25th March 2020

I intend to do an article twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays until this crisis, God willing, passes.

“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.

Today the Church commemorates THE ANNUNCIATION TO OUR MOST HOLY LADY THE MOTHER OF GOD AND EVER-VIRGIN MARY.

Repose of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow, Enlightener of North America(1925). St. Tikhon was a very gentle and humble man who after the Russian Revolution was elected Patriarch, a post abolished 200 years before. These were very difficult days of severe persecution of the Russian Church but Saint Tikhon did all he could to keep the shattered Church alive. Who would have thought that after the fall of atheistic communism the Church of Russia would be the glorious Church we see today?

THE GOSPEL READING FOR TODAY:

Luke 1:24-38. The appearance of the angel to Mary announcing the conception of her Son by the Holy Spirit and being told of His being called the Son of God.

“May God teach every one of us to strive for His truth, and for the good of the Holy Church, rather than something for our own sake.” St. Tikhon.

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us.

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

AXIOS!

AXIOS is Greek for "WORTHY OF", "DESERVING OF", "SUITABLE" etc. and is an acclaimation that has been used at the ordination of a bishop, priest or deacon from early times in the Orthodox Church. On Sunday 15th March, at the Divine Liturgy, our deacon Fr. Michael will be ordained priest by Metropolitan Silouan. I do hope that as many people as possible will be present to greet our Archbishop and to support Fr. Michael. Of course none of us are ever worthy to be ordained but at ordinations the bishop prays that what we are lacking God will provide. The priesthood is a great privelege and also a great burden for those called and the unique burden carried by priests sometimes make it a lonely calling.

When you look at a priest's vestments the fringes on the epitrachelion represent the people who they are responsible for, before God.

Metropolitan Silouan is not coming alone but is bringing his Mum with him to meet you all, which is wonderful. He will be coming on Saturday 14th March and staying overnight. Vespers will be served on Saturday 14th March at 4.pm and it would be great if we could have more than a couple of people attending in fact as many people as possible on this special occasion. There will be a reception at Fish Bits restaurant on Carr House Road after the Divine Liturgy but don't get excited - His Eminence prefers us not to eat fish during Great Lent but there is scampi and other fasting foods available. Places are limited but there should be enough room for those wishing to go and the parish is paying. The post code for the restaurant is DN1 2BY and they do have a car park.

Please pray for Fr. Michael and his family and for all the people of our parish.

Much Love,

Fr. George.