Dear brothers and sisters,
Here we are at the end of another week of peripatetic parish life, spread between Cathays, Splott and Llanishen, and hoping that tomorrow will bring some clarity regarding Holy Week, Pascha, and St Philip’s.
Additional to our Cardiff wanderings, yesterday saw seventeen of us participate in the rite of Holy Unction in the cathedral, with six priests concelebrating with our bishop in the blessing of oil and anointing the faithful – of which there were hundreds of people, many of them young.
As Father Mark the Younger enthused at the end of today’s Liturgy, it was a wonderful image of the Church: young and old, cradle Orthodox and convert, those on their feet and those helped by a friend or support worker in their additional needs, reminding us that disabilities are not a limitation on God’s grace and power.
The fact that people with various physical and cognitive challenges were part of our celebration was a visible sign of the loving and supportive character of our ROCOR community in our God-preserved diocese.
We will celebrate Holy Unction according to the parish rite in Cardiff during Holy Week, so that those unable to attend in London may partake of this Holy Mystery.
Perhaps Mothering Sunday dented our congregation a little today, plus the absence of some of those who had a long day in London yesterday, but it was lovely to return to St Faith’s on the Sunday of St John of the Ladder and the feast of St Patrick, Apostle of Ireland.
It was good that parishioners experienced the rite of the blessing of vestments after the Hours, and I was very pleased to be able to wear the vestments that Fr Mark blessed.
We will return to St Faith’s to celebrate the Sunday of St Mary of Egypt, next weekend, though we hope that we will then be able to be in St Philip’s for Palm Sunday.
As already posted on WhatsApp, due to our present circumstances, there will be no Cardiff evening service for the Great Canon next Wednesday. However, the Great Canon will be chanted in Llanelli at 19:00, and it would be lovely to welcome Cardiff parishioners.
In Cardiff, we will chant the entire Great Canon and read the life of St Mary of Egypt in the Oratory Church at 14:00 on Thursday afternoon (St Mary’s Standing / Мариино стояние).
There will also be the usual early evening service in Nazareth House at 18:00.
Confessions will be heard before the Thursday afternoon service and after the evening service.
The Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts will be celebrated at 14:00 in the Oratory Church on Friday afternoon, and I will be available to hear confessions before and after the service.
It is important that all who are able to make their confessions during the week avail themselves of the opportunity to ease the situation on Sunday. We will start ending confessions during the hours on the alternate Sundays on which I should be the main celebrant, as I continually miss the first part of the Liturgy.
Saturday is the Laudation of the Mother of God, and some of parishioners will get enjoying a pilgrimage and walk around Oldbury on Severn – honouring St Arilda. I will be heading to Lazarica in Bournville, and would be very happy to be joined by any parishioners. The service begins at 09:00.
Address: 92 Griffins Brook Lane, Bournville, Birmingham B30 1QG.
Your prayers are requested for Lyudmila (sick); Piran, Svetlana, Stefan (travelling); and for our students. Prayers are also asked for Nicholas, Daniel, Nikolaos and his family.
We ask your prayers for the repose of the soul of matushka’s newly-departed cousin, Aleksey, and for his elderly mother Raisa, and for all of the family at this sorrowful time. Memory Eternal! Lord, have mercy!
Asking your forgiveness for Christ’s sake.
May God bless you.
Hieromonk Mark