Services in February 2013 at Audley and Dresden

Services in February 2013 at Audley and Dresden

Fri 1st 7pm Great Vespers of the Meeting of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in the Temple

Sat 2nd 10am Matins; 11am Divine Liturgy of the Feast of the Meeting of

our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in the Temple

Sat 2nd 6pm Great Vespers

Sun 3rd 10am Matins; 11am Divine Liturgy

Wed 6th 11am Divine Liturgy

Sat 9th 6pm Great Vespers

Sun 10th 10am Matins; 11am Divine Liturgy

Wed 13th 11am Divine Liturgy

Sat 16th 6pm Great Vespers

Sun 17th 10am Matins; 11am Divine Liturgy

Wed 20th 11am Divine Liturgy

Sat 23rd 6pm Great Vespers

Sun 24th 10am Matins; 11am Divine Liturgy

Wed 27th 11am Divine Liturgy

Please arrange House Blessings before March 18th

which is the start of Great Lent

Name days

3rd Archimandrite Simeon

7th Richard

19th Philothei

Reposed

2nd Fr Alban (2009)

10th Photini (2006)

The Feast of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple

The Feast of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple
The Meeting of the Lord in the Temple (also called the Presentation) is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, celebrated on February 2. This feast is also known as Candlemas, particularly in Western nations, due to the custom of blessing candles on this day. In Eastern tradition, it is often called The Meeting of Our Lord and God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, because the hymns emphasize the incarnate God, the Lord Jesus Christ, meeting with his people, Israel, in the persons of the Prophet Simeon and the Prophetess Anna. In the Gospel of Luke 2:22-35, Mary and Joseph took the infant Christ to the Temple in Jerusalem. He was received in the arms of the elder Simeon, who then prayed, "Now let Thy servant depart in peace... for I have seen Thy salvation." This was one of the things that Mary "pondered in her heart"—the fact that others recognised that her Son was the Messiah.

 

Troparion of the Feast

Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, full of grace!

From you shone the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God.

Enlightening those who sat in darkness!

Rejoice, and be glad, O righteous elder;

You accepted in your arms the Redeemer of our souls,

Who grants us the Resurrection.

Mother Thekla’s Letter to a New Convert

Mother Thekla’s Letter to a New Convert Mother Thekla, who died on Aug. 7, 2011 at aged 93, was the last surviving nun to have occupied the enclosed Orthodox Monastery of the Assumption in North Yorkshire, but became better known to the wider world as the spiritual muse of the composer Tavener. Mother Thekla wrote the following letter in 2009, when she was 91 years old. Dear “John”, I understand that you are on the way to becoming Orthodox. I know nothing about you, beyond the fact that you are English. Before we go any further, there is one point I should make clear. I have not been told why you are about to convert, but I assure you there is no point whatsoever if it is for negative reasons. You will find as much “wrong” (if not more) in Orthodoxy as in the Anglican or Roman Churches. So – the first point is, are you prepared to face lies, hypocrisy, evil and all the rest, just as much in Orthodoxy as in any other religion or denomination? Are you expecting a kind of earthly paradise with plenty of
incense and the right kind of music? Do you expect to go straight to heaven if you cross yourself slowly, pompously and in the correct form from the right side? Have you a cookery book with all the authentic Russian recipes for Easter festivities? Are you an expert in kissing three times on every possible or improper occasion? Can you prostrate elegantly without dropping a variety of stationery out of your pockets? OR….. Have you read the Gospels? Have you faced Christ crucified? In the spirit have you attended the Last Supper – the meaning of Holy Communion? AND…. Are you prepared, in all humility, to understand that you will never, in this life, know beyond Faith; that Faith means accepting the Truth without proof. Faith and knowledge are the ultimate contradiction –and the ultimate absorption into each other. Living Orthodoxy is based on paradox, which is carried on into worship – private or public. We know because we believe and we believe because we know. Above all, are you prepared to accept all things as from God? If we are meant, always, to be “happy”, why the Crucifixion? Are you prepared, whatever happens, to believe that somewhere, somehow, it must make sense? That does not mean passive endurance, but it means constant vigilance, listening, for what is demanded; and above all, Love. Poor, old, sick, to our last breath, we can love. Not sentimental nonsense so often confused with love, but the love of sacrifice – inner crucifixion of greed, envy, pride. And never confuse love with sentimentality. And never confuse worship with affectation. Be humble – love, even when it is difficult. Not sentimental so called love – And do not treat church worship as a theatrical performance! I hope that some of this makes sense, With my best wishes,

Mother Thekla