Archimandrite Lazarus' 20th Anniversary

27/11/2012

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the repose of Archimandrite Lazarus (Moore), whose contribution to the missionary and liturgical Orthodox life in the English-speaking world was invaluable, and the fruits of which are seen today.

Further information may be found on the website of the Father Lazarus Moore Foundation.

Mettingham Patronal Feast

02/11/2012

Tuesday, the 6th of November, being the 24th of October in the Church calendar, will be feast of the icon of the Mother of God: the Joy of All Who Sorrow.  This will be the patronal feast of the church of the same name in Mettingham.

The Vigil will be served at 7.30 on the evening of the 5th of November, with a festal Divine Liturgy at 10.30 on the following morning.  This will be followed by refreshments in the College.  All are welcome.

Please pray for the community of the church and all who work towards realising the aims of the College of Our Lady of Mettingham.  Please also take note of the observance of Founder's Day on the 15th of November.

Russian Orthodox Bishops' Conference

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Conference of Russian Orthodox Bishops Serving outside of the territorial lands of the Russian Orthodox Church will take place in London from the 19th to the 21st of October. The event will mark the fifth anniversary of the re-establishment of canonical unity within the Russian Orthodox Church.  The conference will take place under the presidency of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk.

On the evening of the 20th of October, at 6 p.m. the festive Vigil will take place at our Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God and the Holy Royal Martyrs at 57 Harvard Road, Chiswick, London W4 4ED.

On the following morning of the 21st of October, at 10 a.m. the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God and All Saints at 67 Ennismore Gardens, London SW7 1NH.

The festive services will be presided by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, together with Metropolitan Hillarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, and other bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church with their dioceses outside its canonical territory.

80th Anniversary of the Repose of Bishop Nikolai

10/10/2012

2012 marks the 80th anniversary of the repose of the soul of the ever-memorable Vladyka Nikolai (Karpov), Bishop of London. During his short episcopacy, Vladyka had a seminal role in galvinising the fractured Russian Orthodox community in London, restoring unity through his godly example.

The forthcoming issue of Orthodox News will include a full obituary of Bishop Nikolai translated by Baroness Vera Wrangel.

New Priest to Serve UK Missions

09/10/2012

On the 5th of October, 2012, being the 22nd of September by the Church calendar, Deacon Thomas Cook was ordained to the priesthood to serve the Western Rite missions of ROCOR in the UK.

The ordination took place in the church of St Ambrose of Milan in New York, at the hands of His Grace Bishop Jerome of Manhattan, the Episcopal Vicar for ROCOR's Western Rite Vicariate.

Fr Thomas will be rector of St Edmund the Martyr Orthodox Church in Nottingham. He is the first Western Rite priest to be ordained within ROCOR to serve in England.  Fr Thomas is married to Matushka Jane and they have two children.  He has been Orthodox for six years and had previously belonged to a parish of the Diocese of Sourozh.  He holds a B.A. with Honours from King's College, University of London, and a Diploma in Orthodox Christian Studies from the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge.

May God grant the newly-ordained Priest Thomas many years!

Colchester Parish Video

18/09/2012

The parish of St John of Shanghai has launched a Youtube photo-collage giving a flavour of the worshipping life of the parish.

Cheltenham Mission: Important Notice

04/09/2012

Through pan-Orthodox collaboration, the mission serving Gloucester and the Cotswolds has secured a regular time for the Divine Liturgy.  Beginning on Sunday, the 7th of October, the Divine Liturgy will be served on the first Sunday of every month in the same location as before.

Through the kindness of Fr Anthimos Papandreou of the Greek Orthodox Parish of St John Chrysostom in Bentham, the Sunday morning Liturgy in that church on the first Sunday of the month will be under the auspices of the Russian Orthodox mission.  The Liturgy will be served by the clergy of the parish of St Nicholas the Wonderworker in Oxford, which is under the Diocese of Sourozh.  The mission remains a mission of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, under the omophor of His Eminence Archbishop Mark and the spiritual care of Father Vladimir Vilgerts.

Further details of services may be found on the mission website.

A Reminder About the Celebrations in Mettingham

30/08/2012

Please remember to support the Mettingham Orthodox Trust at the inauguration of the College of Our Lady of Mettingham on this coming Saturday, the 1st of September.  Full details may be found here.  If you cannot be physically present, your prayers would be appreciated.

Please also visit the new website of the trust.

A Statement on the Protest in Moscow

21/08/2012

Hie Eminence Archbishop Mark has issued a statement on the subject of the protest in the cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.

It may be read in the articles section of the website.

Cathedral Patronal Feast

10/08/2012

The cathedral parish of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God and the Holy Royal Martyrs will celebrate its patronal feast on Tuesday, the 28th of August, being the 15th of August in the Church calendar and the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God.

His Eminence Archbishop Mark will serve the Divine Liturgy at 9 o' clock.  This will be followed by a Cross-Procession and shared meal in the church hall.  All are welcome.

Cheltenham Liturgy Cancelled

07/08/2012

The Divine Liturgy of the Cheltenham Mission, previously advertised for the 18th of August, will now not take place.  Future Liturgies will be advertised here and in the diocesan calendar as usual.

The College of Our Lady of Mettingham

06/08/2012

The formal inauguration of the chantry College of Our Lady of Mettingham will take place on Saturday, the 1st September. Please pray for a fine day since it involves an outdoor procession via the grave of the foundress where a station will be made to sing Memory eternal for her.  The procession with the icon of Our Lady of Mettingham will continue to The White House where a circuit will be made around the house. The icon will finally be installed in the hall so that it is the first thing that college visitors will see when they enter the building.

10 a.m. - Panykhida for the repose of the foundress.

3 p.m. - Blessing of the icon, followed by a procession and installation of the icon.

4 p.m. - Afternoon tea at The White House.

7.30 p.m. - Great Vespers

St Botolph Pilgrimage to Iken

05/06/2012

On Saturday, the 30th of June, being the 17th of June by the Church calendar and the feast of St Botolph, the Church of the Joy of All Who Sorrow, Mettingham, will lead a pilgrimage in the saint's honour.  This will be to the village of Iken, on the Suffolk coast, which was home to a 7th-century monastery established by the saint. 

A Moleben will be served at 12 noon in the village church of St Botolph, before the newly-painted icon, by the hand of Ephrem Carrasco.  A picnic lunch will follow, should the weather permit.

For details of how to get to the church, please see the details of this event in the diocesan calendar, where there is a Google map with directions.  Alternatively, you can contact any of the clergy from the Joy of All Who Sorrow church.

Colchester Patronal Feast

22/05/2012


The Colchester parish of St John of Shanghai will celebrate its patronal feast on the 30th of June (being the Saturday after the 19th of June by the Church calendar).  The Episcopal Divine Liturgy will be served by His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk at 9.45 a.m. and will be followed by a Cross-Procession.


All are welcome.  Details of the location of the church may be found in the directory.


Please note that the London cathedral parish is planning to make a pilgrimage to St John's church for this occasion.  Anybody interested in joining this pilgrimage should contact Reader Nicolas Mabin.  Here are further details in English and Russian.

The Gloucester Mission

18/05/2012

Our Mission in Gloucester has launched a vibrant new website detailing its services, mission, and activities.  It has a wealth of resources, including links to many other useful websites.  This is a new site and the mission welcomes feedback.

Please note that the next Liturgy of the mission will be on Saturday, the 9th of June at 10 a.m.

Visitation of the Kursk Icon of the Mother of God

01/05/2012

With joy we announce that the wonder-working Kursk Icon of the Mother of God (Our Lady of the Sign) will visit our diocese next week.  The itinerary is below:

Wednesday, 9th May

• 6.30 p.m. - Moleben with Akathist at the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, Chiswick.

Thursday, 10th May

•  6.30 p.m. - Moleben with Akathist at the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, Chiswick.

Friday, 11th May

• 5.30 p.m. - Moleben with Akathist at the church of St Elisabeth the New-Martyr, Wallasey.  The icon will remain in church for veneration until shortly after 7 p.m.

Saturday, 12th May

• 11 a.m. - The icon will be received at the church of St John of Shanghai, Colchester. Molebens and prayers will be offered until the icon's departure at 2 p.m.
• 5 p.m. - All-night Vigil at the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, Chiswick.

Sunday, 13th May

• 10 a.m. - Episcopal Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, Chiswick.

Tuesday, 15th May

• The icon will visit the Greek Orthodox church of St Nicholas in Cardiff and our Cheltenham Mission. Details to be confirmed.
• 6.30 p.m. - Moleben with Akathist at the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, Chiswick.

For those seeking directions, address details of all churches in our diocese may be found in the directory.

Upcoming Liturgies of our Missions

24/03/2012

The Divine Liturgy will be served at our missions in Cheltenham and Liverpool next month.

Liverpool: 7th April (25th March) by the Church calendar, at 10.15 a.m. This will be at the Anglican church of Our Lady and St Nicholas.  This is the feast of the Annunciation.

Cheltenham: 21st April (8th April by the Church calendar), at 10 a.m.  This will be at the Greek Orthodox Church of St John Chrysostom.  This is the Saturday of Bright Week.

Further details of both locations may be found through the directory.

"Te Deum" Concert in Cheltenham

23/02/2012

Te Deum, an a capella quartet of singers, will hold a charity concert in Cheltenham on Thursday, the 15th of March at 7.30 pm. The concert, in support of the Sue Ryder Hospice at Cheltenham, will take place at the Greek Orthodox Church of St John Chrysostom, Bentham, GL51 4UT, near Cheltenham.

Tickets are £10 on the door. The Te Deum ensemble specialises in Russian choral works - both sacred and secular - and the singers, all of whom are professional musicians, also support the parish choir of our Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, in Chiswick.

The concert is promoted by the ROCOR mission in Cheltenham: the Russian Orthodox Community in Gloucestershire & Cotswolds, in conjunction with Gloucestershire Churches Together. 

Cheltenham Liturgy

23/02/2012

The next Liturgy of the mission in Cheltenham will take place on Saturday, the 10th of March, 2012, at 10 am at the Greek Orthodox Church, Bentham Lane, Bentham, GL51 4UT.  Following the services refreshments and Russian & Ukrainian food will be served in accordance with the Church rules of fasting.

The webpage of the mission is here, and the Facebook group is here.  You can also follow the mission on Twitter: RussiansInGlos

Other contact details may be found on the directory page.

The College of Our Lady of Mettingham

14/02/2012

The Mettingham Orthodox Trust is been registered with charity status as of the 6th of February this year.  In time, and with the blessing of Archbishop Mark, the church activity of propagating the Gospel through teaching, hospitality, and the making available of Orthodox items, as well as the restoration of devotion to the Mother of God in the Waveney Valley area, will operate under the title of the College of Our Lady of Mettingham.

If you would like to know more or indeed contribute to the work of the College, please contact Deacon Andrew Bond through the directory page.

A new icon of Our Lady of Mettingham has been painted and will be a focal point of devotion once it has been blessed, at a date to be announced.  The beautiful icon is by the hand of Efrem Carrasco and incorporates elements of the image of the Mother of God that was commonly venerated in Mettingham in mediaeval times.  May it be a channel of grace to all who who honour the Mother of God through it.

Troparion - tone 4

Rejoice, Our Lady and All-Pure Virgin Mary,

for thou art enthroned once more

as Mettingham's joy and Waveney's glory.

Guide and protect us, we pray thee,

strengthening our faith in thy Son,

leading us into the Way of salvation,

since thou art both Mother of God and Queen of Heaven.

New Western Rite Website

22/01/2012

The stavropegial communities of the Western Rite Vicariate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia have launched a new website, giving an introduction and points of contact for those interested in becoming Orthodox in the Western Rite.

These missions and study societies are directly under the omophor of Metropolitan Hilarion of New York and Eastern America, and operate on the territory of the Great Britain Diocese with the agreement of Archbishop Mark of Great Britain.  They are cared for by Bishop Jerome of Manhattan, the Episcopal Vicar for ROCOR's Western Rite Vicariate.

Please pray that this witness of the Orthodox Faith will add to the existing efforts to bring souls to Christ.

Christmas Epistle

06/01/2012

Achbishop Mark's Christmas Epistle to the Diocese is now available to be read online.

Cheltenham Mission

06/01/2012


The next Liturgy of the Cheltenham Mission will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, the 28th of January.  Full details may be read here.