Abba Seraphim, accompanied by Father Gregory Tillett, were in Dublin on 21 & 22 June, during which time they visited the Chester Beatty Library at Dublin Castle. The Library houses the great collection of manuscripts, miniature paintings, prints, drawings, rare books and some decorative arts assembled by Sir Albert Chester Beatty (1875-1968). These include Biblical Papyri, dating from the second to the fourth century AD, consisting of the earliest known copies of the four gospels and Acts of the Apostles, the Letters of St Paul, the Book of Revelation and various very early Old Testament fragments. In addition to these they viewed some of the magnificent collection of Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopic & Syriac manuscripts.

They also visited and dined with an old friend, Archimandrite Serge Keleher of the Greek Catholic Church, with whom they spent a delightful evening.

At a meeting of the Anglican & Oriental Orthodox Regional Forum held on 20 June, hosted by the Bishop of Southwark (The Right Rev’d Christopher Chessum) and co-chaired by His Grace Bishop Angaelos and the Anglican Bishop in Europe (The Right Rev’d Geoffrey Rowell) the Aims and Objectives were formally adopted. These are:

1. The Anglican Oriental Orthodox Regional Forum is the result of international dialogues but does not seek to duplicate the theological work of these dialogues.

2. The aims of the Anglican Oriental Orthodox Regional Forum are:

a. To receive and consider the documents from international dialogues between:

I. The Anglican Communion and the family of Oriental Orthodox Churches.

II. The Anglican Communion and the individual Oriental Orthodox Churches.

III. Other dialogues on both sides that impact on our relationship.

b. To take note of, discuss and explore relevant developments between both Communions, and to explore local relevance and implications.

c. To encourage opportunities for common prayer and worship within the discipline of our respective Churches.

d. To give our people and beyond, hope regarding the search for the greater unity of the Church.

e. To discuss current pastoral, social, political and other issues.

f. To explore and bear common witness, making representations (such as issuing statements) where appropriate.

g. To discover and educate one another, our clergy and laity about each of our traditions.

h. To work to achieve a greater unity expressed in common life and witness.

i. To inform our respective Church hierarchies and faithful of the work of the Anglican Oriental Orthodox regional Forum.

3. To produce a booklet containing all the relevant common statements between the Churches of the Forum.

Abba Seraphim was present to represent the British Orthodox Church and Father Peter Farrington as the Oriental Orthodox co-secretary.

On 18 June Abba Seraphim, assisted by Fathers David Seeds and Gregory Tillett with Archdeacon Alexander Astill, dedicated a new lych gate at  St. Mark & St. Hubert’s Church, Cusworth, Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The previous lych gate, had fallen into disrepair after some forty-five years and the entrance to the churchyard was lacking its traditional gate. The new lych-gate, like its predecessor, was fashioned from seasoned hardwood and  built by a local carpenter but was roofed with traditional pantiles to match the church roof.

Lychgates  have a long tradition in Britain and there are several surviving examples from mediaeval times, though as they were traditionally constructed of wood this has meant that many have not survived the test of time. Having the design of a porch-style gateway into the churchyard the name derives from the the old-English word ‘lych’ meaning corpse, as it was here that the clergy met the corpse of the faithful departed and the bier rested while part of the burial service was read. The gate also served to shelter the pall-bearers while the bier was brought from the church during inclement weather.

Following the service a buffet lunch was provided in the Battie-Wrightson Memorial Hall and a time of fellowship was held. Abba Seraphim presided at the Raising of Evening Incense  at the Cusworth Church, during which Father Gregory,  gave an address, before his party travelled on to King’s Lynn where Abba Seraphim celebrated the Liturgy at St. Felix, Babingley, on Sunday, 19 June.

On 17 June Abba Seraphim, accompanied by Father Gregory Tillett, paid a courtesy call to greet His Grace Yakob Mar Elias, Bishop of the Brahmavar diocese within the Indian Orthodox Church. His Grace Mar Elias was staying at St. Gregorios Orthodox Church in Brockley, London, during a brief visit to the United Kingdom, which includes visits to Chichester (where he studied theology), Newcastle and Holy Island. Mar Elias received Abba Seraphim and his party when they visited Mount Horeb Ashraman at Sassthamkotta in January 2010, shortly before his consecration at a bishop and both bishops were anxious to renew the friendship they had established during that visit.  Father John Samuel, parish priest of St. Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church was also in attendance on Mar Elias.

On 6 June Abba Seraphim addressed the St. Boniface Society,at the Catholic Chaplaincy of Exeter University, on the subject of “The Two Families of Orthodoxy. An Ecumenical Perspective.” After discussing the historical background to the division, tracing from the Council of Ephesus in 431 and the Second Council of Ephesus in 449 through to the Councils of Chalcedon (451) and Constantinople II (553); he examined the significant steps on the road to Unity, culminating in the meetings of the Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches between 1985-1990 with suggestions about the Way Forward. The Society is a priestly fellowship of both Anglican and Catholic priests and holds Study Days and Lectures once a month.