Abba Seraphim and Father James celebrated Holy Week and the Paschal Vigil Liturgy at St. Alban & St. Athanasius Church at Chatham, where Abba Seraphim preached on the Christian Hope of the Resurrection. It was also a great blessing to have Mrs. Jean Scuotto present at all the services, as she was taken ill while cruising in the Mediterranean on a New Year’s holiday and had to be flown to hospital in Portugal. Having made good progress, and through the mercy of God, she was flown back to her home in Chatham at the end of January, where prayers had been offered for her recovery at every service.

Abba David, assisted by Father Alexis Raphael, officiated at the Holy Week services at St. Mark & St. Hubert’s Church at Cusworth Village. During the Paschal Liturgy, Abba David tonsured Vladimir Sandis Roze to the Order of Reader for service at the Cusworth Church.

During the Divine Liturgy for the Eve of the Nativity Feast, which Abba Seraphim celebrated at St. Alban & St. Athanasius British Orthodox Church in Chatham, he addressed the issue of the secularisation  of Christmas. However, he believed it is important for Christians to emphasise the fact that they are not simply celebrating the Lord’s birthday – although “words cannot express the joy of new life” – but the incarnation of the Logos, the second person of the Holy Trinity, the Theanthropos, “begotten of His father before all ages”, for which St. John’s Gospel and the Nicene Creed jointly provide profound insight.