Dear brothers and sisters,
Looking ahead, the coming weekend will be busy with Liturgies in Cheltenham on Saturday and Cardiff on Sunday.
These come at the end of a week of important feasts.
After today’s feast of the Holy Protomartyr, Alban, tomorrow celebrates the Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God; on Wednesday, we celebrate the Nativity of St John the Forerunner; on Thursday, we celebrate the feast of Saints Peter and Febronia of Murom, saintly patrons of the family; on Friday we celebrate the renowned Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, and her lesser known Seven Lakes Icon.
Saturday is of note, as the feast of the Uncovering of the Relics of the great Optina Elders: Leonid, Macarius, Hilarion, Ambrose, Anatole I, Barsanuphius, and Anatole II (1998). I would like to invite our Welsh parishioners to make the journey to Cheltenham, and the wonderful setting of All Saints: a very special place.
On Sunday we will celebrate the wonderworking Athonite icon of the Mother of God “Of the Three Hands” and the Holy Wonderworkers and founders of Valaam, Saints Sergius and Herman.
Given the busy nature of the weekend, I hope that I may be able to hear some confessions at Newman Hall on Friday and then confessions of locals unable to make attend that day on Saturday afternoon. Once again, I hope to spend the very limited time for confessions on Sunday morning with our parishioners from the English side of the border.
May I encourage all who require confession to contact Deacon Mark rmfisher@ntlworld.com by Wednesday evening, indicating your availability.
May I remind you that Wednesday is the nameday of our two Johns named for the Forerunner (Norman and Martyn).
Have a blessed week and remain steadfast in prayer and fasting.
Friday 9th July: confessions by arrangement
Saturday 10th July 2021: Liturgy at All Saints Church, Pittville, Cheltenham, 09:30
Vespers and Confessions, St John’s Church, Canton, 17:00
Sunday 11th July 2021: Hours and Liturgy at St John’s Church, Canton, 11:00
In Christ – Hieromonk Mark
