The Shepherd, August 2008
NEW CHURCH IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
REPRESENTING the ailing Metropolitan Cyprian of Oropos and Fili, His Grace Bishop Klemes of Gardikion visited the Synod in Resistance’s missions in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia in June. During his stay there he visited several of the holy places in those countries, and on Tuesday 18th June / 1st July, Bishop Klemes and his travelling companions went by road to the village of Jezdovice, which is situated in a beautiful region near a lake, over two hours south-east of the capital, where Father Jeremias Cvak has built a new Church, dedicated to St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, the Wonderworker. The church is located on the lakefront, next to Fr Jeremias’ house. Following necessary preparations, Bishop Klemes presided at the Festal Vespers service to St. John, which was chanted in Czech, Slavonic, and Greek. After Vespers, His Grace performed the “Opening of the Doors” of the new church. Frs Jeremias, Gorazd, and Jifií took part, with numerous Orthodox faithful in attendance. On the next day, the first Patronal Feast of the newly-built Church in Jezdovice was celebrated. Matins was chanted in Greek. Before the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Klemes ordained John Machaã a reader. After the Divine Liturgy, a festal meal was served, before and after which the faithful eagerly asked the Bishop numerous questions on spiritual matters. That afternoon, after Vespers, a lengthy gathering was held at Fr Jeremias’ house, during which Bishop Klemes had the opportunity to give detailed answers to questions by the faithful about matters of ecclesiastical and spiritual concern.
FORMER BROOKWOOD PRIEST
LEADS LONDON RUSSIAN CHURCH
FR PETER BAULK, who was baptised and ordained at Brookwood, but who elected to remain under the omophorion of Archbishop Mark, when the Church Abroad united with the Moscow Patriarchate, has been appointed priest-in-charge of the London Russian Orthodox Church of the Dormition, on Harvard Road, Gunnersbury. This is a temporary appointment, until a permanent priest is found. In the three-hundred year long history of the Dormition parish in London, Fr Peter is only the second Englishman to be given this responsibility.
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