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.

It was with great sadness that Abba Seraphim learned of the death on 14 August of His Eminence Metropolitan Kyrillos of Milan, at the age of 65 years.

Halim Nashed Athanasius was born in Sohag in Upper Egypt on 15 October 1952. He studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minya, from which he graduated in 1977.  Born in a devout Coptic family (where his brother also became a monk and was consecrated to the episcopate), he undertook voluntary service for the church in Minya Province and came under the influence of Metropolitan Arsanius of Minya, who used him for ministry to the Youth.  In 1979 he entered the monastery of the Holy Virgin, al Baramous, in the Wadi El Natrun, which was founded by St. Macarius the Great in around 335. He made his monastic profession as Kyrillos el-Baramousi. He was ordained as a priest in February 1980 and in June 1986 he was consecrated as a General Bishop by the late Pope Shenouda III to assist in Minya diocese. In 1990 he was transferred to Milan to supervise the Coptic community there and the new monastery of St. Shenouda the Archimandrite at Mettone, outside Milan. In June 1990 he was enthroned as Bishop of Milan, at which Abba Seraphim assisted and established friendly relations between the British Orthodox Church and the Diocese of Milan. Following the death of Pope Shenouda, Bishop Kyrillos was nominated as a papal candidate, but withdrew before the election. One of the first appointments made by H.H. Pope Tawadros II following his enthronement as Pope & Patriarch of Alexandria was, on 28 December 2012, to appoint Bishop Kyrillos to the newly created position of Papal Deputy for Europe. Following that, relations between the British Orthodox Church and the Milan diocese became stronger and there were frequent exchanges of clergy, culminating in the visit to London of Bishop Kyrillos in July 2014 for the service of Thanksgiving for twenty years of union with the Patriarchate. On 28 February 2016 Bishop Kyrillos was ordained a Metropolitan.

Abba Seraphim spoke movingly of the kindness and goodness of Abba Kyrillos, which endeared him to everyone. “His simple monastic spirit and gentle love for all those he encountered were his chief characteristics.  The respect and affection in which he was held extended well beyond his own community, where his own flock greatly loved him. He was revered throughout the Coptic Church worldwide, but also with Christians of all traditions, who responded to his humble courtesy and open-hearted generosity with great readiness. He was a true friend of the British Orthodox and prayers for his repose will be held in all our churches for the next 40 days.

Metropolitan Kyrillos: Memory Eternal !

The British Orthodox Press has just republished Abba Seraphim’s “Root and Branch. The Canonicity and Regularity of The British Orthodox Church”. This was first published in 1992 and argued the basis for the independence of the BOC. It was highly acclaimed at the time, but was withdrawn in 1994 following the union of the BOC with the Patriarchate of Alexandria. Now that the BOC is once again independent, it has been reissued and updated, with some rare historical photographs, which were not in the first edition.

The first chapter examines the early church’s concept of the “local church”, whilst the second examines the historical development of Orthodoxy & the British Isles. Citing numerous authorities, subsequent chapters review issues of Succession & Continuity; the Syriac missions of Bishops Julius Ferrette and Timotheos Vilatte as well as the outreach of other Eastern and Orthodox churches.  Abba Seraphim also recounts the Struggle for Orthodox Mission, citing the ministries of Father Stephen Hatherly, Louis Winnaert, Bishop Jean Kovalevsky, Reuban Spartas, Archbishop Aftimeos Ofiesh, Alexander Tyler Turner and the Evangelical Orthodox Church. His final chapter recounts details of the BOC’s union with the Alexandrian Patriarchate.

Copies of this book can be obtained online from LULU by clicking this link.