IN THE LAST MONTH, we have unexpectedly received from the United States a gift of relics from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous.  The package contained tiny fragments of the bones of the Venerable Antony the Great of Egypt, and of the holy Martyr Justin the Philosopher, and a fragment of the coffin of the Holy New Confessor, Patriarch St Tikhon of Moscow and threads from his vestments.  Being unable to thank our benefactor in any other way, we hope that the prayers of these saints will bring him many blessings from our Saviour.

Another donor, who also wishes to remain anonymous, has given us a portion of cloth from the vestments of the Blessed and Ever-memorable Metropolitan Philaret of New York & Eastern America. Metropolitan Philaret reposed on the feast of the Archangels, 8th /21st November, 1985, and his sacred relics were uncovered  on 28th October / 10th November, 1998 and found to be incorrupt.  He is already revered as a saint by many of the Orthodox, although he has not been synodically glorified.

AGAIN completely unexpectedly, we have been given a beautiful carpet for the nave of the church by Salome (Chloe) Victoros, who told us that it had belonged to her family. 

Eleni Pipi from Cyprus sent us a huge new censer and some Cypriot treats.  Older parishioners might remember that Eleni used to attend our church when she was studying in England.  And Christakis and Archondoulla Cleovoullou, also brought us a censer, this time from Greece, and a large liturgical sponge. 

We are also extremely grateful to Panagiotes Somalis from Greece, whom again older parishioner might remember, as he used to chant in our church, who has composed a service in Greek for the Enshrinement of the Sacred Relics of St Edward the Martyr.  Over the years, Panagiotes has composed about two dozen services in Greek to the Western Saints.  If anyone is interested in obtaining these we can e-mail them or print them off and send them by post. 

ON 9th JUNE, the Ewhurst History Society visited the church.  As Frs Alexis and Niphon were attending the Friends of Mount Athos AGM in Oxford, Fr Sabbas gave them a talk and showed them around the church.

A Photography Class from Windsor visited on 14th June and were shown around by Fr Niphon, as were a large group from the Goldsworth Park Girl Guides, who turned up unexpectedly after Vespers on 25th June.