Abba Seraphim’s ‘Ruby’ Anniversary

Sunday, 9 July was the fortieth anniversary of Abba Seraphim’s episcopal consecration, which took place at Blackheath in 1977. There was no special festivity planned, as Abba Seraphim felt it was more important for him to meet his regular Sunday obligations, rather than disrupt them for a celebration, but a special Thanksgiving Prayer was offered during the Divine Liturgy, which he celebrated at St. Alban’s Orthodox Church in Chatham, as well as prayers commemorating his late consecrators: Metropolitan Georgius of Glastonbury, Bishop Ignatius Peter of Priddy and Archbishop Iltud of Dol. Abba Seraphim was touched to receive many affectionate greetings and assurances of prayers from the British Isles as well as around the world and, after leaving Church, he and the other clergy were entertained to lunch nearby at the home of one of the Chatham congregation. Later, in the evening he and Archdeacon James were entertained to dinner by a long-standing friend of the Church. The attached pictures of four decades ago were located in the extensive British Orthodox church archives; whilst a special YouTube compilation of photos was posted online as a tribute by Egyptian friends of the British Orthodox Church.