After the Divine Liturgy of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Sunday before Christmas 2009
A preparation day for the Feast of the Nativity.
Children and parents met to learn to sing the Nativity Troparion
and to discuss the icon of the feast.
Later the children coloured in different parts of the icon.
Here they are displaying their individual bits under the watchful eye of Frances:
Eva points to the part she has coloured:
This is what the whole looked like:
Bishop Basil says
Goodbye
to the Sheffield Community
after ordaining Geoff Hopkin as Reader
and Stephen from the York Community as Sub-deacon
on Saturday 3 October 2009
in Sheffield Cathedral
In gratitude for all he has done for us,
we wish him every happiness in his retirement
and Many Years.
Congratulations and Many Years
to the newly enlightened Maxim and Adam
22 September 2009
The Baptism was served in the natural spring waters
of Matlock Bath .....
by immersion....
- total immersion!
A HAPPY OCCASION
The wedding of Cristina and Ronald Bentley.
The wedding took place in May 2009 in Edlington.
Fr Edwin conducted the ceremony
Cristina and Ronald with their sponsors and Sister Adriana who is Cristina's sister. Sister Adriana is a nun in Romania.
CHRIST IS RISEN!
Pascha 2009 in Chesterfield
Vespers and Divine Liturgy on Great and Holy Saturday
Each Saturday the Russian Club meets in the hall of St Stephen's Church in Sheffield. We were invited to join them, and this enabled the children and their parents to attend a Liturgy close to Pascha in the worship area of St Stephen's.
[As we have no church building of our own in Sheffield, it is not possible for us to celebrate Pascha in the traditional way, so this was the best we could do.]
This is the first time we have used St Stephen's, and we are very grateful to the Vicar for so willingly allowing us to use his church.
Afterwards we were treated to a play in Russian:
Reception at Scunthorpe, March 15th 2009
Welcome to Jean-Pierre Miranda who was received by Fr Edwin on the second Sunday in Lent (Gregory Palamas).
Jean-Pierre is much appreciated for his gentle dignity and sense of humour and not least for his culinary talents!
Many Years!
An Ecumenical Venture
On Friday 27 February we hosted an ecumenical service for the organisation entitled 'Hope4Chesterfield' in The Eyre Chapel. In the event there was a large contingent from St Paul's Forward in Faith parish together with some of our old friends from the Roman Catholic fraternity, and newcomers from the URC, Methodist and Pentecostal churches. The service was basically an Akathist to our Lord Jesus Christ, and everyone happily allowed themselves to be taught a harmonisation over which Fr Edwin was able to sing the words. It was a very happy occasion. - and there seems to be an appetite for more!
Vicariate Music Day
Four of us attended a most enjoyable Music Day on Saturday, 28th February held in the Orthodox Church of St Kentigern at Edlington near Doncaster. The day's course was run by Jessica Rose from the Oxford parish. We were worked hard but learned a lot!
Congratulations to Eliza and Mike Varney
Alexandra was born on 22 January weighing 7 lbs 8 oz
Thanks be to God.
The Hyacinth Competition
We had a little hyacinth growing competition.
This one was quite a strong contender
but unfortunately became top heavy, and killed itself by falling over and landing on the floor. Possibly a case of suicide!
The out and out winner was:
Frances Hunt
of
Chesterfield
Liturgy at Scunthorpe, January 2009
The Liturgy was served by Fr Stephen from York. It was his first visit here.
We were really pleased to welcome him - so much so that Anne-Marie baked a special 'Welcome Cake'.
Saturday, December 13th, 2008 : Sheffield Cathedral
Our thanks to Fr Kyril who travelled from Bristol to join Fr Edwin and the Sheffield congregation for the Liturgy served in the Cathedral crypt .
Baptism of Patrick Daniel
This took place on August 2nd 2008 after the liturgy in the crypt of Sheffield Cathedral.
Patrick has a very fine voice and had much to say!
Many Years to Patrick and his family.
Pilgrimage to Crowland Abbey
On Saturday 19th July, there was a pilgrimage to Crowland Abbey in honour of St. Guthlac and St. Theodore. This was organised by Fr. Dennis and the Doncaster parish.
The Divine Liturgy was served in the ruins of the old Abbey followed by an Akathist to St. Guthlac and veneration of the skull of the hieromartyr Theodore.
Veneration of the skull of hieromartyr Theodore who was murdered along with other monks at the altar in 869AD.
The rain came two minutes after the service ended so the picnic was held inside the church. We were given a very warm welcome by the priest and his wardens.
Commemorarion of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth
This was celebrated on July 18th by Fr David at York. The date coincided with the 90th birthday of Mother Thekla
Congratulations to Mother and Many Years!
The main excitement of the day was the birthday but a secondary excitement was that our server Pasky got his hair on fire! (but not too seriously)
Mother consoles Pasky after the fire.
Liturgy in Scunthorpe, July 6th 2008
Group picture taken after the liturgy served by Father Edwin
Ascension Day 2008 at Stow Minster
The Feast of the Ascension was celebrated by Fr David.
The picture shows the clergy together with Peter, a sidesman of Stow who gave us a wonderfully warm welcome. It was a great privilege to worship in such a beautiful and historic church.
The picture below shows some of the congregation after the liturgy. Others had moved on to the Cross Keys where we enjoyed a communal lunch.
More shopping in Athens
No visit to Athens is complete without looking in shop windows in the ecclesiastical supplies area - seventeen mitres on display in one shop window and a chandelier suitable for the Albert Hall in another!
The specialist fabric shops have a wonderful range of vestment material, braid, fringe, buttons etc.
Below is one of our favourite shops.
My scissors and sewing machine are ready for action - watch this space!
Conference 2008
Report from Jonathan, our man in Beijing
2008 Holy Pascha at Red Fangzi, Beijing
"Please continue to pray for the victims of the earthquake in China. I was on the 20th floor of my workplace in Beijing when I felt the whole building swaying, but there was no damage to the building or anyone else, thank God (but people did feel dizzy afterwards). It's the strongest and longest tremor I'd felt in China and so was shocked to learn the epicentre was more than 900 miles away!
"The earthquake is a terrible tragedy but it seems that everyone in China is rallying around to help those in need. I think because the earthquake was felt so far (including by us, 900 miles away!) it has helped people to share what has happened. The government and media here were also very open with what happened so everyone in China is informed about it and so feel closer to events."
Pascha 2008
Some of the people who came to Chesterfield to celebrate Pascha
in the Eyre Chapel.
The fruit of the hard work of Frances Thompson and Hilary Miranda!
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