On 5 October at St. Luke’s Church, Chelsea, Abba Seraphim, accompanied by Father James and Deacon Athanasius, attended a launch of Serena Fass’ latest book, “In the footsteps of St Thomas: the Apostle of the East”, where all those present were warmly welcomed to St. Luke’s by the Rector, Prebendary Brian Leathard. Abba Seraphim gave a short introductory speech, noting that in the Book of Ecclesiastes we are warned that “of the making of many books there is no end and much study is a weariness of the flesh”. This was Serena’s third book in the current series, with a fourth already well on its way, but the preacher’s admonition in this case was not appropriate, principally because, far from being wearisome, Serena’s books are a delight both to the eye and to the intellect.

He suggested that although they are paper-backs, they don’t quite qualify as coffee-table books, but left out on display they will certainly entertain guests and inspire conversation. The high quality of illustrations, which have been most carefully chosen, owe much to Serena’s discerning eye and, indeed, a large proportion were taken by Serena herself. Although the text is divided into blocks, rather than long prose, it is both informative and scholarly, as he knew that Serena’s preparatory reading and research had been thorough and extensive. Her previous books on “The Cross” and “The Three Magi” set a splendidly high standard, which “St. Thomas” matches. Abba Seraphim confessed that in our British Orthodox Church library these are not stored on the bookshelves with other tomes, but sit on the tables by the side, so that they can be easily browsed and enjoyed by those not engaged on detailed research; but who are delighted and edified nonetheless.

He often wonders why the apostle Thomas is recalled to history as “Doubting Thomas”, because his doubts were confronted and removed by his encounter with our Lord and he became one of the first to proclaim belief in the resurrection. For us, he is surely “Believing Thomas” ! Of the twelve apostles of the Lord, only a few stand out as a continuing inspiration to the modern Christian community. It is surely significant that Thomas’s mission to the East is still so vividly recalled that the ancient Christian communities of the entire subcontinent designate themselves as “Thomas Christians”.

Abba Seraphim went on to say that Serena’s books, and this one in particular, remind us of the universality of Christendom and her travels along the mission route of Saint Thomas are not only a mini-Baedeker guide, but also a spiritual pilgrimage in the apostle’s footsteps which we can trace even from the comfort of our homes. Following his own visit to Kerala in 2010, Abba Seraphim wrote a brief memoir, but he felt that it pales into insignificant when compared with Serena’s splendid book, which encapsulates all the local colour and delight of following in St. Thomas’s path. The connection between people and places is one which we readily make, especially nowadays when there are few parts of the globe that can be described as unexplored. Sometimes buildings, shrines and other structures associated with those who lived long ago, act as historical markers on our pilgrimage, but the continuity of a two-thousand year old living community, who owe their present faith to the outreach of Saint Thomas, is undoubtedly the most remarkable and enduring legacy.

The fact that Serena also publishes her books with the clear intention of benefitting Christian communities under threat, through donating a generous share of the receipts from their sales to “Aid to the Church in Need” should not be overlooked. Although the plight of Christians in Syria and Iraq – areas which closely benefitted from the Apostle’s ministry – are currently a priority, the outreach of this admirable charity is both geographically universal (supporting Christians in 148 countries worldwide) and eirenic. The Christian Lenten observance – and likewise the Muslim Ramadam – encourage not merely personal spiritual discipline, but also a commitment to offer pragmatic support to our brethren in need. The delight in distributing presents to friends and family at Christmas not only makes “In the Footsteps of St. Thomas” an ideal seasonal gift, but also offers practical help to those who are suffering because of their Christian faith. Even in this indirect way the Apostle continues to shower us with his blessings. May his prayers be with us all. Amen.

There followed a further appreciative address about Serena’s books from Neville Kyrke-Smith, the UK National Director of Aid to the Church in Need before Serena thanked all those attending and offered two interesting anecdotes about how she had done some of her first-hand research.

The book also contains a foreword by His Holiness Moran Baselios Mar Thoma Paulos II, the Catholicos of the East, and an excellent introduction by Michael Wood. It comprises 332 pages, with over 250 illustration and sells for £25, of which £5 goes to ACN.  Its ISBN: is: 978-1-78545-1850 and books are available from the Brompton Oratory shop and from Joss Graham’s shop: 10 Eccleston St. London SW1W 9LT

There will be second promotion of the book on Thursday ,12 October at St Wilfrid’s Hall, the Brompton Oratory, London SW7 2RP on behalf of the St John’s Eye Hospital in Jerusalem (6.30-8.30). Tickets are available for £30 for the champagne reception & lecture from [email protected]

On 7 August the Synod of the British Orthodox Church elected Father David Seeds to the Sacred Order of the Episcopate to serve as Auxiliary Bishop to Metropolitan Seraphim. During a session of the Supreme Ecclesiastical Court of the British Orthodox Church convened at Charlton on 16 September, following publication of the details of Father David’s election at Alfreton in Derbyshire and at Cusworth in Yorkshire, and having received his assent to his election, Abba Seraphim duly signed the Apostolic Mandate. This authorised the consecration and set the date and place for the ceremony as Sunday, 29 October at St. Mark & St. Hubert’s Church at Cusworth, Doncaster.

Father David is to be consecrated as an Auxilary Bishop with the titular see of Priddy, a title last held by the late Bishop Ignatius-Peter Smethurst (1921-1993), who also served at the Cusworth Church for many years. Priddy is a village in the Mendip Hills near Wookey Hole in Somerset, and some 11 miles from Glastonbury Abbey. Lead ingots dating from the Roman occupation have been found in the neighbourhood and the ruins of St Cuthbert’s Leadworks remind us that it was an ancient mining village for generations. There is a local saying, “As sure as our Lord was at Priddy”, which derives from the Somerset tradition that our Lord in his youth visited the area whilst accompanying his great-uncle, St. Joseph of Arimathea, on one of his trading voyages to Britain.

Father David Seeds was born at Codnor, Derbyshire, on 7 October 1939 and was educated at Swanwick Grammar School. He graduated from Manchester University with a B.Sc. in 1960 and from the University of Birmingham with a post-graduate Certificate of Education. He studied at Linacre College, Oxford University and Ripon Hall Theological College, where he graduated with a B.A. in Theology (1967) and was later awarded an M.A. (1987). He taught for a number of years in boys’ secondary schools and also served as Assistant Curate at St. Cyprian’s, Frecheville, Sheffield 1967-1970, having been ordained  deacon (1967) and priest (1968) in the Church of England. From 1972-1976 he was Religious Education Advisor to the Bishop of Derby; served as Warden of a hall of residence at Bishop Lonsdale College, Derby and Priest in charge of Christ Church, Belper and Holy Trinity, Milford. His last appointments were as Vicar of St. John’s, Mickleover, Derby 1982-1987 and as Vicar of Alfreton 1987-1995. He left the Church of England over the ordination of women priests and was received into the British Orthodox Church, being ordained to all the orders of the ministry, concluding with ordination to the Sacred Priesthood at Cusworth on 22 December 1996. Father David has been the much-loved parish priest at Cusworth for over two decades. He was ordained as Hegoumenos on 5 July 2009. Father David is a celibate priest and will make his monastic profession on the eve of his consecration.

Commenting on the forthcoming consecration, Abba Seraphim remarked that this was a significant historical event in the history of the British Orthodox Church, as the last occasion when a Bishop had been consecrated for the British church was over forty years ago, when he and the late Andrew Bateson were consecrated as auxiliaries to Metropolitan Georgius. Although he had performed and participated in the consecration of other bishops, these were all for service in churches abroad and not for the British Orthodox Church. Indeed, since the death in 1993 of Bishop Ignatius Peter, Abba Seraphim has been the sole British Orthodox Bishop. The consecration of Father David will be performed solus, without co-consecrators, as there are currently no other bishops in communion with the British Orthodox Church and although Abba Seraphim has fraternal relations with a number of hierarchs of other traditions, he feels that only Orthodox bishops should be invited to participate. The tradition of using co-consecrators expresses the spirit of collegiality in the universal church but there are many occasions when solus consecrations have been performed out of necessity, not least the dozens of consecrations (many without co-consecrators) performed by St. Jacob Baradaeus, Bishop of Edessa (543-578) in order to preserve the apostolic succession for the Oriental Orthodox churches.

In 2006 Abba Seraphim published his book, Flesh of Our Brethren. An historical examination of Western episcopal successions originating from the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch. It was the fruit of forty years of research and was acclaimed as an outstanding scholarly work, offering new insights into the modern history of the Syrian Orthodox Church. Now, eleven years later, a second edition has been published. The significant additions in this new edition include further discoveries about the family history of Bishop Julius Ferrette; as well as a newly discovered confirmation of his claims about his episcopal consecration, based on the published testimony of Brother Cyprian (C.A.W.D. Dundas) 1845-1874, who was Prior of an Anglican Benedictine community in Bristol. Following the attacks on Bishop Julius, Brother Cyprian, in company with Father William Malet (1803-1885), Vicar of Ardeley in Hertfordshire, travelled to Homs to meet his consecrator, the Ecumenical Metropolitan of Emesa, Julius (later to be elected as Patriarch of Antioch), with the French Consul acting as translator. At this meeting, “the Archbishop confirmed Bishop Julius’s statement as to having consecrated him as a bishop”. A revised Epilogue also chronicles the later history of the British Orthodox Church and its relations with the Patriarchates of Alexandria and Antioch.

The new edition, 320 pages with illustrations, is available both in Hardback and Paperback editions from www.Lulu.com

Hardback,   ISBN 978-1-4116-7836-1,  £19.95

Paperback, ISBN 978-1-4116-7037-2,  £14.95

Abba Seraphim celebrated the first Lord’s Day of the new ecclesiastical year at St. Mary & St. Felix Church at Babingley. It was a special occasion as it also celebrated the return to ministry of Archdeacon Mark Saunders after a further spell in hospital as well as enabling those present to congratulate him on his recent elevation to the office of Archdeacon. Although he did not vest, but remained seated in the sanctuary throughout the Liturgy, he chanted some of the diaconal admonitions and was bright and alert, whilst his obvious delight at being at church was one in which everyone present shared. Archdeacon Mark is only six weeks short of his 92nd birthday and has served as the Deacon at the Babingley Church since 2000.

During August, Abba Seraphim, accompanied by Father James, made a number of pastoral visits to church members and friends in different parts of the country. On 17 August they paid a pastoral visit to Bristol, from where they travelled to Torquay to confer with Father Antony Westwood of St. Petroc’s British Orthodox Mission in Torbay, and Fr. Antony accompanied them to the Bournemouth Church for the Divine Liturgy on 20 August. Afterwards, the clergy visited the Wimborne Road Cemetery to offer Memorial prayers at the grave of the late Archdeacon James Goddard (1957-1993).

On 22 August, they visited homes in Suffolk, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire, conferring with Father David Seeds at Alfreton on 23 August. From there they travelled to the Southern Cemetery at Manchester to lead Memorial prayers at the grave of the late Bishop Ignatius Peter Smethurst (1921-1993) on 24 August.