Abba Seraphim called for prayers for the families of the twenty-one new Coptic martyrs in Libya, who were so brutally and publicly slaughtered by the Daesh extremists. “These workers from Egypt were murdered simply because they were Christians. They were innocents captured by cruel men, purporting to act in the name of religion, who showed neither mercy nor justice, and whose acts dishonour the very Creator they profess to serve.” In their deaths they showed impressive dignity, born of their faith, some even calling on the Lord with their last breath. They were the latest in an impressive line of martyrs stretching back to the earliest years of the church and their precious souls were now with a loving Saviour.

On 16 February Abba Seraphim was interviewed on the BBC News Channel about the Egyptian government’s bombing of Daesh positions in Libya. He stated that he found some encouragement in this as it demonstrated the present administrations much more positive line towards Christians. He welcomed the gestures by the President,  who last month had attended the Cathedral in Cairo for the Coptic Christmas celebrations and had now returned to offer his condolences to Pope Tawadros. The administration’s actions showed that they treated Christians and Muslims equally as Egyptians. There was none of the divisiveness of the former government and he took heart at this. Christians were free to worship now, unless they were attacked by extremists.

On 8 February at Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church in Bournemouth, Antony-Paul Holland of  Portsmouth , who has served as a subdeacon for the BOC South Coast communities in Portsmouth, Southampton and Bournemouth since July 2012, was ordained to the Sacred Order of the Diaconate at the hands of Abba Seraphim. Clergy assisting at the ordination liturgy were Father Simon Smyth, Deacon Daniel Malyon and Subdeacon John Morgan.

Abba Seraphim preached on the apostolicity of the diaconal ministry and its importance in the Orthodox tradition. A buffet lunch reception for members of the three congregations followed Deacon Antony’s ordination. Before returning to London, Abba Seraphim called on Ken & Joyce Andrews at Throop, who are long-standing members of the Bournemouth congregation, in order to pray for Ken, who recently suffered a slight stroke, but is now making steady progress.

It was with sorrow that we learned of the death of Dr. Helmy Guirguis on 31 January, after an extended period of ill heath. Dr. Guirguis was a long-standing advocate of oppressed Coptic Christians and the founder of the UK Coptic Association, now known as UK Copts. Both Abba Seraphim and Dr. Guirguis served for a number of years as advisors to SAT7, the first satellite television channel specialising in Christian broadcasts to the Middle East, as well as working together to support Coptic Christians seeking asylum. Although a highly respected medical practitioner, he was committed to a wide range of religious charities, making a significant contribution of time, energy and personal resources, all of which he gave so generously. For many years he was one of the principal archons of the Coptic community in Birmingham and a devout supporter of the church. He was a man of firm conviction and the highest integrity and his passing is a great loss to the many religious and charitable bodies he actively supported.  Abba Seraphim regrets that he will be unable to attend the funeral at Lapworth on 7 February as he is celebrating the Divine Liturgy in Shadwell that morning, before travelling to Bournemouth in the afternoon. He will pray for Dr. Guirguis at the altar and has sent a floral tribute to the funeral inscribed to “A courageous and loyal friend to those in need.”

On Friday 30 January marked the Annual Celebration for the Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs, organised by the Greek Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain. Due to his commitments in Glastonbury, Abba Seraphim was unable to attend the event and so was represented by Deacon Daniel Malyon.

The evening consisted of hymns by the school of Byzantine Music, traditional Greek dances and a talk by Dr Petros Sarris, an internationally renowned lecturer in Byzantine History. Dr Sarris’ talk centred on the focus on fair distribution of wealth in the writings of the three hierarchs and lessons which their writings can teach us today. The talk was well received by all present, especially following the recent tremors in the political climate in Greece and other European nations.

Following the talk, there were Orthodox hymns sung by the School of Byzantine Music and a brief reception at which Deacon Daniel gave Archbishop Gregorios greetings from Abba Seraphim.

The second Glastonbury Studies Seminar was held at the Abbey House, Glastonbury, on 31 January on the theme “Glastonbury Abbey and Throne.”

Chaired by Abba Seraphim, it followed on the previously successful seminar “Glastonbury Abbey – Influence and Legacy”, held in 2013, and was jointly sponsored by the British Orthodox Church and the Glastonbury Antiquarian Society. The seminar, was fully subscribed, with a third of those present having attended the 2013 seminar.  

The distinguished speakers included Paul Ashdown, who spoke on the abbey’s royal links prior to the Norman Conquest; Jerry Sampson, archaeological consultant and conservationist, who examined the evidence for King Henry II’s financing of the repairs to the Abbey following the Great Fire of 1184; Dr. Tim Hopkinson-Ball on the Cultus of St. Edgar at Glastonbury Abbey; and Professor James Carley on John Leland, Henry VIII’s antiquary, and his association with Glastonbury Abbey before and after the Dissolution.

A third seminar is planned for February 2017.