What is the Orthodox Church? (A Short Overview)

A video by David Withun entitled What is the Orthodox Church? (A Short Overview).

Russian Orthodox in the UK.
http://www.rocor.org.uk/
http://www.sourozh.org/
Also
Exarchate of Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe
http://www.exarchate.org.uk/


David's blog page http://www.piousfabrications.com/

To the people of Russia and those in Volgograd especially. Для народа России,Volgograd особенно.

I am sorry to read of your troubles recently. Whether it is related to the Olympics or not we Brits can relate.  We had our own  attacks on the day it was announced that London would be hosting the next Olympics on July 7th 2005.
Be brave, be vigilant and know that  you are in our prayers.

What can Slavonic do for us?

The answer to the question, what can Slavonic do for us is simple. It can help unite us as Christians.  If you look at the main languages of  Christianity you will find that they are, (in alphabetical order), Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Latin and Slavonic.The use of these languages can unite us in a way that overcomes lines on a map.

Also there is something to be said for a language that doesn't change too much with time.   We live in  an era of great change that occurs very fast and often there isn't time to fully appreciate the full impact some of the changes we make to language has.  There is something special too to have a language just reserved for worship of God.
Some people will say that you need to know what is going on in church, you need to understand it. My answer to that is that at first its good to "just be" present during the Divine Liturgy and then later when you are ready to find copies of the Divine liturgy in Slavonic and your own language.

It can be difficult to learn a new language and anyone who knows me knows that I am no linguist.
Pages like this http://www.utexas.edu which cover the basics of Slavonic leave me cold.  I have found it easier to learn Slavonic through liturgical music.
For those of you who want more detail of Our Father in Slavonic a very good link is here http://www.halfwayproductions.com .

Metropolitan Anthony Bloom - Men & Women At The Church

Metropolitan Anthony Bloom - Men & Women At The Church

Venerable Finnian, founder of Clonard and Skellig Michael

Photographer.Andreas F. Borchert St Finian is the boy in this picture.

 Skellig Michael has been on my bucket list of places to visit for years.  The sheer majesty of the West coast of  county Kerry stays with you long after you leave it.  Venerable Finnian must have seen something special there too.
St Finnian had a great piety and zeal for Christ from an early age. He went on to become one of the patriarchs of Irish monasticism.  He founded  3 churches before going to Wales to study.
You can still visit the monastic houses at Skellig Michael. For those who can't visit here is a link to the gallery of UNESCO.
Unesco gallery of Skellig Michael

As a last thing I love this song by Loreena McKennit Called Skellig (images put together by PhilipApart).

This has to be the worst thing about being British Russian Orthodox

Merry Christmas to all of you who are celebrating it today.  May you be blessed now and always.

Meatloaf, mushroom sauce, roast potatoes, roast parsnips, carrots and of course  brussels sprouts. Also a Christmas cracker.

Christmas dinner as mentioned in an earlier post.  Its the worst thing about being British Russian Orthodox but even then its not that bad really.
Here is  Christmas dinner, served so late we missed the Queens speech (gasp!).  Making meatloaf took longer than expected.

Here are two mystery items found in the crackers. Can you guess what they are?
We worked out the lower black one. :)
The Queens speech in case you missed it too.
Queens Speech 2013

God gives presents at Christmas.

This is a personal testimony of God's present to our family one Christmas.
 At the age of 6 my daughter had an ear infection in her right ear. It never went away. the poor child went through recurrent cycles of pain.  We ended up with antibiotics given to us in powder form  in order to make  up the mixture for her next infection. Nothing helped.  She struggled at school and her hearing in that ear was badly affected.  Grommits had no effect  and eventually she had to have a third operation.

When they went into her ear they found that the infections had melted the little bones in her  ear and her eardrum was so scarred that it was of no possible use. They replaced the eardrum with skin and cleaned out her middle ear.
 The operation made her feel sea sick for a short time after. Eventually it settled down  and she became used to being deaf in that ear. She had tests and they confirmed that the hearing loss was complete.


Approaching her mid teens I started to have a strong feeling that if she asked God for healing she would be healed, however it had to come from her. I think this is because God wants a close relationship with us all. Many times I asked  her if she wanted prayer for healing and she would refuse saying there was no point.

Eventually we went to a healing service and she had some prayer. She returned saying she needed more. At the same time a stranger walked over and said to her, "you must be the one". They went quietly to the back of church and prayed together. The lady touched my daughter's ear and asked Jesus to heal it.

My daughter returned to me  and as she did all my certainty vanished. She said she could hear. I found it incredible. I tested her over and over again. In the end I took her to the  family doctor. The doctor was familiar with my daughter's ear problems  because  she had dealt with it for so long.  The doctor, a non  believer, tested her and found her hearing in her healed ear   to be much better than  average. She asked in amazement how her healing had happened.  We told her and on the medical records her healing is recorded as healed through prayer.

All this happened in the last few weeks leading up to Christmas. The gift was much bigger than healing because it didn't just change one life, it changed those around her too.  Her grades went up in school and she developed a  passion for music and languages. Twelve years on her hearing  is still excellent in both ears.  Thanks  to Christ.

Geertgen tot Sint Jans Birth of Christ.

Christ is the greatest gift of all to us.

The Great East West Christmas Food Clash!

Traditional British Christmas Dinner

What can I say? Traditional Christmas dinner consists of potatoes ( roasted and mashed), Brussels sprouts, carrots, roast parsnips, bread sauce, cranberry sauce, gravy, sausages wrapped in bacon and turkey. Therein lies the rub. According to the Russian Orthodox church calendar December 25th is a strict fast of bread, vegetables and fruits (for monastics). There are exclusions from the fast for some people (pregnant, lactating, sick and children under 7).


Fortunately I was once a vegan so I have a celebration nut roast recipe to share from The  Vegan Recipe cookbook. (for 6)
Part 1
4oz wholemeal breadcrumbs
8 oz finely ground nuts
1 tblsp flour
1 onion (chopped)
margarine (or water if oils not allowed)
1/4 pint soya/nut/rice milk
1/4 pint of veggie stock
1tsp yeast extract (marmite or vegemite)
pinch nutmeg and pepper
part2
3 oz breadcrumbs
2oz melted margarine or alternative
1/2 small onion grated
garlic clove crushed
2 tbps fresh parsley
rind of 1 lemon grated finely
Oven Gas 5/ 190C/ 375F

Grease  a 2lb loaf tin with grease proof paper. Grease well ( I am sure greasing a tin doesn't count as the food on oil free days.
part 1.
Fry ( or steam) onion until soft. Add flour and cook for 1 minute.
Remove from heat and slowly add the liquids. Stir constantly to avoid lumps.
return to the heat and bring to a simmer and continue stirring until the sauce has thickened.
Stir in the yeast extract and spices
Stir in the nuts ad breadcrumbs. You should have a stiff moist nut meat.
Part 2
Combine all the ingredients for part 2 and mix well.

Place half of part 1 into the tin and press down. Add all of part 2 and press down. Add rest of part 1  and smooth the top.

Bake for an hour. Remove from tin by inversion. Garnish with parsley and lemon.

Serve with a mushroom sauce or creamy gravy.

Creamy gravy (from the single vegan) (for 1)
1/2 oz rolled oats
1/4 pint warm water
1tsp oil (or milk replacement if oil not allowed that day)
1/2 tsp yeast extract
Put oats water and oil in a liquidiser and blend.
pour mixture into a small saucepan and heat gently stirring until  the gravy has thickened slightly. Add yeast extract and stir. 

Alternatively there are a number of sites offering Vegan Christmas recipes
http://www.vegkitchen.com
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/
http://www.vegansociety.com


With fasting the rule to remember is that you get out of it what you  put into it.

Your baby could do something wonderful for mankind.

The conception of the Holy Mother of God by Saint Anna

I have visited many churches but in the Russian Orthodox Churches I have always noticed the same thing. The little children  and babes in arms are encouraged to receive communion first. This is done in such a tender but disciplined way it is a pleasure to see. Each child is treated with respect.

Today is the commemoration of the conception of the Holy Mother Mary, whose parents were St Joachim and St Anna. Speaking about the conception the Priest reminded those in the congregation that if they ever found themselves in a situation where they might be considering abortion, to remember this. The child you bring forth may do something wonderful for mankind, so please reconsider.

Icon of the Mother of God of unexpected joy ( Нечаянная Радость)

A young man with an affliction was praying before the Icon in the upper room out of habit. Suddenly the image came alive and he saw Christ's wounds all bloody. In horror he asked why and the reply came that ,"Thou and other sinners by their sins do crucify My Son anew". In awareness of his own deep sins he prayed  sincerely to the Mother of God and Christ the Saviour for mercy.  His unexpected joy due to receiving healing and forgiveness.

Feast day of St Nicholas

Icon of St Nicholas the Wonderworker

Today is the feast day of St Nicholas. Although it was a week day I was able to travel to celebrate the feast day  with the Divine Liturgy with my Orthodox church family.   As I stood there in the church meditating on ordinary and the miraculous I appreciated the true meaning of community.  As  the priest reminded us, we are already miraculous and special because we are Human and God chose to take on Human form. When we meet in the Church and share  in the gifts of Christ, we are communing with one another is a deeply profound way. It is beyond a mere get together, it is like a prequel of heaven itself.

As an unexpected treat after Liturgy we were all invited to listen to the children sing and share in food. With musical accompaniment  The children  beautifully sang two songs.

The first was written by Grainne Archer titled, "St. Nicholas  Children's song".

To the Children it will be no surprise
that Parents sometimes can be unwise:
A father, driven by poverty
To sell his daughters, was soon set free
by St. Nicholas, St Nicholas,
Who gave his earthly riches away
St. Nicholas, St. Nicholas,
He saved his neighbour and points to Mary
Who gave Mankind Jesus Christ on Christmas Day.

Although I know it's a foolish goal
To have the whole world and then lose my soul,
If I inherited lots of  wealth
Perhaps I'd spend it all on myself
But St. Nicholas, St. Nicholas,
He gave all his earthly riches away,
St. Nicholas, St. Nicholas,
He saved his people and points to Jesus who  gave Himself to Mankind
On Christmas Day.
---
The second was  Hymn to St Nicholas, the words written by Charles William Polm and was put to a  Traditional Dutch melody

St. Nicholas lived in a land far away;
A warm-hearted Bishop, the people did say.
While still a young person his parents both died;
His fortune he shared  with the poor far and wide.

The Bishop of Myra he soon was proclaimed;
For prayer, Holy life and good works he was famed.
The good friend of children, he cared for their need;
The sick and imprisoned he aided and freed.

 He gave three young women a dowry of gold,
To help them find  husbands to have and to hold.
Through his life shone Christ's life and thus we proclaim:
Dear Nicholas, help us who honour your name.

----

Russian icon depicting St Nicholas with scenes from his life. Late 1400s or early 1500s. National Museum, Stockholm.

Thank you to the Parish of St Nicholas the Wonderworker for making us feel so welcomed on their Patronal feast day.

Icons in Hazmat suits!

 Pietro Cavallini  Fresco 1300

Venerating Icons is second nature and I believe in the miraculous having witnessed it  in my own life ( more about that some other day). For those of you who don't know, some Icons have miracles associated with them. 
The purpose of an Icon is to cast your mind heavenward, to tell the story of events and to aid in prayer. The prayer is not to the Icon but to the person  that the image is of eg: Christ. The image on the wood is just that, an image on wood and nothing more.

Then of course there is the artistic side, recognising the skill of the artist, composition etc.. However what I didn't realise until recently was the truly hazardous nature of the materials they worked with. I love art and feel that I could give myself over to the prayer and meditation as well as having the ability to paint to a reasonable standard. I wondered if Icon painting might be the way to go.  There is a lot of skill to Icon painting and the materials require a lot of work. One of the interesting things was mixing your own pigments. It interested me so I went to look for more information. After searching the internet I came across this http://www.iconofile.com/ , scrolling down brings up a list of horrors such as mercury, lead and arsenic in the pigments.

Such revelations bring a renewed appreciation for artists of old and the risks they took to give us works of great beauty.  Unless there is a safe alternative I think I'd rather leave Icon painting to  others.  It's that or  painting in a Hazmat suit!

Visit of the Holy Cross.

 Icon depicting The Cross of Kiy, a replica of the True Cross with holy relics commissioned by Nikon, Orthodox patriarch of Moscow, in 1656. On the left are the images of Saint Emperor Constantine the Great, Tsar Alexey Mikhaylovich and Patriarch Nikon. To the right: Saint Empress Helena and Tsarina Maria Ilyinichna.

         In 326AD St Empress Helen, (mother of St Constantine the Great) discovered the Cross on which Christ had been crucified. It was found with other artifacts  such as the  nails and the board which bore the inscription ordered by Pilate.  It was further verified by the miracles that accompanied it, namely the raising of a dead man and the healing of a woman in its shadow.

The Relic is in the Golden box on the stand on the right of the candles in the photo.

We  were blessed recently with a tour of the Relic of the Holy Cross throughout England.  It was  an honour to have the opportunity venerate such a relic. Although the church was standing room only at times I was told that had this been Russia the queue would have been several hours long!


There are links here to much better photographs of the Tour and the Relic itself.
Photos by James Hyndman on Flickr of the visit of the Holy Cross to Oxford


Visit of the Relic of the Holy Cross to London Russian Orthodox Church Abroad’s Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God and the Royal Martyrs.

Also a  Sermon preached by Fr Stephen Platt before the Relic of the True Cross

A bible from 1698

Portrait of Russian Tsar Peter I the Great by Godfrey Kneller(1698)

Church Slavonic from 1698

This painting of Tsar Peter I of Russia  was  completed in the very same year that this bible was published. I don't know how rare bibles are from this time but it was a huge privilege to have it as part of our liturgy.










Slavonic is the  language used by the Church. The Priest was able to read from it as easily as a Priest would have done from the 17th Century.  It is purely now a language used in the Liturgy.








This lovely bible visited our Church  prior to it being put up for auction.

  Detail

Front  cover

One of two gorgeous clasps

Back of the Bible