At the invitation of the Archbishop of Westmister (Mgr. Vincent Nicholls) Abba Seraphim, accompanied by Father Seraphim Mina, attended a Mass at Westminster Cathedral on 26 November to commemorate all those who have died or been injured in recent weeks in Iraq, especially in the bombing of Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad on 31 October. White floral crosses with lighted candles and photographs of those killed, displayed  at the entrance to the sanctuary, were a poignant reminder of the victims. The congregation included a large number of  Iraqi and Middle Eastern Christians and prominent among the clergy attending those from the Syriac Orthodox (led by H.E. Archbishop Mar Athanasius Touma), Chaldean, Assyrian and Maronite churches. The intercessions were offered by Iraqi children and before the final blessing messages were read from the Christian community in Iraq, expressing appreciation for the prayerful support being offered by churches in England and Wales, as well as an affirmatiion of support by the Iraqi Christian communities in the United Kingdom.

Abba Seraphim and Father Peter Farrington were among those who attended the annual Constantinople lecture on 25 November, which this year was given by Dr. Harry Hagopian at St. Mary at Hill, Lovat Lane in the City of London. The lecture is sponsored by the Anglican & Eastern Churches Association and followed Evening Prayer led by the Rector, Canon Flora Winfield.

Dr. Hagopian is a distinguished international lawyer as well as an active churchman who retains close links with the Christian communities in Jerusalem, where he was born. His subject was “The Armenian Genocide: A Way Forward?” and he addressed the historical and political issues arising out of Turkey’s denial as well as viewing it in relation to both the later Jewish and Ruandan genocides. Whilst recognising the significance of political considerations underlying the subject, Dr. Hagopian also viewed matters from a profoundly Christian perspective, seeing the resolution of the issue as part of the process of healing between nations and a source of hope for the future benefit of both Armenians and Turks.  The paper will be available on www.accc.org.uk the web-site of the Armenian Community & Church Council (ACCC) after this weekend or people can contact Dr. Hagopian directly on his own website: www.epektasis.net

Deacon John Stuart is in hospital recovering from a  stroke. Following  several recent incidents in which he lost his balance and fell over, he was diagnosed as having a blood clot on the part of his brain which controls balance. He has been undergoing tests and treatment and is now recovering in hospital and, happily,  making good progress.  Abba Seraphim has not only sent him good wishes for a full and complete recovery but asked  for prayers for him and his family. Deacon John, who is 63, exercises a ministry as a hospital chaplain in Exeter. He was ordained a full deacon in Exeter by Abba Seraphim in February 2001.

The British Orthodox Church was represented by Fathers Seraphim Mina and Simon Smyth  (representing H.E. Abba Seraphim) at a service for the Christians martyred in Our Lady of Salvation Syrian Catholic Church in Baghdad on Sunday 31 October. The joint remembrance service was organised by the Christian Churches for the Iraqi Communities in the UK at Holy Trinity Syrian Catholic Church, Brook Green, Hammersith, West London, on Friday 12 November.

Also representing the Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches (COOC) were H. E. Archbishop Athanasius for the Syriac Orthodox Church, H. G. Bishop Angaelos (President of COOC and representing His Holiness Pope Shenouda) and Father Snork Bagdassarian (representing the Armenian Primate of Great Britain) as well  many priests and faithful from the Catholic,  Anglican, Byzantine & Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Messages of support and assurances of prayer were read out on behalf of H.H. Pope Shenouda, the Archbishops of Westminster  the Archbishop of Canterbury. Bishop Angaelos announced that Sunday 21 November has been designated a Sunday of prayer throughout the Coptic Orthodox Church for remembrance of the Christians of Iraq.

Fifty-two candles each in the centre of a floral cross – one for each of those martyred in Our Lady of Salvation Church – were positioned throughout the Church, along the aisles and across the front of the Church and there were  photograqphs of the new martyrs at the front of the Church.

Although there was  evidence of sadness and grief, Christian faith, hope, love and even joy were strongly present too.  The  emphasis on throughout was  that though in one sense separated from the departed martyrs we are still united with these who now behold God in the promised paradise, in the bosoms of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and especially at the celebration of the Eucharist, in which heaven and earth are one.  If faith, hope and love were evident, both in the messages at the beginning and throughout the Mass in the singing and prayers, they shone forth in an inspirational sermon delivered with power and passion by the celebrating priest Father Nizar Semaan. Unusually in a church, it drew forth a standing ovation which it took some minutes to quieten before the service continued.  At the conclusion of the homily he declared,  “The heavenly Father will welcome all those who paid so dearly with their blood.  Their martyrdom will bless the Church of our Lady of Deliverance, making it a stronger bastion for future generations…”

His Holiness Moran Baselios Mar Thoma Didimos I, Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan, announced his abdication at the meeting of the Holy Episcopal Synod of the  Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, held at Devalokam on 29 November. The Catholicos Designate, His Beatitude Paulose Mar Milithios will be enthroned at Parumala Seminary on 1 November 2011.

Abba Seraphim responded to the news by sending his congratulations to the Catholicos Designate with “warm fraternal greetings and assurance of prayers” and spoke of the great importance of the advancement and ecumenical witness of the Malankara Church for the Oriental Orthodox tradition, not only for its sister Orthodox churches but also for all Christians. During his visit to Kerala in January, Abba Seraphim and his party were warmly received by Paulose Mar Milithios at Kunnamkulam. The new Catholicos was consecrated a bishop at the age of thirty-eight and elected Catholicos-Designate in 2006. At the relatively youthful age of sixty-four, he will bring energy and dynamism to a church which has already possesses vibrancy and vision.  The former Catholicos, who abdicated on his eighty-ninth birthday, showed his deep love for the church by laying aside his high office to enable his successor to take up his responsibilities in time for the Centenary of the re-establishment of the Catholicate, which will be celebrated in 2012.