Dear Sons and Daughters of Our Parish,

After much thought and prayer, it is with a very heavy and troubled heart that I have to tell you that because we are now in the top tier of the coronavirus pandemic I have decided that our church will be closed immediately with our beloved Metropolitan's blessing. This means that there will be no Liturgy this coming Sunday 25th October and until further notice. This will be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that we can open as soon as this is thought to be safely possible. I am aware that this will cause some distress and hurt but I have to take all things into consideration, not least the safety and wellbeing of the most vulnerable among us. Please pray for Fr. Michaei and I at this difficult time but more especially pray for each other and all those affected by this wretched virus. Please share this with as many people as possible.

Much Love,

Fr. George.

PLEASE PRAY WITH ME. 

As we begin a new period of lockdown, beginning on Sunday 8th November 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 was made 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 November

Most Holy Mother of God Save Us.

ALL SAINTS OF ANTIOCH

“The virtues build 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 22^nd November. 24^th Sunday after Pentecost. Afterfeast of the Entry into the Temple. Apostles Philemon and Archippos, of the Seventy. Martyr Apphia, Equal-to- the-Apostles, wife of Philemon, and Onesimos, disciple of St Paul(1^st). Martyrs Cecilia, Valerian, Tiburtius, and Maximus at Rome (c 230). Hieromartyr  Deiniol the Younger, Abbot of Bangor (621). St Kallistos 11 (Xanthopoulos), Patriarch of Constantinople (1397).

“The whole earth is a living icon of the face of God.”

(St. John of Damascus.)

Today’s Gospel Reading: Luke 12:16-21. “Then He spoke this parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.........”

In today’s Gospel Christ tells a parable about a very successful man who has so much produce from his land that he decides to build bigger and better barns so that he could have wealth and prosperity for many years to come and says to his soul “......eat, drink, and be merry.” God calls him a fool as his soul is required of him that very night. We can store treasure on earth and have lots of money stashed away so that we can have an easy life without worries or cares. But can we?

In the present circumstances we see rich and poor together suffering and dying because of the pandemic. We are but dust and before God we are all equal. Our earthly wealth and comfort is transitory, it will pass to others and to others and to others and to others.......................... Hopefully at some point it will truly be of benefit in the world and not just an historic ghost of our worldly pride.

Our true treasure as Christians is what we do for God, however small it seems to be in the world, in the Heavenly Kingdom it is real treasure. In a land beset by drought and famine, water and food is indeed treasure. In a world of doubt, greed and self importance, humility and love of God and therefore of others is the only real treasure we have. This will be stored in God’s eternal granaries to be shared by all.

Much Love,

Fr. George.

Joannis  “MEMORY ETERNAL!”.