Dear brothers and sisters,
We must begin our week by congratulating Adam and Juliana on their marriage in the Oratory Church yesterday and wish them many blessed years of married life.
We are indebted to the Oratorian Fathers for their generous hospitality, and especially to Father Alexander for registering the marriage.
Special thanks also to Masha and Kolya for their beautiful singing and to matushka and Joanna for the flowers and linens.
The combination of Liturgy and wedding made for a busy and slightly challenging day, and we look forward to a rather more relaxed Sunday, next week – with trapeza as usual.
Thanks to all who contributed to our Liturgy for the feast of the Smolensk and Suprasl icons of the Mother of God, and to our Wessex faithful for Saturday’s celebration of the feast of St Panteleimon in Warminster. It was a beautiful celebration, with the joy of welcoming friends from the South Coast and Reading.
Given our usual Wednesday fast, tomorrow is our deadline for using up non-fasting foods before the Dormition Fast commences on Thursday: the feast of the Procession of the Life-Giving Cross and the All Merciful Saviour,
We will have our customary Thursday service in Nazareth House, and will serve a moleben for the feast at 18:00, and confessions will be heard before and after the service.
We will also have our Friday afternoon prayers, at 15:00 in the Oratory, and due to pastoral needs, confessions will be heard after our prayers.
Next Saturday sees our monthly Cheltenham visit, when we shall belatedly mark the feast of the All-Merciful Saviour, with the blessing of honey at the end of Liturgy.
As usual the Hours and Liturgy will commence at 10:00 in Prestbury United Reformed Church, Deep St, Cheltenham GA52 3AN.
We look forward to spending time together over our bring-and-share lunch after Liturgy.
After Liturgy on Sunday, we will chant a litia in honour of the Life-Giving Cross and the feast of the All-Merciful Saviour, with the blessing of honey, and poppy seed and honey cakes.
We will celebrate Transfiguration Liturgy in the Oratory Church on Tuesday 19 August, commencing the Hours at 10:45. Experience has shown that a little extra time is needed after Mass.
Due to a requiem mass on the Dormition, it will now not be possible to celebrate the feast in the Oratory as intended, so I have asked if we might do so in St Philip’s.
I echo the advice of previous years, to honour the Mother of God in some way on each day of the Dormition Fast, and ask the guidance of the Mother of God each and EVERY day regarding our parish’s need for an Orthodox Temple. Our means are limited, but if God so wills, He will make it happen, but we must prayerfully demonstrate our trust and faith in Him, and in the prayers of the Theotokos, the Patroness and Protectress of our parish.
Please endeavour to pray the troparion and kontakion of the Kazan Icon…
Troparion, Tone IV: O earnest helper, Mother of the Lord Most High,/ thou dost entreat Christ, thy Son and our God, in behalf of all,/ and causest all to be saved who have recourse to thy mighty protection,/ O Lady, Queen and Mistress,/ help us all who, amid temptations, sorrows and sickness,/ are heavy laden with many sins,/ who stand before thee and with tears pray to thee with compunctionate soul/ and contrite heart before thine all-pure image,/ and who have unfailing hope in thee:/ grant deliverance from all evils,/ and things profitable unto all, O Virgin Theotokos,/ and save us all, for thou art the divine protection// of thy servants.
Kontakion, Tone VIII: O ye people, let us flee to that calm and good haven, the speedy helper/ and ready and fervent salvation, the protection of the Virgin,/ and let us make haste to prayer and speed to repentance./ For the all-pure Theotokos poureth forth upon us inexhaustible mercies;/ she goeth before to help us and delivereth ,her good-hearted and God-fearing servants// from great misfortunes and evils
Тропарь, глас 4: Засту́пнице усе́рдная,/ Ма́ти Го́спода Вы́шняго,/ за всех мо́лиши Сы́на Твоего́ Христа́ Бо́га на́шего,/ и всем твори́ши спасти́ся,/ в держа́вный Твой покро́в прибега́ющим./ Всех нас заступи́, о Госпоже́ Цари́це и Влады́чице,/ и́же в напа́стех и в ско́рбех, и в боле́знех, обремене́нных грехи́ мно́гими,/ предстоя́щих и моля́щихся Тебе́ умиле́нною душе́ю/ и сокруше́нным се́рдцем,/ пред пречи́стым Твои́м о́бразом со слеза́ми/ и невозвра́тно наде́жду иму́щих на Тя,/ избавле́ния всех зол,/ всем поле́зная да́руй/ и вся спаси́, Богоро́дице Де́во:/ Ты бо еси́ Боже́ственный покро́в рабо́м Твои́м.
Кондак, глас 8: Притеце́м, лю́дие, к ти́хому сему́ и до́брому приста́нищу,/ ско́рой Помо́щнице, гото́вому и те́плому спасе́нию, покро́ву Де́вы,/ ускори́м на моли́тву и потщи́мся на покая́ние:/ источа́ет бо нам неоску́дныя ми́лости Пречи́стая Богоро́дица,/ предваря́ет на по́мощь и избавля́ет от вели́ких бед и зол/ благонра́вныя и богобоя́щияся рабы́ Своя́.
Finally, given the number of confessions before Liturgy, may we remind parishioners that they should be brief and succinct. If longer confessions are needed and parishioners are unable to come during the week, please ask and I will gladly hear confessions after Liturgy, reserving communion, as needed.
Vladyka has blessed confessions during Liturgy as an economia, given our circumstances, but clergy should not ordinarily miss any part of the Liturgy.
With Father Mark the Younger away on Sunday 24 and Sunday 31 August, please try to confess before if you wish to commune. On those Sundays there will be little chance for me to hear confessions, given that I will have to celebrate proskomedia.
Asking your forgiveness for Christ’s sake.
May God bless you.
Hieromonk Mark