The Shepherd, July 2008
SiR UK* NEWS
* Synod in Resistance Churches in the UK
EPISCOPAL VISIT & BAPTISM
BISHOP SOFRONIE of Suceava, of the Traditionalist Church of Romania celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Saint Edward’s Church on the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Œcumenical Council, 26th May / 8th June. After the Divine Liturgy His Grace celebrated the Baptism of Elisa, the infant daughter of Paul and Florentina Grumazescu, with Costel and Rodica Costin standing as godparents to the newly-illumined. He then imparted the Holy Mysteries to the new member of our Church and to another baby brought at that time. He was not permitted to leave immediately, but was detained by members of the Romanian flock wanting him to bless their cars and to read prayers for various needs. After blessing the car of one yung man, he explained to him very strictly that he had blessed it so that he might go to church and to work, but not to go clubbing! The Bishop very kindly left us a wooden blessing Cross and a supply of pure beeswax candles. Elisa’s mother was churched at Saint Edward’s immediately after the Divine Liturgy on Sunday 9th / 22nd June, the festival of All the Saints - may they ever intercede for all the family and keep them steadfast in Orthodoxy.
NEW CATECHUMEN
AT the end of the Divine Liturgy on the Sunday of All Saints, James Stanbridge of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, had the prayers making him a catechumen read for him. As he had not professed a preference for any one of the numerous Saints James, Fr Stephen Fretwell drew one name by lot from seven, and the new catechumen is named for the Holy Great Martyr James the Persian whose feast day falls on 27th November / 10th December. May his prayers and those of the faithful lead James to Holy Baptism in due time.
SURREY CHURCHES PRESERVATION TRUST AGM
THE TRUST held a meeting of their Trustees, chaired by Hamish Donaldson, in the main hall of our Old Mortuary Building on the afternoon of Saturday, 14th June. Immediately after this meeting, they had their 2008 AGM. After the business had been completed and a questions-and-answers session, they asked Fr Alexis to give a talk about the Church and the Brotherhood, and after some refreshments (which they insisted on providing themselves!), they visited the exhibition room, the site of the old railway station and, at the end of the day, the Church of St Edward itself, which was being preparing for our Pentecost services.
GIFTS OF ICONS
AN ANONYMOUS DONOR has given a large hand-painted icon of the Mother of God, the Life-giving Spring in memory of his parents. The icon was painted by the Sisters of the Convent of St Elizabeth in Etna, California, and is so large that, when it has been churched, we shall place it as the principal icon in the main hall of the Old Mortuary Building, where we have our parish Breakfasts.
ELENA STEPAVOI also brought three Icons, painted for us in Romania: one of the Saviour enthroned as High Priest, one of the Holy Apostles Peter & Paul, and one of the Holy Peers of the Apostles Constantine and Helena. These are painted in a traditional Romanian style with a distinctive blue background. Our sincere thanks to these donors for helping us to beautify the House of God.
A SPECIAL TREAT
THE MEMBERS of the Brotherhood and Fr Stephen Fretwell and his Presbytera Joanna were guests of the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Mrs Sarah Goad, J.P., and her husband Timothy at their home near Blechingley on the Thursday of Pentecost Week, 14th June. Our hosts treated us to a traditional cream tea in their garden, before showing us something of the old estate on which their home is situated, and telling us about its history and that of their family. The party was shown the Chapel of St Mark the Evangelist, where they hold weekly Anglican services, and which was dedicated to mark the birth of Mrs Goad’s father. In their house we were also shown, and asked about, the icons which they have. Our little Orthodox group was joined by some cousins of the Goads from Yorkshire, one of whom was a retired Anglican priest, and by the local vicar, his wife and some members of the St Mark’s congregation. It was a beautiful day, and it was a real treat, as well as instructive, to have an opportunity to walk through the grounds and gardens.
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