PLEASE PRAY WITH ME. 

As we continue this period of lockdown I would like all of you to join with me each evening in your own homes, at 10pm, to say the short prayer rule of St. Seraphim of Sarov for our troubled world. 

If you are unable to say the rule at this time because of work or other commitments, then simply say it when you can. The saying is the most important thing. 

The Short Rule. 

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

(To be said three times in honour of the Trinity) 

"Hail Mary! Full of grace, the Lord is with Thee, O Virgin Mother of God: blessed art Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, for Thou hast borne the Saviour of our souls."

(To be said three times) 

"I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. 

"And in One Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, begotten of the Father before all worlds; Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation , came down from heaven; and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate and suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again according to scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end. 

"And I believe in the Holy Spirit the Lord and Giver of life who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. 

"And I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church; I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen."

Much Love, 

Fr. George.

Welcome

Welcome to our website which we hope will be of interest or a source of information to you. Ours is a parish of the Antiochian Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, which is in communion with all the canonical Orthodox Churches and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. In line with Orthodox practice, our services are in the language of the people; in our case, English, Orthodox visitors of other backgrounds saying the Lord's Prayer in their native tongue. 

The Orthodox Church lies in a tradition that goes back in an unbroken line to the Church of the Apostles and the earthly life of Christ Himself. We are often portayed as a very conservative church but this is a matter of faith and history; one cannot change the truth to fit into a very fleeting, passing, timescale when viewed with the eternity of God and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

In our church you will see many icons of Christ, the Mother of God and many saints and sacred events; a feature of Orthodoxy that proclaims the Incarnation of our Lord and God Jesus Christ and are often referred to as "windows into heaven". The priestly vestments are very beautiful; not for the glorification of the clergy but for the glory of sinful humanity transformed by the Grace of God. The Divine Liturgy is the principal service, when the faithful may receive the Body and Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Incense is used in all our services and permeates the fabric of the church itself. Thus we have a church that is internally very beautiful visually, has the aroma of sanctity and our ears are filled with beautiful music (Just human voices: instruments are not allowed). In some way the church building reflects the glory of Heaven and a place fitting for God.

Anyone may come to our church to "have a look" and you are assured of a warm welcome. Do not worry about how to act or what to do; just let the experience take care of itself. If you need any information about any aspect of our church or the Orthodox Church in general, do not hesitate to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Fr. George (Evans), Parish Priest.

Fr George's Letter for March

THE PRODIGAL SON

“The virtues create a new person radiating love to the world.” (Metropolitan Paul (Yazigi) of Aleppo who consecrated our temple.)

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16.

Sunday 28^th February. SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON. St Basil the Confessor, companion of St Prokopios at Decapolis (750). Sts Marana and Cyra (Syria 4^th-5^th). St Nicholas of Pskov, Fool-for Christ (1576). St Kyrana the Virgin-martyr (1751). (29^th) St John Cassian the Roman (435). St Oswald, Archbishop of York (992).

SAINT RAPHAEL OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. Feast day in America 27^th February, in the Church of Antioch, first Saturday in November. St Raphael was born and brought up in Lebanon by parents who were refugees from Damascus. He was  educated by the Greeks at Halki and by the Russians in Kiev. He was the first Orthodox Christian bishop to be consecrated on American soil. He travelled widely establishing thirty parishes in the early years of the twentieth century and was canonised in 2000. I suggest you look more on line to find out about this remarkable saint, were you may see photographs and icons of our father among the saints Raphael.

Today’s Gospel, Luke 15:11-32. “Then He said: “A certain man had  two sons.

And the youngest of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood..................”  

In the Gospel account for today we have Jesus telling us the wonderful parable of the Prodigal Son. The younger of two brothers asks for his inheritance and the doting father gives him half of all his wealth. Shortly after the young man leaves the family home with his share of his father’s legacy and goes to a far country. There he spends all he has on “good living”. In other words he has a good time indulging in extravagent living with all the vices that come from it. Eventually, of course, the money runs out and all his new “friends” disappear and he is left destitute and has to do the most despicable thing that a Jew can do, look after pigs in order to survive. He is even reduced to eating the pigs’ food. In desperation he decides to go back home with no hope of a welcome and will be happy to be a servant in his father’s household.

Before he gets to his father’s house, his father sees him from a long way off, no doubt he has been looking for his son’s return every day. The father doesn’t wait for his son to come near but runs towards him with great joy and welcomes him home with feasting, new garments and a ring.

In some sense we are all like this young man and take all we can from God’s beautiful gifts and often squander the treasures that He gives us. When we turn to Him out of desperation when all seems hopeless our Heavenly Father will come to us and rejoice in our penitent return, for His love is boundless. Then we have the problem of the elder brother who has done everything expected of him and is hurt by his father’s showering of good things on his brother. Beware of feeling righteous and indignant of those who squander God’s gifts, for God’s love is not our love and He calls us to love like He does. The father in the parable tells his older son that he has all that he possesses and to rejoice that his brother is not dead but alive. As we approach Great Lent let us return to our Father’s house in penitence, whatever our individual situations are and be assured of our Heavenly Father’s love.

Much Love,

Fr. George.

PS: Please, you must let me know if you intend to come to the Liturgy on Sunday 14^thMarch as numbers are limited by social distancing. If you turn up without making arrangements, it will not be possible for you to be allowed into church. Don’t forget if we break the law in this matter, it is I who will be fined, not you!!!!!