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

Procession of the Honourable Wood

of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord.

Beginning of the Dormition Fast.

“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 sympathise 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.)

Great Martyr and Healer St. Panteleimon. Feast day 27^th July.  

St. Panteleimon was named Pantoleon “in all things a lion” at birth in Nicomedia (in what is now Turkey), his father being a pagan but his mother a devout Christian. Because of his piety and being a trained doctor, who dispensed to all free of charge with a compassionate heart, he was given the name Panteleimon meaning “all-merciful”. St. Panteleimon was given the epithet “Unmercenary” to denote the fact that he healed out of love and compassion in the name of Jesus and not for profit. The term “Unmercenary” is given to such saintly healers in our Church.

In the persecutions under the Roman emperor Maximian, having healed a blind man, St.Panteleimon was arrested and, under pressure, the blind man had told the authorities who had healed him and that it was done in the name of Jesus. For this the man was immediately killed and the authorities, after failing to persuade the saintly doctor to renounce Christ, he was tortured and finally beheaded (in icons he is shown with a box of medicines in one hand and in the other a dispensing spoon).  Such a fate has been the lot of our martyred saints down the centuries. Does it not therefore tell us, that to truly honour them we have to continue to be compassionate, merciful and help all who are in need without thought of payment in return?

Sunday 1^st August. Procession of the Honourable Wood of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord. Seven Maccabeaen Martyrs: Avimos, Antoninos, Gurias, Eleazar, Eusabonos, Alimos, and Markellos, their mother Solomoni, and their teacher , Eleazar (166BC). St Cennydd (Kenneth), Hermit of Llangennith, Bishop of Winchester (6^th). St Ethelwold, Bishop of Winchester (984). St Proodos of the Holy Cross. St Timothy the wonderworker.

“Conquer evil people by gentle kindness, and make zealous people wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion.” (St. Isaac the Syrian.)

The Gospel Reading for the Holy Cross: John 19:6-11,13-20,25-28a, (or 30-35). “Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”.................”

The Gospel Reading for the day: Matthew 9:1-8. “So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed..................”

In the Gospel for the Holy Cross we see the ultimate compassion and love of God in the worst of human conditions. Look on the cross in all its barbarity and cruelty but behold its serenity that has blessed the faithful down the centuries. Also look beyond the cross when the Holy battered body of Christ broke out of the tomb in the Glorious Resurrection. The compassion of Christ, even in His dying hours, was for His mother and the beloved disciple John; to the one he gave a loving son and to the other a mother, knowing that they would love and support each other. But, but, but, from the cross Christ speaks to us also and all humanity in our sinfulness, lack of faith, intolerance, pride, greed and selfishness that put Him on the cross with the words: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Let us therefore look upon the cross in awe at the boundless love of God that we are called to share with all.

In the Gospel for the day Christ heals a paralytic by saying that his sins are forgiven which brings an angry response from the powers that be. Let us ponder on this and ask forgiveness for our sins that we may be free of our paralysis to be able to walk with God once again in the Garden of Eden!

Much Love,

Fr. George.

(1) On Thursday evening 5^thAugust a Vesperal Divine Liturgy will be served at 7pm for the feast of the Transfiguration. This is the start of our resumption of mid-week services. We hope to restart Great Vespers soon, details later.

(2) We are resuming collecting food etc. for the Edlington food bank from now on. Anything you can donate will be gratefully received. At this time it is needed more than ever.

(3) We intend to have a gardening afternoon when you are asked, if able, to come and help. We have a lawnmower and hedge trimmer, all we need are willing hands. Further details will be given later. Fr.G.