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.

Christmas Around the Diocese

Below are details of Christmas services at some of the churches in our diocese.  The first date given is that in the Church calendar, followed by the civil calendar date in brackets.  The date in brackets is the date for your diary.

The Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God and the Holy Royal Martyrs

Chiswick, West London

Thursday, 24th December (6th January) - Christmas Eve

8.00 a.m. - The Royal Hours followed by the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St Basil the Great

6.00 p.m. - The Vigil of the Nativity (Great Compline and Matins)

Friday, 25th December (7th January) - Christmas Day

10.00 a.m. - The Hours and Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom

The Parish of St Elisabeth the New-Martyr

Wallasey, Merseyside (near Liverpool)

Thursday, 24th December (6th January) - Christmas Eve

7.00 p.m. - The Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St Basil the Great

Friday, 25th December (7th January) - Christmas Day

9.45 a.m. - The Hours and Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, followed by a bring-and-share Christmas lunch

Sunday, 27th December (9th January) - The Commemoration of St James, Brother of the Lord

9.45 a.m. - The Divine Liturgy of St James of Jerusalem

The Parish of St John the Wonderworker

Colchester, Essex

Thursday, 24th December (6th January) - Christmas Eve

5.30 p.m. - The Vigil of the Nativity (Great Compline and Matins)

Friday, 25th December (7th January) - Christmas Day

10.00 a.m. - The Hours and Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom

The Church of the Mother of God: the Joy of All Who Sorrow
Mettingham, Suffolk


Thursday, 24th December (6th January) - Christmas Eve
9.00 a.m. - The Royal Hours
6.00 p.m. - Evening Service


Friday, 25th December (7th January) - Christmas Day
10.30 a.m. - The Hours and Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom


All enquiries ought to made to clergy of the respective churches, whose details may be found in the diocesan directory.

Matushka Mary Bond Reposes

17/11/2010

Of your charity, pray for the soul of Mary Bond (née Galitzine), the wife of Deacon Andrew Bond, who reposed in the Lord at All Hallows' Hospital on the 15th of November, 2010.

Thursday, 18th November

At 5p.m. Mary's body will be brought to church and evening service will begin at 6 o' clock, after which the Psalter will be read.

Friday, 19th November

9a.m. Requiem Liturgy

11a.m. Funeral Service

All services will take place at the Church of the Mother of God: the Joy of All Who Sorrow.

May our merciful God grant her a place of refreshment, light and peace.

May her memory be eternal.

Patronal Festival Celebrations in Mettingham

08/11/2010

The people of the church of the Most Holy Mother of God in Mettingham, the newest purpose-built Orthodox church in our diocese, celebrated their patronal festival on Saturday, the 6th of November, being the 24th of October in the Church calendar and the feast of the icon of the Mother of God, "the Joy of All Who Sorrow".

Small Compline was served on the previous evening and the Divine Liturgy was served on the day by the Revd Priest Philip Steer from our sister Diocese of Sourozh, who travelled with his Matushka Philippa and a parishioner from his church in Walsingham.  Friends from different parishes and jurisdictions were present for what was a beautiful celebration among friends and family in Christ at the church that is affectionately referred to as "Our Lady of Mettingham".  Also serving was the Revd Deacon Andrew Bond, whose Matushka Mary, the foundress of the church, is ailing and was unable to be present.  She was commemorated at the end of the Liturgy with the singing of a solemn Kyrie eleison.

A luncheon followed in a nearby church hall which had been graciously made available for the occasion.

Photographs of the church and the day's events may be viewed here.

Statement on the Departure of Fr Nikolai

22/10/2010

With the blessing of Archbishop Mark, Archpriest Peter Baulk of Dormition Cathedral, London, has issued the following statement about the departure of Priest Nikolai Savchenko from the position of Parish Priest at the cathedral.

The statement may be read in full here.

Decree

19/10/2010

His Eminence Archbishop Mark has issued a decree pertaining to the position of Parish Priestr of the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God and the Holy Royal Martyrs.

It is with sadness that the diocese says goodbye to Father Nikolai, Matushka Anna, and their family.

Vladyka Mark has appointed Priest Vladimir Vilgerts as Acting Assistant Rector.

The full decree may be read here.

New Reader

15/10/2010

Reader Antony Bardsley has been received into our diocese.  Antony was tonsured some years ago in our sister Diocese of Sourozh but has more recently been serving in the local Antiochian Deanery.  He is now part of our diocese and will serve with Deacon Andrew and Reader Mark at the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God: the Joy of All Who Sorrow, in Mettingham.

We welcome Reader Antony and pray that his service may be a blessing to the church in Mettingham as it continues to grow.