Thou Who has shown forth the Creator of the world.

Rejoice, for the authority of death was destroyed.

Rejoice, for Adam’s wound was healed.

Rejoice, the Plaster that heals the scabs of the soul.

Rejoice, the Oil that anoints the ulcers of the body.                        

Rejoice, the Relieving of pain to those who are in child-birth.

Rejoice, the Relief of the torments of those who are dying.                      

Rejoice, Thou Who has defeated hell.

Rejoice, Thou Who has blunted the sting of death.

Rejoice, the Expectation of the Resurrection of all.

Rejoice, the Salvation of all Orthodox people

Rejoice, O Queen of All, do Thou heal our ailments by Thy grace!

Kontakion 9: O Word! All the angels and humans were amazed by the greatness of Thy incarnation that cannot be understood. Being perplexed by this great devotional secret we cry to Thee in fear and tremble with thanksgiving: Alleluia!

Ikos 9: Those who are afflicted by various ailments, O Queen of All, receive more healing from Thy Holy Icon than expected, and having accepted such great grace through faith, cry aloud to Thee: Rejoice, the Preservation of the healthy.

Rejoice, the Restoring of health to the ailing.

Rejoice, the Healing of little children.

Rejoice, the Mother of the Young sufferer.

Rejoice, the Rising of those who are in bed with illness.

Rejoice, the Consolation of those who are in fear of death.      

Rejoice, Thou Who attends to sobbing humans.

Rejoice, Thou Who listens to our moaning.

Rejoice, the Relieving of earthly pain with heavenly gladness.

Rejoice, the Patience of those who are in great distress.

Rejoice, Thou Who prepares joy for those who weep.

Rejoice, Thou Who gives the wings of prayer to the meek.      

Rejoice, O Queen of All, do Thou heal our ailments by Thy grace!

Kontakion 10: The Creator, desiring to save the charred human essence, descended upon Thee as dew on fleece and made Thee the unburning bush and become a Man that we might sing to Him: Alleluia!

Ikos 10: O All-Pure Virgin! Thou art the Wall for maidens and for all who care for purity. God settled in Thee purifying His intelligent creation that having been freed we would offer to Thee hymns to Thee:

Rejoice, the Conversationalist of those who are seeking silence.

Rejoice, the Crown of those who keep virginity.

Rejoice, the Beginning and the End of spiritual accomplishment.

Rejoice, the Repository of the Divine Revelation.

Rejoice, the Secret Place of the Triune Light.

Rejoice, the Source of humans salvation.

Rejoice, the Peak unapproachable for the proud mind.              

Rejoice, the Refuge accessible for the humble heart.                

Rejoice, the Purest of Heaven.

Rejoice, More Honourable than the Cherubim and the Seraphim.

Rejoice, the Highly Favoured One, because from the Archangel Thou heard: “Rejoice.”                                                                              

Rejoice, the Comforted One, for Thou touched the Resurrected Christ.

Rejoice, O Queen of All, do Thou heal our ailments by Thy grace!

Kontakion 11: O Glorious Lady, we, Thy servants, remain unable to offer intelligent hymns to the Saviour. Who can praise God adequately, Whose name is as myrrh poured? Therefore we cry to Him: Alleluia!

Ikos 11: The Great Light had shone to those sitting in darkness because the Orient had visited us from on High, that is Thy Son and Thy God, O Virgin. He had made Thee the candle on the candlestick and commands to the enlightened children of the Church to sing to Thee:

Rejoice, the Dawn of the Intellectual Sun.

Rejoice, the Container of the Divine Fire.

Rejoice, the Light, Thou Who has woven the garment of the Saints.

Rejoice, the Candle, Thou who has scattered the demon’s darkness.

Rejoice, the Enlightenment to those who cannot learn easily.

Rejoice, the Illumination of sinful hearts.

Rejoice, the Right Hand leading out of the sea of difficulty.

Rejoice, the Ray guiding to the Kingdom those who desire to be saved.

Rejoice, the Lightning that defeats the unrepentant.  

Rejoice, the Thunder that scares the destroyers.

Rejoice, the Enlightening of a sly conscience.

Rejoice, the Appeasement of God’s Judgment.

Rejoice, O Queen of All, do Thou heal our ailments by Thy grace!

Kontakion 12: When the Giver of the Old Testament Law wanted to give us His grace He gave us the New Testament; after we have received such grace, we are saved not by the deeds of the law but by faith and we sing: Alleluia!

Ikos 12: While singing to Thy Offspring we also are singing to Thee, O truly Sacred Tent, as former Israel sang to their tabernacle, we glorify Thee with our good works that Thou wouldst hear from all such songs:

Rejoice, the Song sung on high.Rejoice, the Psalm heard below.

Rejoice, Thou Who has served the One God.

Rejoice, Thou Who has pleased the Divine Trinity.

Rejoice, Thou Who has carried the One Who carries the World.

Rejoice, the Altar of the One Who holds the Universe in His hand.

Rejoice, the unspoken Secret of all centuries and times.

Rejoice, the firm Hope of all nations and races.

Rejoice, the Joy of reverent priests’ hearts.

Rejoice, the immediate Receptor of prayers in Churches and in houses.

Rejoice, the House of Wisdom made by God.         

Rejoice, the Vessel of Mercy chosen by God.

Rejoice, O Queen of All, do Thou heal our ailments by Thy grace!

Kontakion 13: O our Mother Queen of All, Who gave birth the Word, Holiest of all Saints! Having accepted our hymns today, heal us from every deadly illness and from the coming condemnation, and save those who sing: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

This Kontakion is repeated three times followed by the repetition of Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1

Ikos 1: An Archangel descended from Heaven and said to the Queen of all: Rejoice! And beholding Thee, O Lord, taking bodily form he cried to Her saying such things as these:

Rejoice, the Crown of our salvation.

Rejoice, the Fulfilment of our Creator’s plan.

Rejoice, Thou through Whom God had been made incarnate.

Rejoice, Thou in Whom Invisible became visible.

Rejoice, Thou Who accepted in Thyself the Mercy of peace.  

Rejoice, Thou Who had made the cloth of flesh for the Word.

Rejoice, incredible Highest Glory.

Rejoice, Heavenly Manna Who has animated many hearts.      

Rejoice, the Star Who radiates grace.

Rejoice, the Spring Who is an effusion of living water.

Rejoice, O Birth-Giver of God blessed among women.

Rejoice, Undefiled Virgin Who gave birth to our Saviour.

Rejoice, O Queen of All, do Thou heal our ailments by Thy grace!

Prayer to the Mother of God: O All-Good Mother of God Queen of All! I am not worthy for Thee to come under my roof, but, as the Mother of the Merciful God, say a word that my soul would be healed, and my sick body would be strengthened. O Queen of All, Thou hast an unconquerable might and Thou can ask always; ask for me, pray for me, that I would glorify Thy Most Glorious name always, now and forever. Amen.

Second Prayer to the Mother of God: O Most-Pure Mother of God, O Queen of All! Hearken unto our much-afflicted sighing before Thy miraculous Icon, brought to Russia from the land of Athos. Look upon Thy children, suffering from unhealed ailments, who fall down before Thy holy image with faith! As a bird covers its nestlings with its wings, so do Thou now, who art ever present, cover us with Thy greatly healing omophorion. Here bitter sorrows overcome us, there will Patience and Rest be revealed. Here the torment of despair dwells in the soul, there will shine the ineffable Light of Divinity! Console the fainthearted, strengthen the weak, bestow softening and enlightenment upon embittered hearts. Heal Thine ailing people, O All-merciful Queen! Bless the minds and hands of our physicians, that they might serve as instruments of the All-powerful Physician, Christ our Savior. We pray before Thine Icon, that Thou mightest truly live with us, O Sovereign Lady! Stretch out Thy hands, filled with healing and cures, O Joy of the sorrowful, Consolation in afflictions, that having speedily received miraculous help, wee may glorify the Life-creating and Undivided Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Troparion, Tone 4: Do Thou, O Sovereign Lady, by Thy joy-bestowing honorable Icon “Queen of All,” saves those who with fervent desire implore Thy grace; deliver from afflictions those who run to Thee; from all dangers do Thou guard Thy flock, who ever calls upon Thine intercession.

Source: http://www.stvladimiraami.org/sheetmusic/akathistvsetsaritsa.pdf

Weekly News

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Dear brothers and sisters,

What a busy three days we have had, and how nice it is to finally sit down to supper after a long and busy day.

Even though our gatherings are very much reduced by the academic/school holiday, with our pilgrims in the Holy Land, Ukrainian scouts at the Orthodox scout gathering in Germany, Deacon Mark and family in Turkey, and others in Serbia and Diveyevo, the parish remains busy and active.

Friday saw confessions in Nazareth House and our prayer talk; Saturday our visit to the Forest of Dean and our parishioners there; and today was blessed by our Liturgy for the feast of Saints Boris and Gleb, time and fellowship with parishioners, an overdue catch up with former Newman Hall scholars and Magnus the cat, and an evening sort out of our ever-expanding church requisites.

Many thanks to all who made all of these activities possible, and with such enthusiasm and energy, and thanks to all who have given such warm hospitality.

I am so happy to have such positive feedback about the homiletic introduction to Saints Boris and Gleb from our British parishioners and I hope they will come to share my enthusiasm for these first-canonised saints of our Church. 

Saints Boris and Gleb are worthy examples of the realisation of Christ’s sacrificial, kenotic and self-abasing love, which places neighbour above self-interest and self-concern, seeing us embrace whatever may be required to avoid harm and suffering for others if we can prevent it by our conscious spiritual and moral choices, placing others above our own welfare and wellbeing for the sake of fulfilling the Gospel. 

In an age of self-promotion, personal ‘empowerment’ and the idolisation of ambition and success, the example of their lives is a violent and radical challenge, with the violence being their seeming passivity and surrender like Christ the Man of Sorrows, going like a lamb to the slaughter and being silent like the sheep before his shearer. 

By treading the way of the Cross, imitating the Saviour and sparing their retinue the violence and death of sword and battle, preferring to rather be innocent victims for the sake of their loyal host they were chosen by God.

In the Epistle (from Romans), we heard that,

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

We see all of this accomplished in the meek and humble sons of St Vladimir murdered at the behest of their brother: Boris and Gleb called to the life of the Gospel by Holy Baptism; conformed the Saviour’s Cross and Passion; accepting their cross as the Lord accepted His Cross; embracing suffering with humility and willingness; imitating the Saviour in laying down their lives; placing the Kingdom of Heaven above the intrigues and jealousies of earthly royal rivalries; not justifying themselves or trying to prove themselves, but rather being justified by the Gospel and glorified by God.

They have made an indelible and deep impression on the spirituality of our Church and should challenge us and invite us to explore the deep theological meaning and spiritual significance of their short earthly lives.

I encourage you to read ‘The Narrative, Passion, and Encomium of Boris and Gleb’: http://macedonia.kroraina.com/en/kmsl/kmsl_4.htm

As we look to the latter part of the week, confessions will be heard in Nazareth House on Thursday afternoon, with emailed requests for confessions before noon on Wednesday. Before Thursday, I look forward to catching up with various parishioners.

May I remind you that (as announced), our next Cheltenham Liturgy will not be on the second weekend of the month in August, but in the feast of the Transfiguration – Saturday 6/19th August. It will be in Prestbury URC Church, as usual in Deep St, Cheltenham GL52 3AW.

Confessions will be heard from 09:15, with the Hours at 10:00, followed by the Divine Liturgy and the Blessing of Fruit and Honey (belatedly for the feast of the All-Merciful Saviour).

Next Sunday will see the celebration of the Forefeast of the Procession of the Life-Giving Cross and the All-Merciful Saviour, with the Hours at 10:45, followed by the Liturgy, and I will celebrate a festal Liturgy the following morning (Monday at 11:00) for the first of the August feasts of the Saviour, with the blessing of honey after Liturgy.

May God bless you all.

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

Today in the Forest and Thereabouts

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Though the wet weather made it impossible to have our hoped for moleben at St Anthony’s Well, near Micheldean, we nevertheless made our journey to the Forest of Dean, today, and I was very happy to finally be able to bless the home of our Cheltenham parishioner, Tatiana, before we gathered at Zoe’s house in Drybrook where we also blessed the house and had lunch.

It was wonderful to be with Wessex parishioners, as well as our sisters from Gloucestershire, and to have time together at Zoe’s house before we travelled north to see the wonderful Romanesque frescos and medieval wall-paintings in the church of St Mary, at Kempley, with it’s squat fortified thirteenth century tower, pink-washed south exterior wall and wonderful interior.

The barrel vaulted sanctuary, with its iconography of the Pantocrator, scenes from the book of the Apocalypse, apostles and saints was one in which it would be our dream to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, feeling such an apt setting for prayer and worship.

Given the improved weather of the afternoon, we resolved to get to St Anthony’s Well and did, indeed, get there, along the rough and narrow lanes, and though the edge of the woodland to reach the spring, with enclosed Paul, intrepidly entered by Porphyrios, who submerged himself three times in the icy waters.

The mud and rain made worship impossible, but we were very glad to have made it, and know that we will return so that others can bathe in the well, and to have an Orthodox service under the trees in this wonderful spot, which parishioner Zoe said is cherished and visited by locals – young and old – every day.

We are immensely thankful to Tania for her welcome in Ruardean, and to Zoe and her family for their warm hospitality in welcoming our pilgrims from both sides of the Severn, and for sharing their love and knowledge of the Forest with us.

We look forward to future visits to parishioners, the wonderful part of Gloucestershire in which they they live, and seeing the local churches, including Ruardean where there has been a Christian sanctuary since before the Norman conquest, and where we were greeted by St George slaying the dragon in the tympanum over the door, as well as the other medieval churches of the Forest.

Our thanks also go to our pilgrimage secretary, Tracy, who has worked hard, yet again, fielding a lot of calls and messages over the last week or so, especially as the weather saw plans change and evolve. She even wielded a chain saw, so that the tree blockage on the lane to the well could be cleared: a first on our monthly pilgrimages!

At the end of the house blessings, we chanted many years for our parishioners and their families, and we do so again, as also for Tracy. Mnogaya i blagaya leta! Many, blessed years!

Venerable father Anthony, pray to God for us, and for all who come to your well, seeking blessing and healing!

From Little Walsingham

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Dear brothers and sisters,

Such is the degree of removal of Walsingham from our usual South Wales surroundings, that it seems odd to think that all but two days ago we were together in Cardiff, celebrating the Divine Liturgy in Nazareth House, surrounded by all of the noise and busy-ness of the city.

Here, in rural North Norfolk, we feel as though we are in a different world, surrounded by gently undulating countryside, in a village whose medieval origins are plain for all to see, with flint-knapped cottages and the haphazard twists and turns of lanes and alleys once thronged by the pilgrims who flocked here not only from all parts of Britain, but also from foreign climes to venerate the replica of the Holy House, built at the instruction of the Mother of God by the Lady of the Manor, Rychold, in the immediate years before the Norman conquest.

During the day the carillon and angelus rings across the village with the Anglican Shrine at its centre and the Roman Catholic Shrine at the medieval Slipper Chapel, and – far from noise and light pollution – the night is quiet and the sky is clear.

At this moment, I’m sitting in one of my favourite thinking-places, at the desk in the library of St Augustine’s in the College, overlooking the shrine church, looking up to the window of the Orthodox Chapel of the Life-Giving Spring, in which we celebrated the Liturgy for the feast of the Three-Handed Icon of the Mother of God of Chilandar.

Though – at timers – our humble Liturgy, with our small congregation, was almost drowned out by mass in the church below, we endeavoured in our celebration, praying for the brothers and sisters of our community and commemorating those remembered by those at Liturgy.

After the Liturgy, we were pleased to continue the usual local custom of refreshments in the Norton Room of the Anglican Shrine, and the afternoon was blessed by the arrival of Father Mark and his family from Mettingham, with a visit to the former monastic church of St Seraphim with the young brothers of our parish who have been introduced to Walsingham. Though we only sat in silence, it was good to spend time praying together in a place which was – for so many years – a sanctuary of monastic prayer and a place of asceticism and spiritual labour.

Sadly, during early-evening confessions, news reached us of the death of Archpriest Raphael, the priest-caretaker of the little Orthodox Chapel here, with telephones subsequently pinging with the sad tidings of his repose. Memory Eternal.

Given the concentration of Anglican services, it as been hard to find time for silent prayer in the recreated Holy House, at the heart of the shrine, though we hope to find an opportunity in the day ahead, when a few of us will also visit the Sipper Capel and hopefully the parish church with its medieval screen-paintings.

Our faithful are assured of our prayers, here, and we are carrying the parish commemoration books to remember all who are usually commemorated at Liturgy.

May the Mother of God – Our Lady of Walsingham – intercede for us and preserve us beneath her merciful protection.

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

The Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God

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Dear brother and sisters,

Today saw the celebration of the Tikhvinskaya icon of the Mother of God, which was first revealed in Russia in the principality of Novgorod Veliky, suspended in the air above the waters of Lake Ladoga on this day in 1383.

Having miraculously appeared in other local towns before its final appearance in the town of Tikhvin, this wonderworking icon was enshrined in a wooden church, and later in a stone temple built at the behest of the Great Prince of Moscow, Vasily III Ivanovich, before its translation to a monastic stronghold built by his son, Tsar Ivan Grozny (the Terrible).

In the Russo-Swedish Wars of 1613-1614, when the Swedes invaded Novgorod and sought to destroy the Monastery, the Mother of God would not allow the monks to flee with her icon, and finding her precious image immovable, they sheltered within the walls of their coenobium fervently beseeching the help and protection of the Mother of God before her wonderworking image.

Their prayers were answered by the arrival of the Muscovite war-host and the retreat of the Swedes, without engaging in battle.

A copy of the wonderworking icon accompanied Russian emissaries to the village of Stolobovo, where a peace treaty was contracted with the Swedes, with this copy of the icon then resting in the Dormition Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, before its translation to the Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom in Novgorod, which was thus protected from further Swedish attacks through the intercession of the Mother of God.

Having preserved her icon from destruction over the centuries, the Mother of God’s miraculous help was shown especially during the onslaught against Faith after the Russian Revolution, when the icon escaped destruction or being sold, but remained in the Tikhvin Monastery, loved and cherished by the faithful.

During German occupation, in World War II, the Nazis removed the icon from the Tikhvin Monastery, and after initially being taken to Pskov it was taken to to Riga, and entrusted to the Church.

When the Germans retreated, Bishop John of Riga, left Latvia before the advancing Red Army, and during the Soviet air bombardment, taking the wonderworking icon to Germany, where it was a source of blessing and comfort for displaced persons crowded into refugee camps.

When Bishop John moved to America, in 1949, he was able to take the icon to Chicago, where he became Archbishop Chicago and the Mid-West in the American Metropolia, now the OCA. The icon was treasured and venerated in the Holy Trinity Cathedral, as well as travelling to various places throughout the United States and Canada.

Bishop John retired in the late 1970s and died on Palm Sunday in 1982, with his adopted son, Archpriest Sergei Garklavs, becoming the custodian of the icon, caring for it in his home

In 2003, over a decade after the fall of communism, the momentous decision was made to return the precious icon to post-Soviet Russia, in accordance with Archbishop John’s stipulation, with the return journey taking a year as the icon travelled from place to place across North America, before the final journey to Russia, with Tikhvin as the final destination for the homecoming of the wonderworking icon of the Mother of God.

The chronicles and journeys of this wonderworking icon, bare witness to a changing world – of wars, conflict divisions and hardship, but the return to its former place of sanctuary, in Tikhvin, is a powerful witness to the possibility of restoration and reconciliation, with the Mother of God overseeing the preservation and return of her wonderworking icon, as the distrust and enmity of the Cold War was replaced with a new era and a new relationship between peoples on different side of a great geo-political divide.

In the present conflicts and re-emerging rifts and sad return of east-west divisions, we should turn to the Mother of God as mediatrix and the Mother of reconciliation: to soften human hearts, to bestow reason and understanding, to be a guide and healer of division, a dispeller of fear and the hope of Christians.

Kontakion of the Icon, Tone 8: O ye people, let us make haste to the Virgin Theotokos and Queen, giving thanks to Christ our God; and gazing with compunction at her miraculous icon, let us fall down and cry out to her: O Mary our Mistress, visiting this land in the miraculous appearance of thy precious icon, save our Orthodox hierarchs and all Christians in peace and prosperity, showing us to be inheritors of the life of heaven. For to thee do we cry with faith: Rejoice, O Virgin, salvation of the world!

June 8/21: The Life and Canon to St Theodore the General

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June 8/21: The feast of the translation of the relics of St Theodore the General.

The Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates (the General) came from the city of Euchaita in Asia Minor. He was endowed with many talents, and was handsome in appearance. For his charity God enlightened him with the knowledge of Christian truth. The bravery of the saintly soldier was revealed after he, with the help of God, killed a giant serpent living on a precipice in the outskirts of Euchaita. The serpent had devoured many people and animals, terrorizing the countryside. St Theodore armed himself with a sword and vanquished it, glorifying the name of Christ among the people.

For his bravery St Theodore was appointed military commander [stratelatos] in the city of Heraclea, where he combined his military service with preaching the Gospel among the pagans subject to him. His gift of persuasion, reinforced by his personal example of Christian life, turned many from their false gods. Soon, nearly all of Heraclea had accepted Christianity.

During this time the emperor Licinius (311-324) began a fierce persecution against Christians. In an effort to stamp out the new faith, he persecuted the enlightened adherents of Christianity, who were perceived as a threat to paganism. Among these was St Theodore. Licinius tried to force St Theodore to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. The saint invited Licinius to come to him with his idols so both of them could offer sacrifice before the people.

Blinded by his hatred for Christianity, Licinius trusted the words of the saint, but he was disappointed. St Theodore smashed the gold and silver statues into pieces, which he then distributed to the poor. Thus he demonstrated the vain faith in soulless idols, and also displayed Christian charity.

St Theodore was arrested and subjected to fierce and refined torture. He was dragged on the ground, beaten with iron rods, had his body pierced with sharp spikes, was burned with fire, and his eyes were plucked out. Finally, he was crucified. Varus, the servant of St Theodore, barely had the strength to write down the incredible torments of his master.

God, however, in His great mercy, willed that the death of St Theodore should be as fruitful for those near him as his life was. An angel healed the saint’s wounded body and took him down from the cross. In the morning, the imperial soldiers found him alive and unharmed. Seeing with their own eyes the infinite might of the Christian God, they were baptized not far from the place of the unsuccessful execution.

Thus St Theodore became “like a day of splendor” for those pagans dwelling in the darkness of idolatary, and he enlightened their souls “with the bright rays of his suffering.” Unwilling to escape martyrdom for Christ, St Theodore voluntarily surrendered himself to Licinius, and discouraged the Christians from rising up against the torturer, saying, “Beloved, halt! My Lord Jesus Christ, hanging upon the Cross, restrained the angels and did not permit them to take revenge on the race of man.”

Going to execution, the holy martyr opened up the prison doors with just a word and freed the prisoners from their bonds. People who touched his robe were healed instantly from sicknesses, and freed from demonic possession. By order of the emperor, St Theodore was beheaded by the sword. Before his death he told Varus, “ Do not fail to record the day of my death, and bury my body in Euchaita.” He also asked to be remembered each year on this date. Then he bent his neck beneath the sword, and received the crown of martyrdom which he had sought. This occurred on February 8, 319, on a Saturday, at the third hour of the day.

St Theodore is regarded as the patron saint of soldiers.

OCA.org 2/21/2014

The canon of the Great-Martyr, the acrostic whereof is: “With divine praises I hymn thee who art the namesake of divine gifts,” the composition of Theophanes, in Tone IV

Ode I, Irmos: Having traversed the depths of the Red Sea with dryshod feet, Israel of old vanquished the might of Amalek in the wilderness by Moses’ arms stretched out in the form of the Cross.

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

A martyr manifestly adorned with splendors, thou dost stand before Christ the Benefactor, arrayed by Him, for thou art the namesake of divine gifts, O martyr Theodore.

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

Armed with the divine weaponry of faith, thou didst steadfastly cut down the soul-destroying ­legions of the enemy, O Theodore; and as victor thou hast been crowned with the martyrs.

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

Showing forth the splendid courage of thy soul before the ungodly emperor, O divinely wise one, thou didst put him to shame by the wisdom of thy words and the grace of thy deeds, O Theodore.

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

By the will of the Father and through the divine Spirit thou didst conceive the Son of God without seed, and didst give birth in the flesh unto Him Who was begotten of the Father without mother, and Who for our sake was born of thee without father.

Ode III, Irmos: Thy Church rejoiceth in Thee, O Christ, crying aloud: Thou art my strength, O Lord, my refuge and my consolation!

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

Like a mighty commander thou didst vanquish the legion of the ungodly, and didst trample down all the wiles of the pernicious serpent.

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

In that thou wast earnest of soul, O glorious one, with pious intent thou didst destroy the adulterous temples of the ungodly.

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

With force of mind didst thou endure the assaults of the cruel foe, emulating the life-creating death of the Judge of the contest.

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

O Mother of God, in manner transcending nature thou alone hast become the mediatress of blessings for those on earth. Wherefore, we cry to thee: Rejoice!

Sessional hymn, Tone VIII, Spec. Mel. “Of the Wisdom…”: Having put on the armor of God and destroyed the falsehood of idolatry, thou didst move the angels to praise thy struggles; for, having set thy mind afire with divine love, thou didst manfully endure a fiery death. Wherefore, true to thy name, thou bestowest divine gifts upon those who ask, O passion-bearer Theodore; for which cause we cry out to thee: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins to those who lovingly honor thy memory.

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.

Theotokion: Having fallen into the subtle temptations of enemies, visible and invisible, beset by the tempest of my countless offenses, I flee to the haven of thy goodness, O pure one, as to my fervent assistance and protection. Wherefore, O all-pure one, ­earnestly entreat Him Who was incarnate of thee without seed in behalf of all thy servants who unceasingly pray to thee, O all-pure Theotokos, ever beseeching Him to grant remission of our offenses unto us who hymn thy glory as is meet.

Stavrotheotokion (replaces the Theotokion on Wednesdays and Fridays): The Virgin and Mother of Jesus, beholding the Creator upon the Tree, groaned, weeping, and was smitten with grief, her soul and body rent asunder, smiting herself, crying out to Him bitterly, and lifting up her voice: “Woe is me, O my Son! How can I endure Thy passion, the nails and the spear, I who without pain gave Thee birth? But haste Thou to arise, that I may see Thee, my Son and God, that my lamentation and pain may cease, and that they who hymn Thy sufferings may receive remission of their offenses.”

Ode IV, Irmos: Beholding Thee lifted up upon the Cross, O Sun of righteousness, the Church stood rooted in place, crying out as is meet: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

Thou didst wound the serpent who wished to wound thee, and by thy steadfast opposition thou didst show thyself to be a martyr, earnestly chanting unto Him Who gave thee strength: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

Having laid waste to thy flesh with many wounds, thou didst set thy mind immovable, O thrice-blessed one, chanting earnestly unto Him Who gave thee strength: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

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

Thou didst adorn thyself, joining thine honored sufferings to the sufferings of the Master, O all-wise one, and thou wast vouchsafed His radiance and longed-for beauty.

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

Without tasting of wedlock thou gavest birth, O Virgin, and after thy birthgiving thou wast shown to be a virgin still. Wherefore, unceasingly and with steadfast faith we cry out to thee, O Mistress: Rejoice!

Ode V, Irmos: Thou hast come, O my Lord, as a light into the world: a holy light turning from the darkness of ignorance those who hymn Thee with faith.

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

With the shedding of the blood of thy flesh thou didst put an end to the blood offered to the demons unto destruction, O invincible Theodore.

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

O, the pious demeanor! O, the noble mind! O, the most fervent faith of the honored athlete, whereby he acquired God!

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

Possessed of a mind illumined by the light of God, thou didst cast into darkness the serpent, the champion of evil, O God-bearing Theodore.

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

Thee do we wield as an invincible weapon against the enemy; thee have we acquired as the confirmation and hope of our salvation, O Bride of God.

Ode VI, Irmos: I will sacrifice to Thee with a voice of praise, O Lord, the Church crieth unto Thee, cleansed of the blood of demons by the blood which, for mercy’s sake, flowed from Thy side.

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

Stretched out upon a cross and transfixed with nails, presenting an image of the saving Passion of the Creator, O blessed one, thou didst with bold ardor vanquish those who are cast down.

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

When thou wast imprisoned in the dungeon, lawfully contesting, Christ appeared unto thee, raising thee up to feats of battle against the enemy, in that He is the Judge of the contest, O all-glorious one.

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

To Him Who willingly offered Himself as a sacrifice for thy sake didst thou bring thyself as a sacrifice pure, holy and unblemished, O passion-bearer Theodore.

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

O wonder greatest of all wonders! As Virgin thou didst without knowing man conceive in thy womb Him Who sustaineth all things, yet didst not confine Him therein.

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

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

Kontakion, Tone II, Spec. Mel. “Seeking the highest…”: Arrayed in faith with manliness of soul, and taking in hand the word of God as a spear, thou didst vanquish the enemy, O Theodore, great among the martyrs. With them cease thou never to entreat Christ God in behalf of us all.

Ikos: Come, all ye faithful, and with wreaths of hymnody let us crown Theodore, the most radiant adornment of athletes; for in the splendor of his miracles he is shown to be God’s great gift to the world. Having vanquished Belial the enemy by his honored sufferings, he sendeth down as dew streams of healings with the drops of his blood. In all these things doth Christ rejoice, and He granteth everlasting peace. Wherefore, we cry out to the martyr: Pray thou unceasingly for us all!

Ode VII, Irmos: The children of Abraham in the Persian furnace, afire with love of piety more than with the flame, cried out: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

In the furnace of thy struggles didst thou utterly consume the fuel of impiety, O glorious martyr, and thou wast a beacon of piety, chanting: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

As a commander wise and sober in deed, thou didst prevail over the senseless and ungodly emperor; and, strengthened by the power of the Spirit, thou didst show him to be powerless.

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

By the praises of thy greatness is the law overcome; for with the most radiant effulgence of torment didst thou shine forth, O Theodore, crying out to thy Master: Blessed is the might of Thy dominion!

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

Rejoice, O divine and sanctified habitation of the Most High, for through thee, O Theotokos, hath joy been imparted to those who cry: Blessed art thou among women, O all-immaculate Mistress!

Ode VIII, Irmos: Stretching forth his hands, Daniel shut the lions’ mouths in the pit; and the young lovers of piety, girded about with virtue, quenched the power of the fire, crying out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

“Trusting in Thee, Who for my sake didst endure the Cross and death, I have been lifted up upon a cross, O Master, and am pierced by arrows and am touched by grievous wounds, O Lord,” thou didst cry out amid thy suffering, O noble-minded martyr Theodore.

Holy Great-Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

Rejoicing, thou didst offer thyself as a pure sacrifice to thy Creator, O Theodore, and translated to the kingdom of heaven, O glorious one, with the martyrs thou dost ever cry out in sacred manner: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

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

Like a lily, like a noetic rose, dost thou perfume us with the sweet savor of thy sufferings, ever dispelling the stench of our passions with grace, and constraining us to sing with fragrant souls: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

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

Thou alone among all generations wast shown to be the Mother of God, O most pure Virgin. Thou was not consumed by the fire of the unapproachable Light. Wherefore, we all bless thee, O Mary, thou Bride of God.

Ode IX, Irmos: Christ, the Chief Cornerstone uncut by human hands, Who united the two disparate natures, was cut from thee, the unquarried mountain, O Virgin. Wherefore, in gladness we magnify thee, O Theotokos.

Holy Great Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

Adorned by thy sufferings, abiding and rejoicing with the assemblies of the blessed and the choirs of martyrs, thou now standest, crowned, before Him Whom thou didst desire, O Theodore.

Holy Great Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

Caught up to the heights of heaven, having spurned earthly things, thou wast accounted worthy of the end for which thou didst long, receiving the very perfection of desires, rejoicing, O Theodore.

Holy Great Martyr, Theodore Stratelates, pray to God for us.

Having boldness before God, as a noble and wise athlete ask thou remission of offenses for us who praise thee with love, delivering us all from sufferings and sorrows.

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

The divinely wise martyr, desiring Thee alone, the immortal Word, Who suffered and died in the flesh, having received Thine immortality, hath made his abode in the heavens, in the presence of Thee, the almighty Creator of all.

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

Come ye all, and with faith and love let us unceasingly praise the blessed Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, having on her account received joy everlasting.

Troparion, in Tone IV: Through true recruitment didst thou become a most comely general of the heavenly King, O passion-bearer Theodore; for with the weaponry of faith thou didst wisely array thyself, didst vanquish legions of demons and didst show thyself forth as a victorious athlete. Wherefore, we ever bless thee with faith.

THE WEEK OF ALL SAINTS & THE APOSTLES’ FAST

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Dear brothers and sisters,

Given that today is the beginning of the Apostles’ Fast, I should have sent out the weekly parish news last night – as a reminder – but after the rigours of the previous four days I was falling asleep whilst at the computer.

Having celebrated the Sunday of All Saints in Cardiff yesterday, we now have the month long Apostle’s Fast until the feast of the Holy Chief Apostles, Peter and Paul, on 29 June / 12 July (at least for those following the Patristic Calendar).

We should be reducing our food to one formal meal a day, and remember that it is both normal and fine to have periods of hunger during fasting periods.

During the coming week, our food is vegan until the weekend, when fish is permitted, and the typikon envisages:

Monday: By monastic charter, strict fast (bread, vegetables, fruits)

Tuesday: Food with oil, wine permitted.

Wednesday: By monastic charter, strict fast (bread, vegetables, fruits)

Thursday: Food with oil, wine permitted.

Friday: By monastic charter, strict fast (bread, vegetables, fruits)

Saturday: Fish wine and oil permitted

Sunday: Fish wine and oil permitted

We should fast as strictly as possible, with the fasting guidelines as our ideal, though some of our parishioners have health issues that have been discussed, so that economia can be applied and blessed. Strictly keeping to the rules, particular regarding no oil on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays may be unsustainable for some parishioners for domestic and practical reasons, but those who can keep to this are encouraged to do so. However, there is no excuse for wine and alcohol when it is not allowed by the typikon.

As I have stressed many times – it is not our local tradition to eat shell-fish and sea-food (whatever happens in other local Churches), as there is nothing particularly ascetical about sitting down to a sea-food risotto, octopus stew or pan-fried squid. The fast should be a challenge, and monotony is totally acceptable. In the fast, we eat to live, NOT to enjoy – even tough we find ourselves enjoying the simplest foods and realising the joy of what is simple and basic.

A major problem in the “Lesser” Fasts, is keeping spiritual momentum, and making them a time of spiritual growth and focus when they do not have the clear thematic shape of the other fasting seasons of the year. Having celebrated the Sunday of All Saints, it would be good for us to do what I touched upon in my homily, and use this period to connect with the saints, ensuring that we read the life of one of the daily saints EVERY day during the fast, and chant their troparion and kontakion. As well as this, we might make our spiritual reading-matter hagiographical, putting aside other books so that we may read longer lives of the saints – for which there are so many wonderful books available.

Lets ensure that we don’t just drift through this fasting period aimlessly and casually. Seize the opportunity to invigorate spiritual life, through the prayers and examples of the saints. Be inspired and act!

After the busy-ness of the last week, I shall be trying to rest a little in the week ahead, with confessions on Thursday (email requests by Wednesday noon, please) and Deacon Mark and I will be celebrating the Liturgy in Cheltenham on Saturday, with the Hours at 10:00 and the Liturgy at 10:30. We are still worshipping in Prestbury United Reformed Church – Deep St, Cheltenham, GL52 3AW.

I would like to remind parishioners that those communing of the Holy Mysteries should be in church from the beginning of the Liturgy, and that the Gospel is the traditional ‘absolute’ cut-off point for communicants. I appreciate that some parishioners are making long-journeys and some are at the mercy of public transport, which often goes wrong, so economia is applied. However, parishioners living in Cardiff have little or no excuse to be arriving at Liturgy after the beginning of the service.

One of our sisters is kindly making small prosphora to offer for commemorations at Liturgy, as in the local East Slavic Churches it is the tradition to offer one or two loaves with our lists of names or commemoration books. Though the vast majority of our commemorations are made before the arrival of the faithful, due to times restrictions, this does not prevent the offering of prosphora – traditionally one for the living and one for the departed. We need to get into the habit of this everyday liturgical practice.

Finally, an immense thank you to those who have worked so hard over the weekend – particularly for our pilgrimage. Everything was a wonderful offering to the Lord, given with joy and gladness.

May He bless those who laboured so willingly for the parish as His chosen flock, to His praise and glory, and in honour of His favoured daughter, St Melangell. May she intercede for us.

With love in Christ – Hieromonk Mark

PENNANT MELANGELL – REFLECTIONS ON PILGRIMAGE

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There are few things better for deepening parish spiritual life and the bonds of spiritual kinship than pilgrimages, with their shared journeys, common prayer and Liturgy, eating together and making one another cups of tea, chatting, discussing spiritual matters, sharing life’s challenges, helping one another, motivating one another, and even enduring one another – snoring, funny little mannerisms, and sometimes irritating habits: all making for deepening human relationships, as well as the divine-human relationship in a powerful and palpable way.

The tangible blessings, shared joy, common strength and developing shared spiritual-identity, all eclipse the plethora of virtual Orthodox projects that characterise an internet-Orthodoxy, which, in some cases, is becoming a dangerous and deceptive surrogate for the experiential reality of the Church – with physical contact with people in the flesh; shared spiritual experience in the same place; and the physical and localised reality of the Holy Mysteries celebrated in a real setting, at arms’ length from one another in the physically manifest sobornost of the Church.

The act of pilgrimage, as an expression of the solidarity and shared Faith of a community requires the investment of time, effort, and resources.

It demands arrangements with destinations, planning services, pilgrim activities and meals, journey routes, possibly accommodation, and coordinating the pilgrims.

It requires packing cars with the multitude of things needed for Liturgy, possibly sleeping bags and tents with the whole paraphernalia of camping, changes of clothes, groceries, bug-spray and first aid kits… and so much more.

It has a cost that necessitates going out of our comfort zone, and is no quick and easy or tick-box exercise. And… through all of this, working together, we receive such blessings from God.

Over the last five months, our parish pilgrimages – to Llandaff, on our doorstep, Llanthony and Capel-y-ffin, Mathern and Tintern, Glastonbury and Pennant Melangell have spiritually strengthened our parish, as well as uniting us with friends who travel from afar.

This weekend’s pilgrimage brought friends from Poole and Cambridge – people willing to make long and tiring journeys to worship God and honour the saints. Even some regular parishioners had to travel from Wiltshire and Somerset to honour St Melangell, whose feast fell on Friday according to the Patristic Calendar, and which we celebrated a day late, on Saturday.

Our Deacon, constantly reminds the community that spiritual life is never meant to be easy or convenient, but that it demands effort, sacrifice and the endurance of inconvenience and hardship. We are never in doubt that our Cardiff ROCOR parishioners accept this, given the number travelling from the Forest of Dean, Mid-Gloucestershire, Bath and Wiltshire, but the wonderful experience of the weekend made this even clearer – with nineteen pilgrims travelling from South Wales and Wessex on a long and winding journey into the depths of Montgomery, in order to honour St Melangell in her ancient sanctuary and to celebrate her feast.

What a wonderful celebration it was, though our Liturgy was very simple, compared to our usual rather more imposing Liturgies: only one priest, one oltarnik, one singer and one reader – but, all supported by the prayers of the other pilgrims.

Most of those present had prepared to receive the Holy Mysteries and made their confessions before and during the Hours.

It was a joy to chant the hymns to St Melangell and celebrate the Liturgy in the once-wild place of her God-centred life, where the labours of eremitical reclusion and its spiritual fruits made her an earthly angel and a heavenly woman.

Our celebration and joyful fellowship spilled out into the churchyard, where our sisters arranged a table for a picnic lunch, with warm conversation (chilled wine and hot tea!) and we were well-aware of the growing bond between regular pilgrims, who want to be together and enjoy being together – to share lives, Faith, time, labours and energy within the context of the spiritual family of our parish.

This will no doubt continue, month after month, as we make further pilgrimages to holy places, whether on our doorstep or further away, bringing us closer to one another, closer to the saints, and – above all – closer to God, whose Presence makes the holy places of His saints His sanctuaries: places of encounter, where the foretaste of His Kingdom calls us to follow in the footsteps of the saints: to live in a way that challenges the world, and to be holy to the Lord.