Shenouda Mamdouh visits England
From 28 July-7 August, Shenouda Mamdouh, Abba Seraphim’s Egyptian Secretary, visited England with his wife, Mary, as the guests of the British Orthodox Church. Shenouda was here previously in 2000 and 2007 but this was Mary’s first visit. During their stay they were largely based in Charlton, London. They had a busy schedule, which included visits to historic places and meetings with church friends. On 29 July the Coptologist, Dr. Carol Downer and husband Deacon Richard Downer gave a welcome dinner party at their home in Redhill, Surrey, at which were also present Abba Seraphim, Father John Whooley, Viscountess Coke, Mark Hassall and Trevor Maskery. On 30 July they visited the British Orthodox Church at Chatham and later Abba Seraphim took them to meet his mother, Joyce Edwards, who is in her ninety-seventh year, and they spent a lively time chatting with her.
On 31 July Shenouda Mamdouh joined Father Simon and Sheila Smyth as ecumenical guests at a Pontifical Mass in thanksgiving for the life of Barbara Bubb in Saint Nicholas Church, Worth, West Sussex. The Right Rev’d Geoffrey Rowell, Anglican Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe presided. Father Simon was seated in the sanctuary, an expression of the friendship and love, not only personal but also that exists between Bishop Geoffrey and our family of Churches, towards which he has long been a good friend. Bishop Geoffrey is the Archbishop of Canterbury’s representative to the Oriental Orthodox Churches and co-chairman of both the international Dialogue and the local Forum between the Anglican and Oriental Orthodox Churches. Following the Mass there was a reception in the bishop’s residence which included a guided tour by Bishop Geoffrey of his art collection and domestic chapel including an impressive collection of icons which included Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Syrian, Greek, Russian and Romanian. Bishop Geoffrey asked Shenouda Mamdouh to convey his greetings to His Holiness Pope Shenouda whom he has met on numerous occasions over the years.
On Sunday 1 August Shenouda and Mary joined the British Orthodox congregation in the Church of Christ the Saviour, Bournemouth. Following the Liturgy Shenouda gave an informative talk on his personal experience of the ministry of Pope Shenouda, beginning with his baptism by His Holiness, through Sunday School and his educational studies in which the Pope always showed interest and onto his life as translator for His Holiness at ecumenical meetings. He shared insightful knowledge into the Pope’s years under house arrest at the Monastery of Saint Bishoy, in particular emphasising His Holiness’ good humour and joy throughout that time. Several of the points that Father Simon had made in his sermon, on the example from the Gospel for the day, of Levi who when called “left all, rose up, and followed” our Lord, were well illustrated from the life of Pope Shenouda who left all to become a monk, then a hermit and as bishop and then patriarch has always left his own will and desires in order to serve the people as a faithful shepherd. A short time of questions and discussion followed Shenouda’s talk.
The next day, before returning to London, Shenouda and Mary, together with Father Simon and Sheila, visited Hampton Court Palace. When visiting the Chapel Royal the party removed shoes (to the surprise of some other visitors not familiar with this act of piety on entering a church to pray) and lit candles before a Greek icon of Christ Pantocrater. Father Simon enquired of the verger concerning a prominent silver Ethiopian processional cross and learned that this was a gift to the chapel in the 1960s. He also explained that the oval shape in the east wall has in fact never contained a picture as mistakenly thought by many visitors but was believed to represent an egg, symbolic of the resurrection, similar to our own tradition of using ostrich eggs.
Mar Thimothios visits Church Secretariat
His Grace Dr. Mathews Mar Thimothios, Bishop of the Malankara Orthodox diocese of the UK, Europe and Africa paid a fraternal visit to the British Orthodox Church Secretariat at Charlton on 25 August, where he was wamly welcomed by Abba Seraphim.
His Grace Mar Thimothios is in the United Kingdom for a two month stay after having travelled extensively in Africa and Europe on pastoral visits to his diocese, which must be one of the largest in the world. He and Abba Seraphim last met during the latter’s pilgrimage to Kerala in January this year. He was accompanied by Dr. George Kutty, Secretary of St. Gregorios Orthodox Church in Brockley, South-east London, who both lunched with Abba Seraphim and Father Peter Farrington, Secretary of the Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches in the UK. During the visit the two bishops were able to discuss various pastoral issues as well as aspects of the history and traditions of the Malankara Church. Abba Seraphim presented Mar Thimothios with a copy of his A Pilgrimage to Malabar.
Pope Benedict’s State Visit to the United Kingdom
Abba Seraphim, accompanied by Fathers Simon Smyth & Peter Farrington attended an ecumenical service of Evening Prayer at Westminster Abbey on 17 September as part of the programme of events linked to the State Visit to the United Kingdom of H.H. Pope Benedict XVI.
The Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches, of which Abba Seraphim is a Vice-President, was well represented during the papal visit: H. G. Bishop Angaelos, as President of the Council, attended the reception for Pope Benedict at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on 16 September and joined in the procession of church leaders at Westminster Abbey. Also present at the Abbey were H.E. Archbishop Athanasios of the Syrian Orthodox Church and His Grace Bishop Mathews Mar Timotheos of the Malankara Orthodox Church, as well as priests from the Coptic and Syrian Orthodox Church.
Commenting on the Papal visit, Abba Seraphim said, “Pope Benedict’s visit is very important for all Christian communities in the United Kingdom as it emphasises the deep significance of our Christian heritage in shaping our culture and the values which underpin the fabric of the British way of life. Like many other European countries, in recent decades we have become a more multi-faith society but our tolerant and hospitable ethos has enabled us to welcome and respect other religious cultures. Pope Benedict’s message is no narrow or sectarian view, but encompasses all people of faith as well as respect for those with none; but it is uncompromising in upholding the dignity of each human being, created in the divine image. His warning of the dangers of an aggressively secular agenda, which marginalises religious faith, are timely and address the concerns of many religious people who feel that they have been neglected, ignored or patronised.
I hope Christians will read and digest carefully what the Pope has said during this visit, as it is supportive of Christian principles and addressses our role in contemporary society in a challenging but realistic way and I commend it to our Orthodox faithful. The eloquent comments of the Archbishop of Canterbury were totally consistent with Pope Benedict’s message, which appeared to resonate with church leaders of all mainstream denominations.”
Father Michael celebrates 77th Birthday
Father Michael Robson celebrated his 77th birthday at Callum Welch Court, the nursing home attached to Morden College at Blackheath. Although physically frail he remains in good spirits and enjoys opportunities to meet old friends. He is much loved and respected at Morden College and although he was not well enough to attend the Liturgy when Abba Seraphim last celebrated it in the college chapel on 24 August, many other members of the college attended and prayed for him. For his birthday, Father Michael had several visitors and was busily occupied opening the many cards and greetings received. Abba Seraphim, returning from the Liturgy at Babingley, brought him Holy Communion and prayed with him and gave him the latest news of the church.
Bournemouth weekend of Worship & Spirituality
The Bournemouth Church hosted a themed weekend from 24-26 September, which was supported by members of the local congregation as well as members from Portsmouth and Chatham and a catechumen from Hertfordshire. The programme was led by Father Simon Smyth and supported by Father Peter Farrington on the Saturday.
Following vespers on Friday night, the Russian film OCTOB (pronounced Ostrov) or Island, which starts with a monk in a desolated place praying the Jesus Prayer, followed by a flash back to 1942 and the war, as the story gradually unfolds. It is a story about the human soul which tells of forgiveness, repentance, human hearts and sin, and the confrontation of each of these with the Holy.
Next day, after morning prayer, the second session began with a follow-up to several points raised by the film, including Holy Fools, such as Saint Basil of Moscow, and to show that this was not something restricted to Russian Orthodoxy, mention was also made of Saint Francis of Assisi. It also focussed on how those who are not called to the monastic life can learn and profit from the example of monks and nuns and live lives of prayer and worship in the world, whilst also earning a living and supporting families. Brief clips were viewed from a film biography of the Scottish footballer Jimmy Johnstone (1944-2006) with colleagues and former players explaining their youthful obsession with the sport and the time and effort they put in being rewarded by the high level of skills they developed. The parable intended had been that although working people with family commitments might not be expected to put in the hours of prayer one might more reasonably expect from monks, nonetheless the more time and effort that could be put into our spiritual lives the better the spiritual fruit. It was also noted that these boys had not sat around lamenting that they could be good footballers if only they had a coach to teach them or even a proper football, just as we shouldn’t lament that if only we were monks or nuns or had more time we could become more spiritual. The footballing contribution was nicely balanced with a brief consideration of George Herbert’s seventeenth century poem The Elixir:
Teach me, my God and King,
In all things Thee to see,
And what I do in anything,
To do it as for Thee.
The other two morning sessions were on Prayer and then, specifically, the Jesus Prayer. Following the Sixth Hour prayer at noon there was a long lunch break allowing time for fellowship and reflection when most of those present went for walks together.
Afternoon Prayer was prayed together at 3 o’clock, followed by a discussion on Repentance, including a brief Power-Point presentation illustrating repentance, progress and sanctity using JCB excavators, shovels and a microscope. Some of us are like excavators and barely notice the dirt and muck not cleaned away; some have progressed sufficiently to notice the weight of dirt not cleaned off a shovel but others, like the saints on the icons who, like the high powered microscope, were aware of one speck of dirt. Abba Sisoes was just such a one. At his death when his disciples were exclaiming that he had no sins left to repent from, he answered that he didn’t know if he had even begun to repent. A lively discussion followed with contributions from everyone which led naturally into considerations of purification and illumination. The final session was on Silence and Stillness and included a handout on Christians striving to live a life of inner silence and prayer in New York. So the discussions came full circle to living an Orthodox spiritual life where we are, here and now.
Saturday concluded with Vespers. During the three different hours of prayer prayed that day the psalms were recited in several ways: either antiphonally around the congregation, each person praying the psalm allocated to them or each person praying simultaneously the psalms allotted to them. This was intended to enable everyone to experience different ways of praying the services so they might choose what worked best for them in their own prayer meetings.
Sunday began with the Divine Liturgy and after lunch the final half hour of the film was viewed (which had been held back from Friday so as not to spoil the surprise in the story) with its moving ending and the weekend concluded with Afternoon Prayer. The weekend was greatly appreciated by all those present for the opportunities for prayer and reflection and for the hard work by Fr. Simon in planning and organising the talks and discussions.
