Liverpool Liturgy Cancelled

05/12/2011

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Liturgy of the Liverpool mission of St Nicholas the Wonderworker, previously advertised for the 17th of December, will now not take place.  The next Liturgy is likely to be early in the New Year.

Diocesan Clergy Meeting

28/11/2011

Archbishop Mark and the clergy of the diocese met to discuss spiritual, pastoral and administrative matters on the 26th of November, being the 13th of November in the Church calendar and the feast of St John Chrysostom.  The day began with the Hours and Episcopal Divine Liturgy.

Over the weekend, two new readers were ordained and Father Andrew Phillips was awareded the palitsa.

May God grant many years to Archpriest Andrew and Readers Nicolas and Alexei.

Liturgy at the Cheltenham Mission

01/11/2011


The next Divine Liturgy of the Cheltenham Mission will be served at 10 a.m. on this coming Saturday, the 5th of November, being the 23rd of October in the Church calendar, and the feast of the Holy Apostle James, Brother of the Lord.


Further information, including the location and contact details, may be found in the attached poster.

New Guide for the Episcopal Divine Liturgy

12/10/2011


With joy we announce the publication of a new guide for clergy, servers, and all involved in the Divine Liturgy when served by a bishop.  This great service to the Orthodox Church in the English-speaking world is the labour of love of Archpriest Andrew Phillips, and copies may be ordered from him.  Details of the book as well as ordering information may be found here.

New Mission in Cheltenham

12/10/2011


With the blessing of Archbishop Mark, a new mission has been launched in the Cheltenham area under the care of Archpriest Vladimir Vilgerts.  The first Liturgy was served on the 24th of September and regular Liturgies will follow approximately once each month, on a Saturday.  The next Liturgy is scheduled for the 5th of November, being the 23rd of October in the Church calendar, and the feast of St James of Jerusalem, Brother of the Lord.


All enquiries ought to be directed to Mr Philip Hicks.  Details of the mission, including contact details and a webpage, may be found in the directory.

Recalling the Events of Ten Years Ago

10/09/2011

His Eminence Archbishop Mark has sent an encyclical letter to the clergy of the diocese on the subject of the necessity for love.  This may be found in the Articles section of the diocesan website.

Also, mindful of the tragic events resulting from lack of love that took place on the 11th of September, 2001, special petitions have been directed to be added to the litanies at the Divine Liturgy in all churches of the diocese on Sunday, the 11th of September.

Restored Furniture used in Church

01/09/2011

The encouraging story below, taken from the current issue of Elite magazine, gives a good example of how our heritage can be preserved for use by future generations.  If you have church furniture that has perhaps seen better days, then please consider having it restored and brought back into use in the service of God.

Photo Gallery Updated

01/09/2011

Photographs of recent events in the life of the diocese have now been added to the diocesan website, and may be viewed here.  If you would like news or photographs from your church's events to be added to the diocesan website, please send them to Michael Astley at subdeaconmichael@rocor.org.uk.  It is best if photographs are sent as e-mail attachments.

Many years to Archpriest Vladimir!

04/08/2011

On the feast of the Holy Royal Martyrs, His Eminence Archbishop Mark elevated Priest Vladimir Vilgerts to the rank of Archpriest.  Father Vladimir has been a faithful and hard-working servant to the Church and particularly to the cathedral parish since his installation as associate rector of the cathedral.  He is an asset to our diocese.  Please pray for him in his ministry that it may continue to bear fruit.

Feast of St Wandregesilius in Mettingham

02/08/2011


At 5 o' clock on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 3rd of August (21st July by the Church calendar), the new icon of St Wandregesilius will be blessed at the Church of the Mother of God: the Joy of All Who Sorrow, in Mettingham.  This will be followed by afternoon tea and Vespers.


On the following day, being the 22nd of July in the Church calendar and the heavenly birthday of St Wandregesilius, a festal Divine Liturgy will be served at the church at 10 o' clock, following the Hours.  Please arrive early for Confession.


The Life of St Wandregesilius, as well as the canon to him, is available from the Mettingham Orthodox Trust.  Please contact Deacon Andrew Bond directly.

Archpastoral Visitation

04/07/2011

His Eminence Archbishop Mark will visit the diocese from Friday, the 15th until Sunday, the 17th of July.  During this visit he plans to visit the parish of St Elisabeth in Wallasey and the cathedral parish of the Dormition of the Mother of God, in London.  Sunday the 17th is the feast of the Holy Royal Martyrs, and the patronal feast of the lower church at the cathedral.  Monday, the 18th, is the feast of St Elisabeth the New-Martyr, and festivities will be observed on the previous Saturday.

Vladyka Mark will serve the following services:

Friday, 15th July

6 p.m. - Great Vespers at St Elisabeth's

Saturday, 16th July

9 a.m. - Hours, Blessing ofthe Iconostas, and Divine Liturgy, with Cross-Procession, followed by bring-and-share lunch.

5 p.m. - Vigil at the cathedral of the Dormition.

Sunday, 17th July

10 a.m. - Hours and Divine Liturgy, followed by Trapeza.

It is a great blessing to have our bishop with us for this special time in the life of two of our parishes.

Colchester Patronal Feast

28/06/2011

The parish of St John the Wonderworker will celebrate its patronal feast this upcoming weekend.

The Vigil will be served at 5.30 p.m. on Friday, the 1st of July.  The Lesser Blessing of the Waters will be take place at 9 o' cock on the morning of Saturday, the 2nd of July, with the Divine Liturgy and Cross-Procession at 10 o' clock.

Services will be followed by a festal meal to which all are invited.  For further details, please contact Fr Andrew Phillips through the directory.

An Appeal for Musical Help

09/06/2011

The Monastery of St Pantaleimon in Clacton-on-Sea hopes to begin regular public services, including at least the Divine Liturgy on Sundays, to serve the people of the area.  However, this will require a competent and dedicated singer, familiar with the system of eight tones and the structure of the services, to assist on the kliros.  Detailed knowledge of how to construct the services is not essential as Fr Sergei is able to assist with this but, for the stability of the worshipping community, it is necessary that this role be taken on by somebody who is able to commit to regular attendance, whether this be weekly, fortnightly, or whatever other arrangement can be made.

If you or anybody you know may be able to offer this service of love to the Church, please contact Fr Sergei through the directory.

Two New Missions

25/05/2011

Two new missions have recently been launched within our diocese, both dedicated in honour of St Nicholas, the Wonderworker of Myra.

The first is an outreach effort of the cathedral parish of the Dormition of the Mother of God, and is based in Cardiff.  The Liturgy is served on one Saturday each month in the Greek Orthodox church of St Nicholas.

The second is a satellite mission of the Wallasey parish of St Elisabeth the New-Martyr, based in Liverpool.  The Liturgy will be served occasionally, as announced, at the Anglican parish church of Our Lady and St Nicholas.

Photographs from the first Liturgies of both missions may be viewed here and here, and contact details may be found in the directory.

Please pray for the clergy and people of these missions as they seek to reach out to isolated Orthodox people and to bring new people into the Ark of Salvation.

The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, and icon of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; therefore, thou hast achieved the heights by humility, riches by poverty.  O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.

-tropar, tone 4

The Jordanville Prayer Book

09/06/2011

The 1960 version of the Jordanville Prayer Book, containing the translations of Archimandrite Lazarus (Moore), is in print by permission of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, of pious memory. The cloth-bound facsimile reprint has been published by St George Orthodox Information Service and retails at £14.50 per copy.

SGOIS/Orthodox News, The White House, Mettingham, Suffolk NR35 1TP

StGeorgeOIS@aol.com

Paschal Epistle

24/04/2011

Christ is risen!

The Paschal Epistle of Archbishop Mark is now in the articles section of the website.

Diocesan Service of Holy Unction

04/04/2011

The time of year is again approaching when Orthodox Christians come together during the season of Great Lent to participate in the Mystery of Holy Unction.  It will be celebrated in our diocese on Saturday, the 9th of April, being the 27th of March in the Church calendar and the Saturday of the Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God.  This will take place at 2 o' clock in the afternoon at the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God and the Holy Royal Martyrs, in Chiswick, West London.

 

The service consists of seven epistles and seven Gospels, each reminding us of the healing brought to us by Christ.  In his general Epistle, St James, the Brother of the Lord, exhorts the local churches, saying 'Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord' (James 5:14).  Acknowledging our physical and spiritual sickness, we come to God in prayer, asking for healing of our souls and bodies, for the sake of our salvation.

 

In a time when the world presents us with all manner of alternative therapies, self-help books, and new age healing techniqies, relying on man's own power to heal himself, it is important for us Christians to remind ourselves that it is Christ Who heals us; it is Christ Who redeems fallen creation, with its suffering and pain; it is Christ alone Who has conquered the power of sin and death by his glorious Resurrection.  Therefore, it is to Christ that we must turn for healing of our souls and bodies; it is in the incarnate Christ that we must trust to raise us beyond the mire of fallenness through his Resurrection and Ascension, and it is to Christ that we must pray with compunction and humility.

 

Because Holy Unction is intrinsically bound to the physical and spiritual healing that we receive in the life of the Church, we must approach this Mystery as we would Holy Communion, and seek to free ourselves of the sins that separate us from the fullness of life in Christ.  Therefore, it is proper that we should confess our sins and be absolved before we are anointed.

 

May this anointing strengthen us in our pilgrim journey into the fullness of life in Christ, at the will of the Father, and through the power of the Holy and life-creating Spirit.

Wallasey Parish Launches New Mission

09/03/2011

The parish of St Elisabeth the New-Martyr, Wallasey, has launched a new mission to reach out to people in Liverpool, with the intention of integrating them into church life in the Wallasey parish.  The mission will be under the dedication of St Nicholas the Wonderworker, for which purpose an icon of St Nicholas was generously donated by the cathedral parish in London.  The icon originally came from the St Nicholas parish in Bradford, which closed in the 1990s, so has returned to the north to be a channel of grace to those who call upon the Saint in prayer before it.

The mission will take the form of occasional Divine Liturgies and possibly other services, hosted at the Anglican parish church of Our Lady and St Nicholas in Liverpool city centre, through the kind hospitality of its parish priest and church council.  The first Liturgy will be served on Saturday, the 8th of May, being the 21st of May in the civil calendar.  More details will appear here nearer the time.

Mettingham Church Launches New Website

08/03/2011

The Church of the Mother of God: Joy of All Who Sorrow in Mettingham has, in the last few days, launched the full version of its website, which until recently has been a basic webpage.  This beautiful and informative website may be viewed here.  Please do take the time to explore some of the spiritual material particularly.

Consecration of the Manchester Parish

07/03/2011

The parish of the Intercession of the Mother of God in Longsight, Manchester, is to be consecrated by Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh on Saturday, the 28th of February, being the 13th of March in the civil calendar.  Services will begin at approximately 9.30 a.m.

While this parish is now stavropegial, it was once part of our diocese and it would be good for us to support them at this special time.  Please pray for the Pokrov parish and its people.

Pan-Orthodox Vespers

04/03/2011

On the first Sunday in Great Lent, being the Sunday of Orthodoxy, it has become customary in parts of the world where various Orthodox jurisdictions exist for pan-Orthodox Vespers to be served.  This year his Eminence Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh cordially invites us to take part in this service, which is to take place at the Cathedral of the Dormition and All Saints in Ennismore Gardens.  More details may be found nearer the time on the Sourozh diocesan website.

Please Support our Missions

Haitian missions

St Petroc missions

Ordination of Father Antony

16/02/2011

Over the past weekend, Reader Antony Bardsley of the Joy of All Who Sorrow church in Mettingham was ordained to the priesthood to serve the church and its people.  An account of the events may be read in the "articles" section of this website and photographs should appear in the near future.

May the Lord grant the newly-ordained Priest Antony many years!

Blessing of a Monastic Novice at St Eanswythe's Mission

09/02/2011

Hieromonk Michael of the Mission of St Eanswythe, Devon, will bless a novice nun on Sunday, the 27th of February, being the 14th of February in the Church calendar, and Sexagesima Sunday.

Services are to begin at 10.30 a.m. and will be as follows:

- Mattins

- The Litany of the Holy Trinity

- The Blessing of a Novice

- The Divine Liturgy

Services will take place at Christchurch chapel.  The full address may be found in the directory.  All are welcome to attend the services and to join the congregation for lunch at a local venue afterwards.

Please pray for the new novice at this special time.

St Eanswythe's is a stavropegial Western Rite mission of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, directly under the omophor of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of New York and Eastern America, and operates within Great Britain with the agreement of His Eminence Archbishop Mark.

Ordinations

03/02/2011

The details of the services at which Reader Antony is to be ordained are below.  All Services will take place at the church of the Ikon of the Mother of God: the Joy of All Who Sorrow, Mettingham.

Friday, 11th February:

• - Hours and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. with ordination to the subdiaconate and diaconate, immediately preceded by the Reception of the Bishop.
• - All-Night Vigil at 7 p.m.

Saturday, 12th February:

• - Hours and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 10.a.m. with ordination to the priesthood, immediately preceded by the Reception o the Bishop and followed by trapeza.

Archbishop Mark will serve the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God on Sunday, the 13th of February.

Ordination of Reader Antony

12/01/2011

On Friday, the 11th and Saturday, the 12th of February by the civil calendar, Reader Antony Bardsley will be ordained to the subdiaconate, diaconate, then the priesthood at the hands of His Eminence Archbishop Mark.  Antony will serve as priest to the Church of the Mother of God: the Joy of All Who Sorrow, in Mettingham.

This begins a new stage in the life of the congregation at our church in Suffolk.  Please pray for them, and for Reader Antony and his wife, Helen.

Details of services will appear here nearer the time.