Sunday, 5th April 2020

“Most Holy Mother of God save us.”

“The virtues build a new person radiating love to the world.” (Metropolitan Paul (Yazigi) of Aleppo) 

Now that our churches have been closed it is good for us to remember that the monastic heart of our Orthodox Church is still beating strongly in the many monasteries around the world where our beloved monks and nuns pray unceasingly for the whole world in an ever-giving spirit of love. Let us join with them for a short time and lay aside those earthly cares and worries which can become our spiritual enemies in times of stress. Let us also be joyful and thankful that we are part of this ancient but always new God-bearing Holy Tradition.

SUNDAY 5TH APRIL. FIFTH SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT. St Mary of Egypt. St Mark the Anchorite, of Athens (400). St Theodora of Thessaloniki (892).

Today the Church commemorates St Mary of Egypt whose beautiful icon we have in our church given by Ann. St Mary led a very dissolute life in the fleshpots of Egypt from an early age. She went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem paying her way by sexual favours given to her fellow pilgrims. She became aware that before an icon of the Mother of God that she could not enter the church. She withdrew from the world and lived a very ascetic life of prayer and penitence in the desert beyond the River Jordan. Here during Lent she was found totally naked by St Zosimas to whom she told her life story. He returned for three years to give her Communion but on his last visit he found Mary’s incorrupt dead body. Written in the sand next to her head was her name This is an illustration of a great sinner returning to God and becoming a much loved saint of the Church.

Today’s Gospel reading Mark 10:32b-45
For St Mary of Egypt Luke 7:36-50

“Acquire a peaceful spirit, and around you thousands will be saved.”
St Seraphim of Sarov.

In today’s Gospel Christ tells the disciples in more detail about what is to happen to Him and of His Passion and Resurrection. The disciples fall out about who is to sit in glory at Christ’s right and left hand. Christ’s message to them and by implication to us is that to be a great follower of Christ we must become the servant of all. We are indeed called to be the servants of the servants of God. There is no place in our church life where we lord it over others and expect to be respected. We are rebels in the world and our bond is a bond of love that may be attacked, damaged and put under great strain but can never be broken. The Gospel for St Mary of Egypt tells of the penitent woman who poured fragrant ointment on the feet of Christ, washed them with her tears and dried them with her hair in contrast to the Pharisee whose house He was in. No water was provided for foot washing and only rebuke for the sinful woman. Her sins were forgiven as were those of our great example St Mary of Egypt At this difficult time please pray for each other and all of God’s Creation.

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 will follow shortly