On Saturday 1st September we celebrated our new monthly Liturgy in ChristChurch, Sayers Common (just off the A23 between Brighton and Horsham). Read more ►

Held at St. Mary’s-on-Paddington Green in London on Wednesday evening.

The Oriental Orthodox Churches were represented by Metropolitan Abba Seraphim of the British Orthodox Church (who chaired the proceedings), Bishop Angaelos (Coptic Orthodox) and Archbishop Mar Athanasios Touma (Syriac Orthodox). There was a strong ecumenical representation with The Rev’d Bill Snelson, General Secretary of Churches Together in England; the Bishop of Woolwich (The Right Rev’d Christopher Chessun) as well as Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Evangelical clergy present as well as representatives of Amnesty International, Aid to the Church in Need, Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Human Rights Concern – Eritrea. A Report of the meeting, with extracts from an interview with Metropolitan Seraphim by Martin Plaut (Africa Editor) was broadcast on the BBC World Service programme “World Briefing” on 28 June. Read more ►

Abba Seraphim led an ecumenical group on Pilgrimage to Egypt for his thirty-first visit. These were Father Simon Smyth, Sister Deena (an Indian Orthodox nun currently living in Belfast), Father John Whooley (Catholic Priest at Shepherd’s Bush), Father Deacon Richard and Dr. Carol Downer (Greek Melkite), Robin Westwood (Cheltenham), Daniel Heale (archaeologist) and Viscountess Coke. Arriving in Cairo on Monday, 21 May they were met by Ibrahim (their regular driver) and Shenouda Mamdouh & his wife, Mary. That evening they dined together at St. Mark’s Church Centre in Nasr City. Read more ►

Getting started

The British Orthodox Church has a mission to bring the people of this country to Orthodoxy – with a British ethos. So how do you do that then, one might ask?

It is a question much in my mind at the moment. For some months, thanks to the kindness of Mark Wright, who, with his wife Faith has restored St. Andrew’s Church at Mickfield in Suffolk, and with the permission of Abba Seraphim, we have been holding fortnightly Orthodox evening prayer services at the Church; now we had decided to go one further – and have a Liturgy. Read more ►

Abba Seraphim, with other members and friends of the British Orthodox Church, attended the Syrian Orthodox Vespers celebrated at Westminster Cathedral by H.E. Archbishop Mor Athanasios.

Abba Seraphim was one of the ecumenical guests, together with Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira; Christopher Chessun, the Bishop of Woolwich, representing the Archbishop of Canterbury; and of course the host, Bishop Bernard Longley, representing Cardinal Murphy O’Connor. Read more ►