Dear brothers and sisters,
What a wonderful weekend this has been, and how blessed we are to have continued celebrating the after-feast of the Transfiguration not only in Cardiff, but also in the ancient church of St Laurence in Bradford-on-Avon.
Our pilgrimage to honour St Laurence brought pilgrims together from across the geographical breadth of the parish – from Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, from Bath and North East Somerset, from Chippenham and Warminster, from Poole, and the western reaches of the Kennet and Avon Canal – with Aleksandra visiting from London, and Orthodox visitors from Kent and East Anglia.
It was wonderful that such geographically scattered people gathered under the high roof of the ancient church, united in the Liturgy and the communion of the Lord’s Body and Blood. The Liturgy itself was a sign of unity, as was the lovely shared meal and time chatting between services.
Our day started wet and grey, and the smallness of the windows and narrow high doorways made for a dark interior, to which our eyes needed to adjust as we entered the ancient church. However, as we prepared the sanctuary and nave for worship, the interior came to life with candlelight, with our flower-decked icons flanking the high narrow entrance to the sanctuary – lit so beautifully by the seven-branched candelabrum generously bought by the chair of trustees of St Lawrence’s in Warminster, for our use in Wessex liturgies. It looked wonderful in the high, dark sanctuary, giving us much-needed light to celebrate upon the stone altar.
Our Liturgy followed the confessions of most of our pilgrims who partook of the Holy Mysteries. We congratulate them, and hope that the Grace of the Liturgy continues to give them strength.
It was wonderful for the church to resound with Orthodox chant, with incense smoke rising to the heights of the tall, narrow temple, and a blessing to honour the Holy Martyr Laurence the day after his feast. The reading of his canon during our afternoon moleben was a joy, with the refrains enthusiastically resounding in the now bright and sunny nave, with the Serbian and Athonite melodies of the ectenias greeting the steady stream of afternoon visitors.
For most of the visitors who came in and out during our services, it was probably their first living encounter with Orthodox Christianity, and stresses the importance of our pilgrimages in taking the Church into the world, where it can be encountered in all of its beauty.
We had hoped for a picnic outside, but the weather resulted in a picnic in the body of the church as the clouds gave way to blue sky and sun, so that by the time we chanted a joyful moleben to St Laurence after lunch, it felt like summer, once more.
Some of us enjoyed a short walk along the river to the ancient tithe-barn and a visit to the community orchard before sitting outside chatting over refreshments for an hour, enjoying the tea-time sun.
Thanks to all who contributed to such a wonderful, memorable day.
It is heartening to see the determined teamwork following our parish elections, and the hard work being invested in our community, whether in South Wales or across the Severn, among our Wessex faithful. The month since Father Mark’s ordination has seen great positivity, with parishioners being so proactive and generous in parish life.
Today’s Liturgy continued the after-feast, with the traditional blessing of fruit at the end of the service, and we were pleased to once again welcome our new visitors who have been with us over the last two or three weeks. Trapeza after Liturgy is proving so important in getting to meet new people, welcome them and introduce them to our community. Many thanks to our sisters, and all who have been helping with our post-Liturgy meal.
The last few days of the Dormition Fast are before us, and we will celebrate the Summer-Pascha, the Dormition of the Mother of God, on Wednesday. I will celebrate Great Vespers in the Oratory Church in Swinton Street on Tuesday at 15:00, and will hear confessions if needed after our service. The Hours and Divine Liturgy will then be celebrated there at 10:30 on Wednesday morning, and I am glad that Father Mark the Younger will be with us, allowing me to hear confessions whilst he performs proskomedia. We will share a bring-and-share lunch after Liturgy, as we have on previous Liturgy days.
Father Mark and I will spend the second and third days of the Dormition in London, where Germaine’s husband Jose will be baptised on Thursday, before their Orthodox Church wedding on Friday. Please keep them in your prayers.
When we assemble again, in St John’s, we will celebrate the after-feast of the Dormition Mother of God, and the Sunday of Dormition marks the feast of the Icon of the Mother of God “Enlightener of Minds” – “Pribavlenie Uma.”
Most of you will be aware of the repose of Branka’s grandmother, Jovana, who was remembered together with the newly reposed Archimandrite Germogen and handmaiden of God, Liubov in a litia after Liturgy. Please keep them, as well as Branka, Stefan and Tara in your prayers. Memory Eternal!
I very much look forward to celebrating Dormition and its after-feast with you!
Asking you forgiveness for Christ’s sake.
In Christ – Hieromonk Mark