The second Orthodox Education Day, organised by the Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches (COOC), took place at St. Sarkis Armenian Orthodox Church in London on Saturday, 18 January. The topic for study was “Extra Biblical Sources of Faith and Tradition.” The day began with Morning Prayer in the Armenian Orthodox tradition. After a welcome by His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, President of COOC, Abba Seraphim introduced the topic with a talk, “What is Tradition?” in which he drew a clear distinction beteen traditions or customs and Holy Tradition. Father Peter Farrington,  talking on “Tradition and Councils” examined the apostolic and earliest known local councils. After an excellent lunch Bishop Vahan explained the rich Armenian hymnic tradition with examples from the canon of sharakans, a sequence of eight hymnic chants sung in a fixed, logical succession. Deacon Daniel Malyon concluded the talks with his study of ‘The role of the canons in the formation of Orthodox Tradition”, giving some interesting examples from, the Alexandrian tradition.  Summing up, Abba Seraphim spoke of the broadness of Holy Tradition, extending not only over the Sacred Scriptures, but also encompassing worship and hymnology, as well as moral and ethical issues.

On 11 January, during the celebration of The Divine Liturgy at Saint-George-in-the-East, Shadwell, where the British Orthodox London Mission of SS.George & Paul the Hermit worships, Abba Seraphim performed two ordinations. Trevor, who serves as Abba Seraphim’s PA, who has been a Reader since 2012, was advanced to the subdiaconate; whilst Daniel, who has served as a Reader and Subdeacon since February 2011 was ordained to the order of the diaconate. Deacon Daniel, who is currently completing his master’s degree in Orthodox Theology at the University of Winchester, also serves on the Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches in the UK. It was a great joy that Deacon Christopher Barnes travelled down from the Church in Babingley to serve as deacon of the liturgy and to perform the role of acting Archdeacon.

Following the ordination in London the two new ordinands and Deacon Daniel’s wife, Janice, travelled down to Bournemouth to visit the congregation there. The next morning, during his homily in the Divine Liturgy, Abba Seraphim complained that his duties had kept him away for too many months, but he was glad to return to share fellowship with the congregation there, and to welcome church members from the other South Coast Mission parishes of Portsmouth and Southampton. It was also a pleasure to return with the newly ordained Deacon Daniel, who had begun his ministry in the Portsmouth and Bournemouth congregations and had met his future wife from among the members of the Bournemouth parish. The day was characterised by warm informality as Abba Seraphim addressed the congregation on a number of issues, some of the members having been gathered almost four decades earlier, when he had immediate pastoral charge of the Bournemouth parish. Following lunch Abba Seraphim took the two new ordinands to the Wimborne Road Cemetery to pray at the grave of the late Archdeacon James Goddard (died 1993).

On the evening of January 6th a festal Liturgy in honour of the Feast of Theophany was celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim, supported by Father Simon Smyth and Father Peter Farrington, the priest responsible for the Orthodox Mission of St Andrew at Clewer, Windsor, together with Subdeacon Daniel Malyon and Reader Trevor Maskery. The service took place in the beautiful and ancient Church of St Andrew, parts of which date back to the Norman Conquest and which is always filled with an atmosphere of prayer accumulated over the last one thousand years.

The Orthodox Mission of St Andrew has been growing for the last 12 months, and the congregation at this Liturgy was the most numerous so far. It was an especial pleasure to welcome the Bishop of Reading, Andrew Proud, in whose jurisdiction the Church of St Andrew is found, as well as both the Revd. Louise Brown, former priest in charge of St Andrew’s and whose hospitality allowed the mission community to begin worshipping at St Andrew’s, and the Revd. Rosie Webb, recently taking up her ministry at St Andrew’s as priest in charge. Other visitors also joined us, together with the regular members of the mission community of St Andrew.

The congregation gathers in the choir of medieval St Andrew’s, surrounded by graceful architecture in wood and stone, and the presence of many icons of the highest quality, created by Annie Shaw, a member of the mission community and a professional iconographer, only add to the creation of an atmosphere proper for our Orthodox liturgical worship. Indeed many of the prayers which were offered by the celebrant and congregation must have echoed within these walls for a millenia. On this occasion the congregation had so increased that it was necessary to spill out into the body of the church itself through the gates of the rood screen.

During the Liturgy His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim blessed water for the Theophany and anointed the congregation. That which remained was eagerly collected in bottles and received by the congregation. Father Peter Farrington addressed the gathered worshippers in a homily which called on those present to commit themselves to prayer, study of the Scriptures and fasting in 2014.

After the completion of the Liturgy the congregation gathered in the Lodge at the edge of the churchyard and shared in a light buffet which included biscuits made according to the Ukrainian tradition by one of the worshippers.

The Orthodox Mission of St Andrew is presently celebrating the Liturgy one Saturday each month, and Evening Prayer one Monday evening each month.  The mission website is at http://www.orthodoxwindsor.co.uk

Festal Liturgy – January 6th – Orthodox Mission Of St Andrew

We warmly invite all who are able to join us on the evening of January 6th to share the blessing of a Liturgy celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim at the Orthodox Mission of St Andrew, Windsor.

Our evening of prayer will begin at 7pm and conclude at 9pm. The Liturgy will be conducted in English and a welcome is extended to all who wish to pray with us. We will be celebrating the end of the Nativity season and the Feast of Theophany.

The Orthodox Mission of St Andrew worships at:

St Andrew’s Church of England
Mill Lane,
Windsor,
Berkshire
SL4 5JH

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Abouna Peter Farrington, the priest responsible for the care of this growing Orthodox community in Windsor.

http://www.orthodoxwindsor.co.uk/

On Tuesday, 17 December the Church of St Mark & St Hubert held their Advent Carol Service. The form of the service has been used each year since the Church opened 25 years ago. Fr David Seeds preached on the reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Phillipians Chapter 3 verses 5-10, its importance as the central message to humanity, and its relevance to our Christmas worship.

Members of the congregation took turns to read the lessons, including Christopher Gray who expects to be received into the Church shortly.