The Shepherd, October 2004
BROOKWOOD NEWS, 2
VISIT FROM RUSSIA
On the evening of the feastday of the Nativity of the Virgin, three fathers from one of Russia’s greatest monasteries, the Lavra of Sergius of Radonezh visited Brookwood. They were staying in this country as guests of the Monastery of St John the Baptist in Tolleshunt Knights, to which they had come for the celebration of the feast of St Silouan of Athos. The fathers, Archimandrite Alypy, Archimandrite Pavel and Igoumen Iov arrived towards the end of Vespers and joined us for our evening meal and then stayed on until late in the evening.
ANOTHER RUSSIAN FOUND AT BROOKWOOD
Visitors to Wilton in Wiltshire may be surprised to see such a magnificent parish church and one in a style uncommon in English villages and small towns. When your editor once met the organist there and asked why such a church, in what appeared to be an Italianate style, had been built there, he replied, “Because it was built by a Russian, of course!” A Russian aristocrat, Catherine Woronzowa, married into the family of the Earls of Pembroke, whose seat is at Wilton, and was the benefactress of the church, in which she is now laid to rest. A recent visitor to our church in Brookwood told us that Catherine’s father, Simon Woronzow, was the Russian Ambassador to England at the end of the eighteenth century and that he died here in 1832. He was first laid to rest at Marylebone, and his mortal remains are in all likelihood among those brought to Brookwood and re-interred some fifty yards from our church in 1983. This, of course, gives us a double link with Wilton, because it was there that Saint Edith, the half-sister of our Saint Edward, lived as a nun in the tenth century.
BESLANAPPEAL
Just as we were posting out the last issue of the magazine, news broke of the horrible tragedy at Beslan. On the day itself, a well-wisher from Aldershot kindly brought a bunch of flowers to be put in the church in memory of the victims. Since then, although we have not issued an appeal, others have spontaneously sent in donations to help the survivors of this horrible act of terrorism. We thank all those who have thus contributed and will certainly ensure that their gifts and any others that come in are sent to the relief of the people of Beslan.
CEMETERY OPEN DAY
On Sunday 5th Sunday, the owners of Brookwood Cemetery, Mr and Mrs Ramadan Guney hosted an Open Day at Glades House. The event brought together one of the biggest gatherings of dignitaries that the cemetery has witnessed for many a year: the Lord Lieutenant of the County, the High Sheriff, our MP Humfrey Malins, representatives of the British and foreign military who have war graves here, and leaders of the religious communities who have plots within the cemetery. Many of the latter were Muslim, and in conversations with them, we were several times assured that they did not want us to conclude that the perpetrators of the Beslan atrocity in any way represented their religion. The principal guests were treated to a luncheon within a marquee, and others were able to visit stalls of various interest groups who have connections with the cemetery’s history.
ROYAL OAK DONATED
Having nowhere to plant it, Mrs Natalia MacDonald of Brookwood village has given us an oak tree, which had been presented to her husband’s company as an Award for Excellence 2004, by H.R.H. Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales.
TALK AT BROOKWOOD
On 3rd September, at the invitation of Mrs Win Milne, Fr Alexis gave an afternoon talk on icons to the Autumn Club, which meets in the St Saviour’s Church Hall in the village centre.
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PRACTICAL TIP
THIS MONTH is blighted by the celebration of Halloween, a festival of pagan derivation, which was all but forgotten in Britain, but has in the last few years been re-introduced from America, and in the process has been Americanised and commercialised. Because those who have no regard for any spiritual harm it might inflict upon children, but have regard only for their own profits, each year’s Halloween seems to be promoted with increasing vigour. Masks, costumes, lanterns and fireworks are sold, - and its celebration seems set to surpass that of Guy Fawkes Night. We can only suggest that all conscientious Orthodox parents keep their children away from any participation in celebrations centred on Halloween, whether parties or barbecues, and that they object to any promotion of the event in school. Although the children’s participation might only be for “fun,” and the darker side of the celebration might not be taken seriously by them, yet the evil powers are serious and are well able to use such “innocent” participation for their own ends. Furthermore, our children should be encouraged not to rejoice in such things as demons, witches, vampires, ghosts and the like, but in the festivals of the Church, in the Angels and Saints, and in the celebration of their namedays. It is always better to look up, than down, and training in doing this cannot start too early with small children. 
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