The Shepherd, October 2008
IRISH ORTHODOX STALWART DIES
ON THE AFTERNOON of the Great Feast of the Nativity of the All-Holy Mother of God, Sunday, 8th / 21st September, Ruaidhri Mac-Eoghain of Dublin reposed in the Lord. Ruaidhri (pronounced Rory) was received into the Orthodox Church by the late Father Nicolas Couriss in the mid nineteen-seventies, and his baptismal name was John, being name after St John of Damascus. In those days there was a small parish of Russian emigrés in Dublin, dedicated to the Holy Protection. They worshipped in a chapel in Fr Nicolas’ house. However, in August 1977, Fr Nicolas died and the house, which had been loaned to him for life, reverted to it’s owners. The parish then worshipped in the Seaman’s Mission, and later were kindly given hospitality by an Anglican Convent. As the people grew older and fewer, it became possible only for a priest from England to visit the last remaining ones in their homes and minister to them there. Throughout this period, Ruaidhri worked tirelessly to care for the little group, whose brother-in-Christ he had become by becoming Orthodox. He arranged for the priest to visit regularly, offered hospitality in his own home to visiting clergy, helped the elderly people get to the services, visited them in their homes, and even, when he found one old lady was not eating properly, took meals to her every day. In this he was undoubtedly helped and supported by his wife, Esther, even though she had not joined the Orthodox Church. Having made one pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he came to love the place and returned on many occasions, becoming well-beloved of the monastic communities there. The Orthodox map of Ireland changed completely after the fall of the Iron Curtain. The old emigrés had died one by one, but there are now literally hundreds of new-comers from the various Eastern European countries. Ruaidhri, quite evidently, became as beloved of these as he had of the earlier ones, and the children especially were devoted to him. At his funeral one Russian lady remarked, “He did more than Father Christmas (to whom he bore a striking resemblance - with rosy cheeks and snowy beard) because he gives out sweets to the children once a year, but Ruaidhri did so at every Liturgy after the children had Communion!” Ruaidhri often visited our community at Brookwood, and Fr Alexis was able to take him Holy Communion in Holy Week, and, through the kindness of his family, to go a few days before his repose to anoint him, and to return again to attend the funeral at Harold’s Cross. Our condolences to Esther, and to their children Rory, Gerrard and Maebh in their bereavement; and we ask the prayers of the faithful that the newly departed John-Ruaidhri will find rest with the saints, the reward of all his labours of love, and Memory Eternal.
TRADITIONALIST ROMANIANS’ SEARCH
FOR A CHURCH
AS WE HAVE NOTED in an earlier issue, the large congregation of Traditionalist Orthodox Romanians in this country, who belong to our Sister Church under the presidency of His Eminence Metropolitan Vlasie, and who are cared for by Bishop Sofronie of Suceava, are searching for a suitable building to be converted into a church of their own. Presently numbers of them worship with us here or at the Convent. If anyone knows of a likely property on the market, preferably in North London, please let us know. The community is collecting funds through this bank account: - Mitropolia Slatioara; Sort Code: 30-96-38; Number: 01923910. Please give as generously as you can.
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