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Monday 18th March 2024, 21:19
FROM THE HOMILY ON ADMONITION AND REPENTANCE: ST EPHREM THE SYRIANYou have a spiritual nature; the soul is the image of the Creator; honour the image of God, by being in agreement with all men. Remember death, and be not angry, that your peace be not of constraint. As long as your life remains to you, cleanse your soul from wrath; for if it should go to Sheol with you, your road will be straight to Gehenna. Keep not anger in your heart; hold not fury in your soul; you have not power over your soul, save to do that which is good. You are bought with the blood of God; you are redeemed by the passion of Christ; for your sake He suffered death, that you might die to your sins. His face endured spitting, that you might not shrink from scorn. Vinegar and gall did He drink, that you might be set apart from wrath. He received stripes on His body, that you might not fear suffering. If you are in truth His servant, fear your holy Lord; if you are His true disciple, walk in your Master's footsteps. Endure scorn from your brother, that you may be the companion of Christ. Display not anger against man, that you be not set apart from your Redeemer.
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Monday 18th March 2024, 16:16
17/03/2024 - Homily: A Journey of Obedience
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Monday 18th March 2024, 15:24
Dear brothers and sisters, Greetings on this first day of the Great Fast, and thanks to all who contributed to our weekend celebrations in Cheltenham and Cardiff. Having left maslenitsa behind, and having enjoyed sharing both food and one another’s company, we now enter into the Lenten season with a first week that is dominated by the words of the Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete....
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Parish News at the Beginning of Great Lent - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Dear brothers and sisters, Greetings on this first day of the Great Fast, and thanks to all who contributed to our weekend celebrations in Cheltenham and Cardiff. Having left maslenitsa behind, and ha...
Monday 18th March 2024, 15:04
The following is the text of a talk given in Great Lent, 2017, at the Lenten Pastoral Clergy Conference of the Eastern American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. The talk has been circulated widely on the internet over the years since through a transcript made of a recording at the conference; but we present here, with its author’s blessing, the complete text with notes and references.orthodox-europe.org/content/great-canon-repentant-heart/?fbclid=IwAR2f00W1jE1xnc1H8BSUIjG9Frx57_d...
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The Song of a Repentant Heart: The Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete | ROCOR Europe
Full text of a talk delivered in 2017 by Bishop Irenei on the history, liturgical use, and ascetical significance of the Great Canon of St Andrew.
Sunday 17th March 2024, 22:03
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. On this Forgiveness Sunday when we commemorate the casting out of Adam and Eve from Eden, we reflect on the fall and exile of the first-father and the first mother through their disobedience and rebellion against God, yet we do so on the threshold of the wonderful journey that leads us from this annual commemoration of the sorrow of banishment to the wonder of Pascha: the great sign and celebration of our salvation, and of our reconciliation with God through the Saviour’s life-giving passion and third-day resurrection....
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In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. On this Forgiveness Sunday when we commemorate the casting out of Adam and Eve from Eden, we reflect on the fall and exile of the fir...
Sunday 17th March 2024, 21:04
Saturday 16th March 2024, 14:21
18/02/2024 - Homily - Blessed Curiosity
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Saturday 16th March 2024, 14:21
25/02/2024 - Homily - Christ making Saints from Sinners
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Saturday 16th March 2024, 14:21
03/03/2024 - Homily - Courage to turn back to Christ
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Friday 15th March 2024, 22:31
Eternal Memory to His Holiness, Patriarch Neofit.
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Patriarch Neofit of Bulgaria reposes in the Lord
The Patriarch was in poor health in recent years.
Thursday 14th March 2024, 16:00
PRAYING WHILST ANGRY WITH OUR NEIGHBOUR IS BLASPHEMY - FROM THE “HOMILY ON ADMONITION AND REPENTANCE” BY ST EPHREM THE SYRIANThis is the first commandment: that you should love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul, and with your strength as much as you are able.The sign that you love God is this: that you love your neighbor. If you hate your neighbor, your hatred is really for God.It is blasphemy if you pray to God while you are angry. For your heart also convicts you that you multiply words in vain. Your conscience rightly judges that your prayers do you no good.Christ, as he hung on the height of the tree, interceded for his murderers. But you, who are dust, born of the clay—rage fills you whenever you like! You keep anger against your brother, and yet you dare to pray? Even the person standing right beside you, though he is not neighbor to your sins, the stain of your sin reaches out to him, and his petition is not heard.Leave off anger and then pray. Unless you would provoke further, restrain your anger, and then supplicate.
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Thursday 14th March 2024, 0:53
Wednesday 13th March 2024, 22:25
FROM THE “HOMILY ON ADMONITION AND REPENTANCE”, BY ST EPHREM THE SYRIAN“Be a lover of poverty, and be desirous of neediness. If you have them both for your portion, you are an inheritor on high. Despise not the voice of the poor and give him not cause to curse you. For if he curse whose palate is bitter, the Lord will hear his petition. If his garments are foul, wash them in water, which freely is bought. Has a poor man entered into your house? God has entered into your house; God dwells within your abode. He, whom you have refreshed from his troubles, from troubles will deliver you. Have you washed the feet of the stranger? You have washed away the filth of your sins. Have you prepared a table before him? Behold God eating [at it], and Christ likewise drinking [at it], and the Holy Spirit resting [on it]: Is the poor satisfied at your table and refreshed? You have satisfied Christ your Lord. He is ready to be your rewarder; in presence of angels and men He will confess you have fed His hunger; He will give thanks unto you that you gave Him drink, and quenched His thirst.”
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Wednesday 13th March 2024, 18:07
Open appeal by the UOJ to international institutions mandated by international law to respond to human rights violations in the field of freedom of speech and advocacy.
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Open appeal by the UOJ to international human rights organizations
Open appeal by the UOJ to international institutions mandated by international law to respond to human rights violations in the field of freedom of speech and advocacy.
Wednesday 13th March 2024, 17:45
On this feast of St David, according to the patristic calendar, we look forward to a slightly belated celebration this evening, when we will honour our national patron with the chanting of his canon and the stikhira of his feast. We honour St David as a true shepherd and defender of doctrinal Orthodoxy, who opposed falsehood and was not afraid to expose and denounce heresy, guided in his preaching by the power of the Holy Spirit....
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The Canon to St David: Happy Feast! - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
On this feast of St David, according to the patristic calendar, we look forward to a slightly belated celebration this evening, when we will honour our national patron with the chanting of his canon a...
Wednesday 13th March 2024, 16:18
SMALL COMPLINE WITH THE CANON TO ST DAVID: 1/14 MARCH @ 19:00 IN NAZARETH HOUSETomorrow evening, after confessions in Nazareth House, Small Compline will be chanted at 19:00, with the canon to St David of Wales after the supplicatory canon to the Most Holy Mother of God.
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Wednesday 13th March 2024, 12:02
“LAST CALL” FOR PARTICIPANTS IN THE LENTEN DAILY PSALTER READINGDear brothers and sisters, as Great Lent approaches, more readers are still sought to read the Psalter each day during the Great Fast.There are currently sixteen readers, and another four would ensure that with each reader praying one kathisma (division of the Psalter), all twenty kathismas would be read each day. This daily offering would take around fifteen minutes.If you able to participate please contact oltarnik Alexander: psaltergroup@fastmail.com - with friends in other parishes welcome!Those wishing to purchase an Orthodox Psalter with traditional troparia and prayers at the end of each kathisma should visit
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A Psalter For Prayer: Pocket Edition - White Horse Wares
This slimmed-down pocket edition of A 'Psalter for Prayer' is designed to inspire daily use in prayer at home and when travelling.
Wednesday 13th March 2024, 1:11
THE FIRST WEEK OF GREAT LENTCompline and the Great Canon of Repentance, the work of St Andrew of Crete, will be chanted on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the first week of Great Lent (18th,19th, 20th and 21st March) at 16:00 in the Oratory Church of St Alban, in Swinton Street, Splott. We will pray at the shrine of St Alban, venerating his sacred relics at the end of the evening office, a traditional time for the veneration of our icons and sacred relics.We extend our thanks to Father Sebastian.On Friday 22nd Compline and the Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God will be chanted in the Chapel of St David and St Nicholas, in Llanelli, and the following morning we will celebrate our pilgrimage Divine Liturgy for the Saturday of St Theodore in Margam Abbey at 10:30.
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Monday 11th March 2024, 23:38
Dear brothers and sisters, Greetings on the feast of Blessed Nikolai of Pskov, the Holy Fool who dared challenge Tsar Ivan the Terrible, and was glorified by the Lord in his poverty and seeming foolishness. Our weekend was marked by a double-celebration with the Divine Liturgy ‘going out’ of Cardiff and across the Severn, with the first of our mission Liturgies celebrated in Warminster on Saturday, in addition to our Canton-St John’s Liturgy on Sunday....
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Parish News: 11 March 2024 - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Dear brothers and sisters, Greetings on the feast of Blessed Nikolai of Pskov, the Holy Fool who dared challenge Tsar Ivan the Terrible, and was glorified by the Lord in his poverty and seeming foolis...
Monday 11th March 2024, 12:42
The Work of a Lifetime. Abbess Mariam (Zacca)
God is absolute love, which embraces all of creation in its abundance.
Sunday 10th March 2024, 18:12
10/03/2024 - Homily: Christians not heroes!
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Saturday 9th March 2024, 20:29
Today brought the blessing of finally being able to celebrate a local Divine Liturgy beyond the Severn with our parishioners living in the South and West of England. Though we were few in number the Liturgy, nevertheless, brought together parishioners from Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset. Not everyone was able to be with us, due to work, illness and other pre-arranged duties, but the few of us who gathered in the Chapel of St Lawrence, in Warminster, were touched by the peace and spiritual warmth of our Liturgy....
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Today in Warminster - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Today brought the blessing of finally being able to celebrate a local Divine Liturgy beyond the Severn with our parishioners living in the South and West of England. Though we were few in number the L...
Saturday 9th March 2024, 0:29
FROM THE “HOMILY ON ADMONITION AND REPENTANCE”, BY ST EPHREM THE SYRIANSearch not out the faults of men; reveal not the sin of your fellow; the shortcomings of your neighbours, in speech of the mouth repeat not. You are not judge in creation, you have not dominion over the earth. If you love righteousness, reprove your soul and yourself. Be judge unto your own sins, and chastener of your own transgressions.
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Thursday 7th March 2024, 14:35
03/03/2024 - Homily: Having the shameless courage to turn back to Christ, like the prodigal.
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Thursday 7th March 2024, 13:33
25/02/2024 - Homily: Christ making saints from sinners through the mystery of repentance.
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Thursday 7th March 2024, 13:06
18/02/2024 - Homily: Blessed curiosity
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Thursday 7th March 2024, 12:05
THE AKATHIST OF THANKSGIVING: “GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS”I know that whilst the akathist hymn “Glory to God for all things” is well know to most of our parishioners, we have quite a few youngsters and new-comers who may not have discovered it.On such a beautiful, bright, warm spring day, of blue sky, white clouds, plum blossom, hazel catkins, sunny daffodils and gorse flowers - in South Wales, at least - how can we not echo the sentiments of Metropolitan Tryphon of Dmitrov, written by him in the gulag, based on the final words of St John Chrysostom in his own imprisonment.www.saintjonah.org/services/thanksgiving.htm
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Thursday 7th March 2024, 1:09
For the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, the short sermon “To the Indolent Soul”, which encourages the sinner to refrain from giving up and despairing. Like the prodigal, we are to return to our Father, who has no desire to send anyone to eternal punishment
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Soul: do not be downcast, and do not be anxious. Neither count yourself to be in a multitude of sins. Do not draw upon yourself the fire. Say not, “The Lord has cast me away from his face,” for sa...
Wednesday 6th March 2024, 16:52
Small Compline, with the Akathist Hymn to the Most Holy Mother of God will be chanted at 19:00 after confessions in Nazareth House tomorrow: Thursday 7th March.Any further requests for confessions should be sent before 18:00, this evening.
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Wednesday 6th March 2024, 16:44
From the “Homily on Admonition and Repentance”, by St Ephrem the SyrianIf you are angry against your neighbour, you are angry against God;and if you bear anger in your heart, against your Lord is your boldness uplifted. If in envy you rebuke, wicked is all your reproof. But if charity dwell in you, you have on earth no enemy. And if you are a true son of peace, you will stir up wrath in no man. If you are just and upright, you will not do wrong to your fellow. And if you love to be angry, be angry with the wicked and it will become you;if to wage war you seek, lo! Satan is your adversary; if you desire to revile, against the demons display your curses. If you should insult the King's image, you shall pay the penalty of murder;and if you revile a man, you revile the image of God. Do honour to your neighbour, and lo! You have honoured God. But if you would dishonour Him, in wrath assail your neighbour!
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Tuesday 5th March 2024, 1:00
Dear brothers and sisters, Having celebrated the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, the Great Fast grows ever closer, with this week being the last week in which Orthodox Christians consume meat until Pascha, to be followed by cheese-fair (bliny) week during which we consume eggs, fish and dairy foods. We should remember that the customary fast still adheres to this Wednesday and Friday, but with the allowance of fish, wine and oil....
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Parish News - 4 March 2023 - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Dear brothers and sisters, Having celebrated the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, the Great Fast grows ever closer, with this week being the last week in which Orthodox Christians consume meat until Pascha...
Saturday 2nd March 2024, 20:17
Dear brothers and sisters, as the Great Fast approaches, we very much hope that there can be a repetition of the complete reading of the Psalter each day of the fast, with parishioners and friends pledging to read a kathisma of the Psalter each day.In an ideal situation, we would have twenty people praying the Psalter, meaning that each person would read one kathisma each day, in rotation.I would stress that the point is that the whole Psalter is read each day, and not for readers to have kathisma catch-ups because they have fallen behind. If you would like to participate in this Lenten offering, may I ask you to contact oltarnik Alexander: psaltergroup@fastmail.com
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Saturday 2nd March 2024, 18:17
The canon of the holy hierarch, the acrostic whereof is "Aldhelm's discourse is as sweet as honey”, in Tone III Ode I, Irmos: To God, Who alone saved His people in the sea and engulfed the adversaries, let us sing, for He hath been glorified. Hierarch of Christ, Aldhelm, pray to God for us. Aldhelm taught the people of the New Israel to chant: Unto Christ God let us sing, for He hath been glorified!...
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The Canon to St Aldhelm - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
The canon of the holy hierarch, the acrostic whereof is “Aldhelm’s discourse is as sweet as honey”, in Tone III Ode I, Irmos: To God, Who alone saved His people in the sea and engulfed the adver...
Saturday 2nd March 2024, 18:16
Saint Aldhelm is very much a saint of the locality in which we will be celebrating Liturgy, in Wiltshire, and prior to sharing the canon to him, here is an excellent article from orthochristian, telling the story of his life and relating it to local places in Wessex.
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Holy Hierarch Aldhelm, Abbot of Malmesbury and Bishop of Sherborne. Dmitry Lapa
A very talented man by nature, under the influence of other fathers among his contemporaries, Aldhelm became a prominent scholar, writer, poet, musician, singer, pastor, archpastor, teacher and builde...
Saturday 2nd March 2024, 17:02
We have previously published the canon to St Birinus, the Apostle of Wessex, and I have highlighted the acrostic, spelled by the first letters of the troparia: “Birinus shepherded the lambs of Christ”
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The Canon to St Birinus the Apostle of Wessex - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Canon of the saint, the acrostic whereof is “Birinus shepherded the lambs of Christ”, in Tone V. Canon of the saint, the acrostic whereof is “Birinus shepherded the lambs of Christ”, in Tone V...
Saturday 2nd March 2024, 14:06
Let’s not forget the food-bank at St John’s, and the hungry people that need our help. By bringing an item or two, we bring Christ’s love to those who are financially and materially struggling! Also, to offer alms on behalf of our departed kin, for the repose of their souls is a fundamental part of our Orthodox Tradition, so we can bring solace to the living and departed by our Christian charity in fulfilling the Law of Christ.
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Friday 1st March 2024, 22:30
As we begin our mission life in Wessex, we are collecting hymns and prayers to the saints of the region, as the foundation upon which we build our spiritual life - turning to them as our our inspiration and intercessors, as we seek to tread in their footprints. + The Canon to the Holy Hierarch, St Dunstan, the acrostic whereof is “Dunstan setteth us on the Rock of Faith”, in Tone V…...
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The Canon to St Dunstan - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
As we begin our mission life in Wessex, we are collecting hymns and prayers to the saints of the region, as the foundation upon which we build our spiritual life – turning to them as our our inspira...
Thursday 29th February 2024, 12:40
Please pray for Metropolitan Evlogy of Sumy - the latest target of the anti-Orthodox persecution of the Ukrainian Church.
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Ukrainian authorities going after another hierarch of the canonical Ukrainian Church
His Eminence Metropolitan Evlogy of Sumy received an official notice of suspicion for “inciting religious hatred” on February 20.
Thursday 29th February 2024, 1:26
Dear brothers and sisters, As most of you are aware, we have a growing number of Cardiff parishioners who live at a considerable distance from our parish-base in Canton, but who, nevertheless, travel across the River Severn week-by-week to be part of the life of our community. Just after the mass closedown of most of the Orthodox parishes of Britain after the covid lockdown, when virtually every jurisdiction apart from ROCOR and the Serbian Patriarchate totally ‘shut up shop’ and left the faithful without the Holy Mysteries, our ‘commuting’ brothers and sisters from Wessex began to arrive, with the numbers continuing over the months and indeed the following years....
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Our ROCOR Wessex Mission - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Dear brothers and sisters, As most of you are aware, we have a growing number of Cardiff parishioners who live at a considerable distance from our parish-base in Canton, but who, nevertheless, travel ...
Wednesday 28th February 2024, 10:54
Lord, have mercy. The persecution of the Church becomes more and more Soviet and blatantly evil.
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Reserve demands that Lavra hand over the relics of Caves saints
Maksym Ostapenko said he was setting up a commission to receive the relics of the Pechersk saints resting in the Near Caves, which he called "cultural values".
Tuesday 27th February 2024, 16:27
Most Holy Trinity, our God, glory to Thee!Rublevian inspiration realised in textiles and embroidery in an English country church!
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Tuesday 27th February 2024, 14:09
ST ISAAKY THE RECLUSE OF THE KIEV CAVESFebruary 27 is the commemoration day of the remarkable saint, Venerable Isaac of Toropets. His hagiography was recounted to us by the most famous chronicler of Ancient Rus’, St. Nestor, who wrote: “There was also another monk named Isaac; he was wealthy while living in the world, for he was a merchant, a Toropets native born... and his secular name was Chern.” This passage in the “Primary Chronicle” is dated to the year 1074 (according to our calendar). The date of the first mention indicates that Toropets is the oldest city in the entire Tver region.
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St. Isaac of Toropets. For the 950th anniversary of the city of Toropets
Foolishness for Christ is a particular form of sanctity where spiritual gifts and virtues are consciously hidden behind external, ostensible madness.
Tuesday 27th February 2024, 13:48
The wonderful historical layers (mediaeval, post-reformation, Georgian and Victorian) of parochial life glimpsed on an English church-crawling outing with Wessex parishioners yesterday, reminded us that we are not taking the message of Orthodox Christianity into a vacuum or void, but MUST be sympathetic to the successive centuries and layers of spiritual life and experience that have shaped communities outside Orthodoxy - mindful and respectful of people’s ways of understanding and approaching Faith, and the local cultural-language of Christianity that has evolved over the centuries. Only by having respect for the past will we find people’s hearts and souls open to the message of Faith.
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Tuesday 27th February 2024, 3:23
Wiltshire Monday 14/27 February Dear brothers and sisters, What a busy few days across our parish, with today starting with a visit to several of the historic parish churches of the Wylye Valley in Wiltshire with Wessex parishioners, starting at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Boyton, with its wonderful collection of remnants of medieval, renaissance and Georgian stained glass, carved stone monuments and liturgical features, and embroideries - including a monumental icon of the Hospitality of Abraham....
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Wiltshire Monday 14/27 February Dear brothers and sisters, What a busy few days across our parish, with today starting with a visit to several of the historic parish churches of the Wylye Valley in Wi...
Sunday 25th February 2024, 0:38
Sunday 25th February 2024, 0:35
Dear brothers and sisters, despite the hour and not being back very long from our February pilgrimage-day, and a house-blessing, I would like to thank all who gathered in the Oratory Church to honour the holy protomartyr of Britain, St Alban, and to venerate the portion of his sacred relics enshrined there.Through the good offices of our dear friends, the fathers and brothers of the Cardiff Oratory, we were also able to share lunch in the church hall, whilst being entertained to a selection of light piano music by our brother, Aldhelm.It was a blessing to be with so many of our South Wales young parishioners, who formed the bulk of our group, and to share the occasion with them, as well as visiting Caerleon, where we had hoped to chant vespers, but were defeated, having found the amphitheatre closed, despite a varying range of later closing times hovering in cyberspace. Our profound thanks go to the fathers and brothers of the Cardiff Oratory, who have been constant and generous in their much appreciated support for our community. We commend them to the prayers of Saints Alban, Amphibalus, Julius and Aaron.
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Friday 23rd February 2024, 19:40
We should be mindful that those described in the following article were not breakaway schismatics, but pious clergy, monastics and laity who rejected the calendar innovation, and suffered for their faithfulness to sacred tradition, unlike the episcopate who followed the woeful freemason, Patriarch Meletios Metaxakis, of thrice sorry memory.
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By Nikolaos Mannes Introduction Many times, and from many individuals, we have heard that those dubbed “Old Calendarists” are fanatics, express extreme views, and are generally characterized by th...
Friday 23rd February 2024, 13:14
The Hieromartyr Charalampus, Bishop of Magnesia, the Martyrs Porphyrius and Baptus and Three Women Martyrs suffered in the year 202. Saint Charalampus, Bishop of Magnesia (Asia Minor), successfully spread faith in Christ the Savior, guiding people on the way to salvation. News of his preaching reached Lucian, the governor of the district, and the military commander Lucius. The saint was arrested and brought to trial, where he confessed his faith in Christ and refused to offer sacrifice to idols.
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Despite the bishop’s advanced age (he was 113 years old), he was subjected to monstrous tortures.
Friday 23rd February 2024, 2:25
Early in the morning on February 22, 2024, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted another raid at the home of Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy, according to the Telegram channel of the Cherkasy Diocese. Law enforcement officers disrupted the Divine Liturgy that was taking place in the UOC bishop's home church.
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Metropolitan of Cherkasy suffers a heart attack during SBU searches
Due to SBU raids, the liturgy in the bishop's home church was disrupted.
Thursday 22nd February 2024, 16:16
Dear brothers and sisters, greetings as we celebrate the feast of St Teilo. Поздравления съ праздникомъ! We will chant a litia in his honour at the end of our Liturgy on Sunday, and I hope to make an informal pilgrimage to Llandaff cathedral with some of our young people after out Wessex prayer meeting. Next week. St Teilo, our local early Welsh saint, was a 6th century monk and bishop, and for the Celtic Christians a patron saint of fruit trees and horses, his feast day falling today: 9th/22nd February....
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Happy St Teilo’s Day! - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Dear brothers and sisters, greetings as we celebrate the feast of St Teilo. Поздравления съ праздникомъ! We will chant a litia in his honour at the end of our Liturgy on Sunda...
Wednesday 21st February 2024, 15:35
His Eminence Metropolitan Longin of Bancheny has faced repeated health problems since the Ukrainian state began its campaign of persecution against him. On Monday, February 19, he underwent his second heart surgery in the span of two months, this time in a clinic in Romania. “With God’s help, the surgery went well. Metropolitan Longin has been saved!” reports the Holy Ascension-Bancheny Monastery, which the hierarch founded.
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Persecuted Metropolitan Longin undergoes another heart surgery
Though officially recognized as a Hero of Ukraine for having adopted hundreds of orphans, the state now considers him an enemy because he staunchly remains within the Orthodox Church.
Tuesday 20th February 2024, 22:59
Ode I, Irmos: Let us chant unto the Lord, Who led His people through the Red Sea, for He alone hath gloriously been glorified. Venerable Father Moses, pray to God for us. By thy supplications and showers of repentance, O father, wash clean my heart which hath been darkened by the sting of sin. Venerable Father Moses, pray to God for us....
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The Canon to St Moses the Ethiopian - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Ode I, Irmos: Let us chant unto the Lord, Who led His people through the Red Sea, for He alone hath gloriously been glorified. Venerable Father Moses, pray to God for us. By thy supplications and show...
Tuesday 20th February 2024, 22:21
Several of us have been drawing inspiration from a translation of a 14th century Arabic life of St Moses the Strong (the Ethiopian), with his sayings and hymns written in his honour.As we approach the Great Fast, we anticipate the celebration of St Mary of Egypt, who is held up by the Church as the ‘icon of repentance’, and we see such a similar exemplar in the life of the 4th century Abba Moses, who left behind a life of brigandry and violence to embrace the monastic life of the desert in the shadow of the great elder Isidore of Pelusium. His life recounts the great struggles he had in accustoming himself to his new life, with thoughts of fornication and temptations wracking him and making his spiritual struggle long and arduous.In his icons, we often see him carrying an intentionally leaking sack of sand on his shoulders, recalling his refusal to judge his brother, as he said, "My sins run out behind me and I do not see them, but today I am coming to judge the errors of another."Venerable Father, Moses, pray to God for us!
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Sunday 18th February 2024, 23:45
Greetings to you all as we continue to celebrate the after-feast of the Meeting of the Lord. S prazdnikom! As the feast fell on a Thursday, when St John’s is unavailable, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in Llanelli, and I was pleased to be able to assist Father Luke by singing on the kliros. Unfortunately, the afternoon journey to Cardiff was severely disrupted by problems with the railway line beyond Llanelli, so a number of confessions had to be cancelled, though I still managed to see a few people in the early evening before joining our young people to congratulate Kalina on her birthday....
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Zacchaeus Sunday - Parish News - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Greetings to you all as we continue to celebrate the after-feast of the Meeting of the Lord. S prazdnikom! As the feast fell on a Thursday, when St John’s is unavailable, the Divine Liturgy was cele...
Sunday 18th February 2024, 21:28
Axios! Axios! Axios!Many years to the newly ordained priest, Alban!
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Deacon Alban Illingworth was elevated to the rank of Priest by the Holy Spirit.
Saturday 17th February 2024, 20:08
How well we remember seeing the Myrrh-Weeping Hawaiian icon drip myrrh before our very eyes.
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Saturday 17th February 2024, 19:29
LOCAL PILGRIMAGE: SATURDAY 24 FEBRUARY Dear all, as requested in this week’s news email, I would be most grateful to know if anyone coming to our local Oratory Church / Caerleon pilgrimage is able to offer lifts to our non-drivers. Xenia and Isaac from Cheltenham and our students will be reliant upon lifts if they are to visit Caerleon, as well as venerating St Alban’s relics in the Oratory Church.Our moleben to St Alban will be offered in the Oratory Church, in Swinton Street CF24 2NT at 10:30, after which we will have a bring-and-share lunch in the church hall, before visiting the Roman remains in Caerleon, where prayers and hymns will honour Saints Julius and Aaron.
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Friday 16th February 2024, 17:52
The Meeting of the Lord in Icons and Frescoes
The iconography for the Meeting of the Lord is based upon the Gospel passage of St. Luke (Lk. 2:22-39). On the icons, frescoes, and miniatures the key activity is the Theotokos giving the Child into t...
Friday 16th February 2024, 15:31
“At that time, the parents brought the child Jesus to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons....
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Greetings For the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
“At that time, the parents brought the child Jesus to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lo...
Monday 12th February 2024, 20:37
Dear brothers and sisters, Greetings to you all after another busy weekend, with Liturgies in Cheltenham and Cardiff, the joy of sharing the celebration of Faith with so many people, and the unexpected arrival of geographically distant parishioners and friends not seen for a while. It’s also wonderful that recent visitors are now clearly new parishioners, looking very much at home in the parish....
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Weekly News - Monday 12 February - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Dear brothers and sisters, Greetings to you all after another busy weekend, with Liturgies in Cheltenham and Cardiff, the joy of sharing the celebration of Faith with so many people, and the unexpecte...
Monday 18th March 2024, 21:19
Monday 18th March 2024, 16:16
Monday 18th March 2024, 15:24
Parish News at the Beginning of Great Lent - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Dear brothers and sisters, Greetings on this first day of the Great Fast, and thanks to all who contributed to our weekend celebrations in Cheltenham and Cardiff. Having left maslenitsa behind, and ha...Monday 18th March 2024, 15:04
The Song of a Repentant Heart: The Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete | ROCOR Europe
Full text of a talk delivered in 2017 by Bishop Irenei on the history, liturgical use, and ascetical significance of the Great Canon of St Andrew.Sunday 17th March 2024, 22:03
Sunday 17th March 2024, 21:04
Saturday 16th March 2024, 14:21
Saturday 16th March 2024, 14:21
Saturday 16th March 2024, 14:21
Friday 15th March 2024, 22:31
Patriarch Neofit of Bulgaria reposes in the Lord
The Patriarch was in poor health in recent years.Thursday 14th March 2024, 16:00
Thursday 14th March 2024, 0:53
Wednesday 13th March 2024, 22:25
Wednesday 13th March 2024, 18:07
Open appeal by the UOJ to international human rights organizations
Open appeal by the UOJ to international institutions mandated by international law to respond to human rights violations in the field of freedom of speech and advocacy.Wednesday 13th March 2024, 17:45
The Canon to St David: Happy Feast! - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
On this feast of St David, according to the patristic calendar, we look forward to a slightly belated celebration this evening, when we will honour our national patron with the chanting of his canon a...Wednesday 13th March 2024, 16:18
Wednesday 13th March 2024, 12:02
A Psalter For Prayer: Pocket Edition - White Horse Wares
This slimmed-down pocket edition of A 'Psalter for Prayer' is designed to inspire daily use in prayer at home and when travelling.Wednesday 13th March 2024, 1:11
Monday 11th March 2024, 23:38
Parish News: 11 March 2024 - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Dear brothers and sisters, Greetings on the feast of Blessed Nikolai of Pskov, the Holy Fool who dared challenge Tsar Ivan the Terrible, and was glorified by the Lord in his poverty and seeming foolis...Monday 11th March 2024, 12:42
The Work of a Lifetime. Abbess Mariam (Zacca)
God is absolute love, which embraces all of creation in its abundance.Sunday 10th March 2024, 18:12
Saturday 9th March 2024, 20:29
Today in Warminster - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Today brought the blessing of finally being able to celebrate a local Divine Liturgy beyond the Severn with our parishioners living in the South and West of England. Though we were few in number the L...Saturday 9th March 2024, 0:29
Thursday 7th March 2024, 14:35
Thursday 7th March 2024, 13:33
Thursday 7th March 2024, 13:06
Thursday 7th March 2024, 12:05
Thursday 7th March 2024, 1:09
Wednesday 6th March 2024, 16:52
Wednesday 6th March 2024, 16:44
Tuesday 5th March 2024, 1:00
Parish News - 4 March 2023 - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Dear brothers and sisters, Having celebrated the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, the Great Fast grows ever closer, with this week being the last week in which Orthodox Christians consume meat until Pascha...Saturday 2nd March 2024, 20:17
Saturday 2nd March 2024, 18:17
The Canon to St Aldhelm - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
The canon of the holy hierarch, the acrostic whereof is “Aldhelm’s discourse is as sweet as honey”, in Tone III Ode I, Irmos: To God, Who alone saved His people in the sea and engulfed the adver...Saturday 2nd March 2024, 18:16
Holy Hierarch Aldhelm, Abbot of Malmesbury and Bishop of Sherborne. Dmitry Lapa
A very talented man by nature, under the influence of other fathers among his contemporaries, Aldhelm became a prominent scholar, writer, poet, musician, singer, pastor, archpastor, teacher and builde...Saturday 2nd March 2024, 17:02
The Canon to St Birinus the Apostle of Wessex - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Canon of the saint, the acrostic whereof is “Birinus shepherded the lambs of Christ”, in Tone V. Canon of the saint, the acrostic whereof is “Birinus shepherded the lambs of Christ”, in Tone V...Saturday 2nd March 2024, 14:06
Friday 1st March 2024, 22:30
The Canon to St Dunstan - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
As we begin our mission life in Wessex, we are collecting hymns and prayers to the saints of the region, as the foundation upon which we build our spiritual life – turning to them as our our inspira...Thursday 29th February 2024, 12:40
Ukrainian authorities going after another hierarch of the canonical Ukrainian Church
His Eminence Metropolitan Evlogy of Sumy received an official notice of suspicion for “inciting religious hatred” on February 20.Thursday 29th February 2024, 1:26
Our ROCOR Wessex Mission - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Dear brothers and sisters, As most of you are aware, we have a growing number of Cardiff parishioners who live at a considerable distance from our parish-base in Canton, but who, nevertheless, travel ...Wednesday 28th February 2024, 10:54
Reserve demands that Lavra hand over the relics of Caves saints
Maksym Ostapenko said he was setting up a commission to receive the relics of the Pechersk saints resting in the Near Caves, which he called "cultural values".Tuesday 27th February 2024, 16:27
Tuesday 27th February 2024, 14:09
St. Isaac of Toropets. For the 950th anniversary of the city of Toropets
Foolishness for Christ is a particular form of sanctity where spiritual gifts and virtues are consciously hidden behind external, ostensible madness.Tuesday 27th February 2024, 13:48
Tuesday 27th February 2024, 3:23
Sunday 25th February 2024, 0:38
Sunday 25th February 2024, 0:35
Friday 23rd February 2024, 19:40
Friday 23rd February 2024, 13:14
Friday 23rd February 2024, 2:25
Metropolitan of Cherkasy suffers a heart attack during SBU searches
Due to SBU raids, the liturgy in the bishop's home church was disrupted.Thursday 22nd February 2024, 16:16
Happy St Teilo’s Day! - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Dear brothers and sisters, greetings as we celebrate the feast of St Teilo. Поздравления съ праздникомъ! We will chant a litia in his honour at the end of our Liturgy on Sunda...Wednesday 21st February 2024, 15:35
Persecuted Metropolitan Longin undergoes another heart surgery
Though officially recognized as a Hero of Ukraine for having adopted hundreds of orphans, the state now considers him an enemy because he staunchly remains within the Orthodox Church.Tuesday 20th February 2024, 22:59
The Canon to St Moses the Ethiopian - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Ode I, Irmos: Let us chant unto the Lord, Who led His people through the Red Sea, for He alone hath gloriously been glorified. Venerable Father Moses, pray to God for us. By thy supplications and show...Tuesday 20th February 2024, 22:21
Sunday 18th February 2024, 23:45
Zacchaeus Sunday - Parish News - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Greetings to you all as we continue to celebrate the after-feast of the Meeting of the Lord. S prazdnikom! As the feast fell on a Thursday, when St John’s is unavailable, the Divine Liturgy was cele...Sunday 18th February 2024, 21:28
Saturday 17th February 2024, 20:08
Saturday 17th February 2024, 19:29
Friday 16th February 2024, 17:52
The Meeting of the Lord in Icons and Frescoes
The iconography for the Meeting of the Lord is based upon the Gospel passage of St. Luke (Lk. 2:22-39). On the icons, frescoes, and miniatures the key activity is the Theotokos giving the Child into t...Friday 16th February 2024, 15:31
Greetings For the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
“At that time, the parents brought the child Jesus to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lo...Monday 12th February 2024, 20:37
Weekly News - Monday 12 February - Parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Dear brothers and sisters, Greetings to you all after another busy weekend, with Liturgies in Cheltenham and Cardiff, the joy of sharing the celebration of Faith with so many people, and the unexpecte...