The Shepherd, March 2008
SiR UK* NEWS
* i.e. Synod in Resistance in the United Kingdom
TWO EPISCOPAL VISITS
HIS GRACE, Bishop Sofronie of Suceava of the Traditionalist Hierarchy of the Romanian Orthodox Church celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Saint Edward’s, Brookwood, on Sunday 21st January / 3rd February, the feastday of St Maximus the Confessor, assisted by Fr Stephen Fretwell and Hierodeacon Sabbas. Fr Stephen preached the sermon in English, but at the end the Bishop gave a talk in Romanian for the many Romanian people who had joined our congregation on that day. Immediately after the Liturgy, the Bishop served the Baptism of Constantin, the infant son of Constantin and Rodica Costin of Boreham Wood, Hertfordshire. Grigorie and Anna Manolache stood as his sponsors. The Bishop also served a memorial service for a relative of Khouria Petronilla, the wife of Fr Samir Gholam of the Antiochian Church in this country - Khouria is also Romanian, and her relative is laid to rest in our cemetery. Before leaving us, His Grace spent some time counselling some of the faithful who wanted his help and advice. (It being the year’s mind of the late Abbess Elisabeth (+ 1999), Fr Alexis served at the Convent on this day.)
His Grace, Bishop Ambrose of Methoni, who cares for the Synod in Resistance communities in the United Kingdom, visited England and served the Vigil at the Convent of the Annunciation on Saturday 10th / 23rd February, assisted by Fr Alexis and Fr Sabbas. The following morning he celebrated the Divine Liturgy there, this time with Fr Stephen and Fr Sabbas. In his pastoral love, so that he could reach as many hearts and minds as possible, at the end of the Mattins section of the Vigil, His Grace preached a sermon first in Romanian and then in Greek. On the Sunday morning, the day of the Prodigal Son, at the Divine Liturgy, the Bishop preached in English.
At the very end of the Vigil, Bishop Ambrose churched the newly baptised infant Constantin Costin and his mother. At this service, and at the Liturgy again, many traditionalist Romanian Orthodox Christians joined us in prayer, and at the Liturgy itself the church and the hallway outside were packed to overflowing. Mother Vikentia and her sisters provided those who were able to stay with a breakfast after the Liturgy.
The services over this weekend were conducted in Arabic, English, Greek, Romanian and Slavonic (in alphabetical order!) to show love to all those people from many ethnic backgrounds who were drawn by the Bishop’s being there.
Bishop Ambrose is hoping to come again to serve at Brookwood on Saturday 5th April (n.s.) and Sunday 6th April, the Sunday of Saint John of the Ladder. On the Sunday evening and Monday morning, the Great Feast of the Annunciation, he will serve with the sisters on their dedication festival at the Convent.
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