Dear brothers and sisters,

Greetings on this feast of the Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple, on which the joy and deep spiritual significance of this feast was reflected in our parish’s return and “entry” into Nazareth House after two over two years away.

It felt like the Mother of God was leading us in our own entrance into the sanctuary as we celebrated her ascent into the haikal – the Holy of Holies in the Temple at Jerusalem.

There was a profound sense of the direction and care of the Mother of God when we first arrived in Colum Rd for the feast of the Protecting Veil five years ago, and when we moved to Newman Hall after the lockdown, the presence of the Mother of God could be felt profoundly in the life of the parish.

When the parish no longer had use of Newman Hall, it was during the days of this feast in 2020 that Mother Frances so warmly and kindly offered the use of St John’s Church in Canton, and two years on the feast has seen our return to Nazareth House. The Mother of God, the Hodegitria – “she who shows the way” – continues to show us the way in our rather itinerant parish-life in the city.

Today’s Liturgy was a great blessing, with those who worshipped in Nazareth House in the past happy to be back, but for many in the congregation worship in the convent church was a new experience. Many members of our community arrived when we were worshipping in the refectory of Newman Hall or after our arrival at St John’s, so it was a joy and pleasure to welcome them to Nazareth House.

Not only were we able set up for Liturgy last night, but the Sisters requested that the shrines containing the principal icons were moved to the chancel arch so that the residents would have the icons of the Saviour and the Mother of God before them.

As the residents’ service is now in the morning, I performed the proskomedia tucked away in the nuns’ choir whilst the daily mass was celebrated in the body of the church, and then heard confessions during the chanting of the Hours.

It must be said that we were not simply invited to come back to Nazareth House, but proactively encouraged to do so, and we appreciate the openness and warmth of the new senior sister, Sister Anna Maria, and the wonderful friendship between the parish and Sisters Aquinas and Marie, not forgetting the ongoing support of the Fathers of the Oratory who remain chaplains in Nazareth House and benefactors of our parish.

The next few weeks will no doubt see our arrangements evolve as we re-accustom ourselves to life in the convent church, and our timings and arrangements settle down. There are, of course, parishioners who need to catch up with our move, though the Liturgy was well attended, with lots of communicants whom we congratulate on their reception of the Holy Mysteries!

As we will be celebrating our Cheltenham Liturgy on Saturday, the feast of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign, I will hear confessions on Thursday this week (travel on Friday evening being a gamble before such an early start the following morning). May I have confession requests by noon on Wednesday please. I will not be making last minute arrangements for late requests, as there will simply be no time, so please observe the cut-off point.

Sunday confessions will be for those travelling from afar and for those without transport locally. All worked very well this morning, and I must thank all who confessed for being so mindful of the limitations of time. 

I am very happy that we will also celebrate a moleben to the Mother of God in honour of her Kursk-Root Icon at the end of Sunday Liturgy, grateful for the blessing of the Mother of God in the visit of her wonderworking icon earlier in the year.

This wonderful icon sums up the wonder of the Nativity Fast, as we contemplate the Incarnate Saviour within the womb of His mother, beheld long before by the Holy Prophets who surround the Virgin and Child in the holy icon.

We contemplate the silent days of waiting, when divine-humanity was hidden within the womb of the Theotokos who had been prepared for the wonder of the Incarnation and the Cave of Bethlehem from her childhood years, when she was led into the Holy of Holies and nurtured and taught in the sanctuary of the Temple by the angels of God.

Looking upon her icon, with the Saviour-Emmanuel dwelling within her, we behold her as the Ark of the Covenant, whose presence in the Holy of Holies restored what was lost and missing in the second Temple but restored in her Entrance; we behold her as the Golden Ark who contained Christ the Heavenly Manna, who gives Himself as the Bread of Heaven; we behold her a the Ark containing Christ who is not only the living Law, but the Giver of the Law; we behold her as the Mercy Seat, who bore Yahweh, Christ the Lord; we behold her as the Golden-Lampstand who would bear the Light of the World; as the Table of Shewbread, who would give birth the Lord who is the Bread of the Presence in every Eucharist; we behold her as the great Altar who bears Christ, the supreme sacrifice, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world; we behold her as the laver who contains Christ the Living Water through Whom we are cleansed, and through whom we shall never thirst.

Whilst the old Israel, blind to the fulfillment of the prophecies and the coming of the Messiah still longs for the building of a third Temple, as the new Israel of God, we know that the third Temple has already been spiritually built in the person of the Theotokos, and that with the completion of this Temple “built”, formed and adorned whilst the Most Holy Mother of God dwelt in the Holy of Holies, the Messiah has already visited and redeemed His people – and we look forward to our yearly celebration of His entrance into the world in the glorious feast of the Nativity.

In the meantime, let us purify ourselves by prayer and fasting, as we make our spiritual journey to Nativity, making our way to the altar of Nazareth House to meet the Lord Emmanuel, God with us, in His perpetual giving of Himself to us as we experience the sacramental foretaste of the Kingdom of Heaven.

May God bless you and give you good strength in this Nativity Fast, the Advent of His Coming in the flesh. Let us prepare and make ready!

“The time of our salvation draws near. Make ready, O cave! The Virgin draws near to bear the Christ. Be glad and rejoice, O Bethlehem, land of Judah, for our Lord has come from thee! Hearken, O mountains and hills, ye lands around Judea, or Christ, the Lover of man, is coming to save those whom He created!”  

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

Dear brothers and sisters,

After clarifying a few issues regarding access to the convent church, this afternoon happily saw the movement of things needed for Liturgy from St John’s to Nazareth House, so confessions were not heard as they usually would be on Friday – though this will continue in future weeks.

Many thanks to Norman, Georgina and Alexander for their labours, and to Sisters Aquinas and Marie for welcoming us back to our former parish-home –Nazareth House, Colum Rd, Cardiff CF10 3UN – where access to the church if through the street door and up the stairs. Those needing to use the lift should liaise with Deacon Mark, and should be aware that masks must be worn when accessing the church through the ground floor of the care home.

As I have to travel home on public transport tomorrow (which is always something of a lottery) we will simply set up church for Liturgy and I will hear confessions before an uncertain homeward journey. So, there will unfortunately be no evening service tomorrow, even though it is the eve of a Great Feast. However, we shall resume afternoon services in future weeks, though this will be earlier than previously, as I am no longer staying on site and we must vacate the church by 19:00.

I have emailed those who have asked for confessions tomorrow, and must stress that this Sunday morning will be extremely pressurised regarding remaining confessions, so I will only be able to hear confessions for those who have prepared for communion, and these will be limited to five minutes. This is less of a problem when we have a second priest, but that is the exception.

We have advertised 10:30 as the time for Liturgy, but as we are resuming in a slightly unknown situation we must be honest in saying that this is something of a “guesstimation”. Please be patient whilst we find what works best.

This Sunday is the feast of the Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple, and the variables for the service may be found at:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1T8BXpDwkfFLMl8GwynyevkEvNwBIWK89/view

We look forward to celebrating our first Liturgy on such a special weekend.

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

​Dear brothers and sisters,

Having celebrated the feast of St Alexander Nevsky, we send our greetings to the younger Alexander amongst our oltarniky, as he celebrates his name day, wishing him many, blessed years.

As you know, the parish clergy have had a very busy few days in London, where the clergy of the diocese met in convocation, celebrating the vigil and Liturgies together, hearing one another’s confessions, praying, and participating in meetings.

As well as our bishops – Irenei and Alexandre – and the British clergy, we had priests and deacons from Ireland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Italy: some recently ordained, some ordained a half-century ago. The occasion was a great celebration of the spirituality, life and identity of our Russian Church Outside of Russia and its maintenance of sacred Tradition amidst apostasy and renovationism.

Our profound thanks go to Bishop Irenei, to our chancellor the Archpriest Paul, and to the starosta, sisterhood and faithful of the cathedral parish for their hospitality. My personal thanks go to our Deacon, Father Mark, who drove us to London, organised accommodation, and represented the community so well as he served with reverence and exactitude at the heart of every service.

Having returned to Wales, today’s Liturgy marked our last regular Sunday service in Canton, though we hope to return for some great feasts, so that we are able to share trapeza together. Next week will see our first liturgy in Nazareth House since lockdown, and will begin at 10:30.

For those who are unfamiliar with the setting, the convent church is at the Blackweir end of Colum Rd, close to the junction with North Rd. The entrance is from the street, and the church is upstairs. Those needing to use the lift should contact us, so that we may arrange access, but as this is through the ground floor of Nazareth House a mask must be worn to protect vulnerable residents.

Having taken the vestments, today, we will move our other possessions later in the week, and I hope to announce a service for Saturday evening (with the opportunity to hear confessions once I have spoken to the sisters over the next day or two).

Today’s Liturgy was the first celebration on the new antimins, recently consecrated by Bishop Irenei, and our old antimins, with their link to Metropolitan Hilarion, will be framed to be venerated amongst our icons.

It was lovely to welcome friends of the community, some of whom we know from the Romanian parish, as well as welcoming visitors from Cheltenham and more Ukrainian brothers and sisters – communing plenty of children, who filled St John’s with joy and energy during trapeza.

Looking out at the Great Entrance, the clergy were greeted with the sight of British, Serbian, Russian, Ukrainian, Hungarian and Greek faithful – all united in Faith and the celebration of the Holy Mysteries. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

At the end of Liturgy, we sang Many Years for the newly ordained priest, Mark Tattum-Smith, a dear friend of many of us in the parish, who was ordained in the cathedral this morning. We also chanted mnogaya leta to our own Deacon Mark, who celebrated his third anniversary of ordination last Thursday. Many years, dear Fathers!

After the service, we celebrated a litia for the soul of the departed handmaiden of God, Liudmilla, on the anniversary of her repose, as well as remembering the newly departed Andrzej and Sara. Memory eternal!

During trapeza, I was happy to see our oltarnik, Oswald, continuing to supply the icon-needs of our parishioners, personally returning to Llanelli with the icon “Let us who mystically represent the cherubim…”, my first personal ‘on request’ order.

I have already received a few requests for confession on Saturday, and will also look to hearing Friday confessions. Please contact me by Wednesday bedtime so that necessary arrangements can be made.

Remember that tomorrow is the beginning of the Advent Fast and check the calendar re: the daily fasting rules. Above all, fast from sin and disobedience, imitating Christ and serving Him obediently, with joy, humility and love. This is more important than what you eat and drink! Seek forgiveness and forgive, eat less, pray more, and read the scriptures and the lives of the saints to strengthen you on this spiritual journey to Bethlehem and the Lord’s Nativity.

Asking your forgiveness, for Christ’s sake, I wish you a good struggle in the spiritual arena of the fast. Kalo stadio!

May God bless you.

In Christ – Fr Mark

Dear brothers and sisters,

It was only on receiving news of the ill-health of one of our parishioners, that it struck me that many of our newer parishioners and converts to Holy Orthodoxy may be unaware of the intercessory help of the Holy Great Hieromartyr Antipas of Pergamum for those suffering from dental problems. For centuries the Slav faithful have turned to St Antipas for help in times of physical pain and affliction.

I have posted the life of the saints from oca.org and also attach the canon to St Antipas, who is commemorated on April 11.

The Hieromartyr Antipas, a disciple of the holy Apostle John the Theologian (September 26), was bishop of the Church of Pergamum during the reign of the emperor Nero (54-68).

During these times, everyone who would not offer sacrifice to the idols lived under threat of either exile or execution by order of the emperor. On the island of Patmos (in the Aegean Sea) the holy Apostle John the Theologian was imprisoned, he to whom the Lord revealed the future judgment of the world and of Holy Church.

“And to the angel of the Church of Pergamum write: the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. I know where you live, where the throne of Satan is, and you cleave unto My Name, and have not renounced My faith, even in those days when Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells” (Rev 2:12-13).

By his personal example, firm faith and constant preaching about Christ, Saint Antipas began to turn the people of Pergamum from offering sacrifice to idols. The pagan priests reproached the bishop for leading the people away from their ancestral gods, and they demanded that he stop preaching about Christ and offer sacrifice to the idols instead.

Saint Antipas calmly answered that he was not about to serve the demons that fled from him, a mere mortal. He said he worshiped the Lord Almighty, and he would continue to worship the Creator of all, with His Only-Begotten Son, and the Holy Spirit. The pagan priests retorted that their gods existed from of old, whereas Christ was not from of old but was crucified under Pontius Pilate as a criminal. The saint replied that the pagan gods were the work of human hands and that everything said about them was filled with iniquities and vices. He steadfastly confessed his faith in the Son of God, incarnate of the Most Holy Virgin.

The enraged pagan priests dragged the Hieromartyr Antipas to the temple of Artemis and threw him into a red-hot copper bull, where usually they put the sacrifices to the idols. In the red-hot furnace the martyr prayed loudly to God, imploring Him to receive his soul and to strengthen the faith of the Christians. He went to the Lord peacefully, as if he were going to sleep (+ ca. 68).

At night Christians took the body of the Hieromartyr Antipas, which was untouched by the fire. They buried him at Pergamum. The tomb of the hieromartyr became a font of miracles and of healings from various sicknesses.

We pray to the Hieromartyr Antipas for relief from toothache, and diseases of the teeth.

The Canon of the Holy Hieromartyr Antipas of Pergamum, the acrostic whereof is: “I honour Antipas, radiant among the martyrs”, the composition of Joseph, in Tone IV:

Ode I, Irmos: Through the deep of the Red Sea, * marched dry shod Israel of old, * and by Moses’ outstretched hands, * raised in the form of a cross, * the power of Amalek was routed in the wilderness.

Holy Hieromartyr, Antipas, pray to God for us.

Illumined by the radiance of the grace of the threefold Sun, O martyr Antipas, do thou illumine those who celebrate thy radiant feastday, delivering us from the darkness of the passions.

Holy Hieromartyr, Antipas, pray to God for us.

The Word of God showed thee to be a true witness of His sufferings, O all-wise one, who hast destroyed impiety and vanquished all the wickedness of the demons.

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

Having mortified the wisdom of thy flesh with much asceticism, thou wast arrayed in the sacred vesture of the divine priesthood; and didst offer the un-bloody sacrifice of Him Who became mortal for thy sake.

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

With the radiance of thy light illumine my heart, which is mired in the night of passions and temptations, O all-immaculate Maiden, who ineffably shone forth the Sun of righteousness upon all.

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

Holy Hieromartyr, Antipas, pray to God for us.

Thou didst pour forth rivers of doctrine, giving drink to the faithful, and drying up the turbulent waters of polytheism.

Holy Hieromartyr, Antipas, pray to God for us.

Thou didst cut down the might of the persecutors by the might of Christ, O blessed one, and suffering patiently thou hast received the crown of martyrdom.

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

Thou didst enlighten those who worshiped demons to worship the true God Who, in the richness of His compassion, bore mortal flesh, O venerable one.

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

Thou hast given birth to the Redeemer Who hath delivered us all from the captivity of the enemy, O pure one. Wherefore, we piously glorify thee.

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

Sessional Hymn, in Tone III: Enkindled with the divine embers of the love of God, O martyr Antipas, thou didst quench the flame of ungodliness; and, thrust into a heated cauldron, thou didst depart into never-waning Light. O venerable father, entreat Christ God, that He grant us forgiveness of sins.

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

Theotokion, Tone III: Without separating Himself from the divine Essence when He took flesh in thy womb, the one Lord remained God though He had become a man; and even after thy birthgiving He preserved thee, His Virgin Mother, as immaculate as thou wast before giving birth. Him do thou earnestly beseech, that He grant us great mercy.

Ode IV, Irmos: Beholding Thee, the Sun of righteousness, * lifted up upon the cross, * the Church now standeth arrayed and doth worthily cry aloud: * Glory be to Thy power, O Lord.

Holy Hieromartyr, Antipas, pray to God for us.

The opposition of the most iniquitous ones did not shake the pillar of thy heart, O martyred passion-bearer; wherefore, aflame with zeal for the Faith, thou didst shown thyself to be mightier than fire.

Holy Hieromartyr, Antipas, pray to God for us.

Awakening those held fast by the slumber of impiety, O all-praised one, by the teachings of the Holy Spirit thou didst raise them up to the understanding of true knowledge.

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

Thou didst bring low the loftiness of the demons, yearning for God with exaltation, O Antipas, deified by divine ascents and known to be a God-seer.

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

Thou wast preserved after giving birth as thou wast before birthgiving, O incorrupt Virgin Mother; for thou hast given birth to the Creator of all, Who through thee voluntarily took upon Himself a human body.

Ode V, Irmos: Thou, O Lord, who camest into the world, * art my light, * a holy light turning from the darkness of ignorance * those who sing Thy praises in faith.

Holy Hieromartyr, Antipas, pray to God for us.

Thou didst ascend the mountain of the virtues, O blessed one, and noetically enter into the uttermost darkness, and there converse with God.

Holy Hieromartyr, Antipas, pray to God for us.

With the nets of thy words, O holy hierarch, thou didst draw forth from the abyss of ungodliness lost souls, and saved them by grace.

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

Thou gavest thy body over as food for the fire, O holy hierarch, richly receiving divine dew from God.

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

The Lord, Who is supremely divine in godly form, having assumed my form, made His abode within thy womb, O all-immaculate one.

Ode VI, Irmos: The church crieth out unto Thee O Lord, * ‘I will sacrifice unto Thee with a voice of praise’ * having been cleansed of the blood of the demons’ * by the blood that for mercy’s sake flowed from Thy side.

Holy Hieromartyr, Antipas, pray to God for us.

Having crucified thy members by asceticism and struggled in fasting, O blessed Antipas, thou wast crowned with the struggles of martyrdom, which thou didst undergo with firmness of mind.

Holy Hieromartyr, Antipas, pray to God for us.

Thou didst stand before the tribunal, preaching the incarnation of Him Who abased Himself for thy sake, Who stood before the tribunal of Pilate and hath slain the enemy by the Cross, O passion-bearer.

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

The Church, wherein thy patient body lieth, O blessed martyr, is a source of healing for the sick, emitting the divine effulgence of the gifts of the Spirit.

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

Holy is Jesus, O Virgin Maiden, Who made His abode within thy womb, and Who resteth in the saints and glorifieth those who glorify Him with true
faith.

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 IV: O most wise Antipas, the iniquitous consumed thee who tended well the sheep of God, with fire as a lamb of the flock of Christ the Chief Shepherd; and thou didst chant: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Ode VII, Irmos: In the Persian furnace the youths and descendants of Abraham, * burning with a love of piety * rather than by a flame of fire, * cried aloud saying: * Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord.

Holy Hieromartyr, Antipas, pray to God for us.

Emulating the three young children, O wise Antipas, thou didst stand in the midst of a cruelly heated brass vessel as they did in the midst of a furnace, crying aloud: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Holy Hieromartyr, Antipas, pray to God for us.

That thou mightest be shown to be a partaker of the Light, enlightened by God thou didst pass through the darkness of the evil demons, crying aloud: Blessed art Thou, O God my Lord!

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

Through the activity of the Spirit, O martyr Antipas, thou dost assuage the divers sufferings of men, emulating the sufferings of Christ, and crying aloud: Blessed art Thou, O God my Lord!

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

The Word, Who with the Father is unoriginate, was truly incarnate of thy virginal blood, O Maiden, setting aright our broken state. Blessed art thou among women, O most immaculate Sovereign Lady!

Ode VIII, Irmos: Having spread his hands, Daniel closed the lions jaws * in their den; * while the zealously pious youths, * girded with virtue, * quenched the power of the fire and cried aloud: * Bless ye the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

Holy Hieromartyr, Antipas, pray to God for us.

Now that thou beholdest the ultimate of good things, not in reflections or indistinct images, but face to face, transcending all shadows, thou dost cry out joyously to Him Who hath glorified thee: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Holy Hieromartyr, Antipas, pray to God for us.

O most wise Antipas, the iniquitous consumed thee who tended well the sheep of God, with fire as a lamb of the flock of Christ the Chief Shepherd; and thou didst chant: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

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

Thou didst set the feet of thy heart firmly upon the rock of the divine commandments, and the winds of cruel torments and the tempests of blandishments could not shake thee, O most wise Antipas, who chanted: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

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

As the Mother of the Creator of all, as the divine temple of the Almighty, as the unploughed ground which produced the uncultivated Grain, O Virgin Mother, preserve the faithful who cry: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Ode IX, Irmos: A cornerstone not cut by hand O Virgin, * was cut from thee the unhewn mountain: * even Christ, Who hath joined together the disparate natures; * therefore rejoicing we magnify thee, * O Theotokos.

Holy Hieromartyr, Antipas, pray to God for us.

As a hierarch thou didst finish the sacred race, most sacredly reaching the end of thy most sacred life, O holy hierarch, and, rejoicing, thou didst run to Him Who was beloved of thee, O most sacred martyr Antipas.

Holy Hieromartyr, Antipas, pray to God for us.

Being comely in aspects of the virtues, O most sacred one, thou wast sanctified by the glory of martyrdom, and didst pass over to the comely Lord, O God-pleaser, now deified by communion with Him.

Holy Hieromartyr, Antipas, pray to God for us.

Aflame with love for the Lord, O martyr Antipas, thou didst eagerly enter the heated vessel, and being wholly consumed, O father, thou didst offer thyself to God as a pleasing sacrifice.

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

The sacred shrine of thy sacred relics, O blessed one, poureth forth the myrrh of healings, dispelling the fetid passions and manifestly perfuming those who glorify thy memory.

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

Bearing in thine arms Christ Who beareth all things in His hand, O pure one, entreat Him as God and Master, that He take pity upon us who ever confess thee to be the pure Theotokos, O immaculate Lady.

Troparion, Tone IV: As thou didst share in the ways of the apostles * and didst occupy their throne, * thou didst find thine activity to be a passage to divine vision, * O divinely inspired one. * Wherefore, ordering the word of truth, * thou didst suffer for the Faith even to the shedding of thy blood, ** O Hieromartyr Antipas, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.

Another Troparion, Tone IV: Thou didst demolish the false idols, O Antipas, * and trampling underfoot the power of the devil, * thou didst boldly confess Christ in the face of those who fought against God. * Wherefore, dwelling in the highest with the ranks of the angels, * sending up glorification to the Master of all, * thou dost offer supplication of thanksgiving on our behalf, * granting us the grace of healing: * wherefore, we honour thee. O hieromartyr Antipas, ** entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved

On the fourth of this month [November], we commemorate the holy, glorious, divinely-crowned emperor John Doukas the Vatatzes and Merciful, born in Didymotheicho in the year 1193, and departed for the Lord in Nymphaeum, Magnesia in the year of our salvation 1254.

By St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite

Verses

Below thou didst bear a crown as emperor,

Above thou art now welcomed by the King, O glory!

+ + +

Having, O John, heaven as a dwelling place,

Thou meetest Constantine, the great the former emperor.

John met his end and hasteneth towards the perfect on the fourth.

The Christ-loving Emperor John had as his homeland the great city of Adrianople, whose ancestors were leaders of the royal senate. His grandfather Constantine, called the Vatatzes, was a military commander under Manuel Komnenos (1143–1180). When the parents of this emperor died, he inherited a great amount of wealth, which he distributed to the poor, and provided offerings to the divine temples and churches. He then went to Nymphaeum in Bithynia, where at that time the palace and seat of the emperor of Constantinople was located. There he found his paternal uncle, a clergyman of the priesthood, near Emperor Theodore Laskaris (1204–1221). Through his uncle, he became friends with the emperor. He was not full of pride due to this friendship however, but he always presented himself before others with humility. Wherefore he was loved by all, having a revered disposition, being sensible in life, and possessing a gladsome expression in his eyes. He was easily approachable to everyone, mild, guileless, calm, conversant

After his father-in-law Emperor Theodore died, the gracious John came to rule as emperor in 1222. He therefore became a fervent protector of all those who were unjustly treated, showing measure in justice. He also came to be known to all as a source of mercy, which is why he came to be called “Merciful.” Likewise he was known for his piety and zeal for the Orthodox faith. Wherefore the renowned one became the cause in his time for the Jewish race to be baptised. He also received zeal in his heart to bring about union between the Eastern Church and the Western, for which ambassadors were sent from Pope Gregory IX of Rome. And there was a dialogue between East and West, with the leader of this dialogue being Patriarch Germanos the New of Constantinople. And he would have brought about the longed for peace, if only the westerners were willing to retract the addition to the Symbol of Faith.

This merciful emperor heard a divine voice noetically say: “The crucified will rise, the boastful will fall, and the fallen and crushed will arise.” This strengthened him, and he set out to slaughter in single combat the boastful Sultan Azeddin, who upon leaving Iconium, razed the cities along the valley of Meander. Having governed therefore in a God-loving manner the ship of the universal kingdom, the thrice-blessed one delivered his soul in peace into the hands of God at the age of seventy-two, and his honourable body was buried in the Monastery of the Saviour Christ, which the emperor himself had built, and renamed Sosandra. Later, through a revelation of this same emperor, his holy body was transferred to the city of Magnesia.

A great miracle took place when his holy relic was transferred from this tomb and brought to Magnesia. For when his tomb was opened, a foul smell did not issue forth from it, but there came forth a fragrance and grace that was mixed with pleasure and sweetness, as if it was an aromatic and fragrant garden. And his corpse appeared as if it was seated on a royal throne, without having lost any limbs, having no bruises, or odour, or any sign of being dead. Despite the fact that he had been buried seven years before, it seemed as if he were alive, while his limbs moved naturally and his cheeks were pink. Even his royal robes were preserved as if they had been sewn that very day. In this way, God glorifies those who glorify Him. Since that time, this honourable relic which lies in Magnesia, has done many miracles, curing illnesses, exorcising demons, healing other sufferings as well, by the grace of God contained within, for all those who flee to him with faith.

Apolytikion in the First Tone: The radiant king and great boast of the faithful, the pride of Didymoteichou, let us honour John in hymns and spiritual odes, as we celebrate his memory, that we might richly be rewarded, crying out together: Glory to Christ Who glorified thee, glory to Him Who crowned thee, glory to Him Who grantest  us, through thee, healing for all.

Kontakion in the Fourth Tone: Today, John, the divine ruler, flees his earthly kingdom for the Kingdom of Heaven, leaving for eternity merrily.

Oikos: The Lord, Who foresaw before his birth the good nature of his soul, the uprightness of his heart, and his proclivity to choosing the good path, chose John Vatatzes to be ruler of the faithful. Having the name of mercy, and being arrayed with many graces, he now is alive in heaven, and after his death hath been shown forth to be a spring of wonders and a stream of healings, and he drives away the spirits of error. Therefore, having rightly and manfully completed his path in God, and having kept the faith, he flees for the Kingdom of Heaven, leaving for eternity merrily.

Dear brothers and sisters, the weekend and days before it have been rather different to our normal parish routine, given the unavailability of St John’s at the weekend.

After an early return from Glastonbury for a medical appointment, I was able to use the time at the end of the week to catch up with a few of our young parishioners, who are a joyful antidote to the ageing and aches and pains of the more ‘mature’ among us. Praise God for our young parishioners!

Confessions on Friday afternoon and evening preceded compline in St Mary’s, and I was glad to be able to spend the night in Cardiff before travelling to Cheltenham with Deacon Mark on Saturday.

Our Cheltenham Liturgies are always a great blessing and a source of joy, and the past Saturday was no different. Having not had a weekday Liturgy for St Demetrios, we ‘caught up’ and honoured the Holy Great-Martyr by our celebration, mindful that three of our young parishioners had venerated his sacred, myrrh-flowing relics in Thessaloniki only weeks before.

The sun shone through the chapel windows and bathed our Liturgy with great light and warmth, though the warmth of trapeza was just as great, as we gathered round the table welcoming those for whom the Liturgy was a first in Cheltenham. Our sisters provided a wonderful lunch, prepared with great care and love – introducing our non-Slavs to wonderful home made Ukrainain and Russian food. It was a blessing to have such a social and convivial time, extending the fellowship of the Liturgy to our agape meal, which is such an important part of community life.

With no Cardiff Liturgy on Sunday, some of our parishioners took the opportunity to worship with Father Sorin and our Romanian sister-parish, where they were welcomed with great warmth and were happy to share the Liturgy with friends, experiencing the Romanian spiritual tradition. Thanks go to Laura-Elena who translated Father’s sermon for our ROCORites. We thank all in the Romanian parish for their love in Christ: la mulți ani!

Here in Llanelli, Father Deacon Mark served the Liturgy with Father Luke, whilst I took to the kliros, quite enjoying a change of role, for once.

On such a sunny, warm day it was a joy to be in the little garden chapel with the small but friendly congregation, and to then enjoy a very warm and sociable meal together. I must admit that having a little free-time on a Sunday afternoon, praying and walking through a carpet of fallen leaves, was a rare and very welcome treat!

Today is the feast of the Holy Unmercenary Healers, Cosmas and Damian, and I encourage you to ask the intercessions of the Holy Healers for the sick – especially for the servants of God Nikolai, Vyacheslav, Aleksey, Vadim, Angela, Mary-Louisa, the child Sergei, the child Kyrill, and for the non-Orthodox relatives of our parishioners, Celine and Paul.

Given my ongoing health problems and the possibility of the arising need for unplanned appointments, we will not meet on Friday evening, though I will make myself available for confessions this week, and will be making some parish visits.

May I ask for confession requests by 22:00 on Wednesday, and I will communicate with parishioners to make arrangements on a suitable day and time.

May God bless you all, and I ask for your continued prayers.

In Christ – Fr Mark

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