March2016

No.112

TheOrthodoxParish
oftheHolyandLifeGivingCross,
Lancaster,U.K.

TheStavronian

amonthlymagazine&newsletterpublishedbythe'HolyCrossSynodia'

TheParishoftheHolyandLifeGivingCross,
belongstotheAntiochianOrthodoxChristianArchdioceseoftheBritishIslesandIreland.
ThePatriarchateofAntiochisthirdsenioroftheOrthodoxChurches.
ThePatriarchisHisBeatitudeJohnX.

ThediscipleswerefirstcalledChristiansinAntioch
(Acts11:26)

ENTHRONEMENT OF
OUR NEW BISHOP
SILOUAN; MANY YEARS!

TheEnthronementofBishopSilouanand
HierarchicalDivineLiturgyinthe
AntiochianCathedralinLondononFeb.28

THE MODEL OF PRAYER

Luke11:14; Nowitcametopass,asHe
was prayingin acertain place, when He
ceased, one of His disciples said to Him,
Lord, teach us to pray, as John also
taughthisdisciples.SoHesaidtothem,
Whenyoupray,say:
OurFatherwhoartinheaven,
HallowedbeThyname.
Thykingdomcome.
Thywillbedone
Onearthasitisinheaven.
Giveusthisdayourdailybread.
Andforgiveusourtrespasses,
Asweforgivethosewhotrespassagainstus.
Andleadusnotintotemptation,
Butdeliverusfromtheevilone.

ContextandBackground
The Lords Prayer is given by Our Lord
JesusChristinresponsetoademandby

oneofhisdisciplesteachustopray,as
Johnalsotaughthisdisciples.
ThePrayerisrecordedintwoofthe
Gospels.Twoformsarefound;alonger
formintheGospelofMatthew6:513as
partoftheSermonontheMountanda
shorter form in Luke 11:14. In St.
MatthewsGospel,theLordsPrayerisset
withinOurLordsSermonontheMount
and specifically his teaching on prayer
whichbeginswitharebuttalofthoseplay
actorsorhypocriteswhopretendatpiety.
We are warned against vain repetition
and lengthy rhetorictrue prayer is the
prayer of theheartand thatiswhy we
should pray without ceasing (Luke 18;
1).RepetitionwhendoneinSpiritandin
Truth is life enhancing and spiritually
effective. True prayer involves us going
intothesecretchamberofourheartv.6
(gointoyourroomJesussays)weareto
close the door,shut out all distractions
andtemptationsandpraytotheFather.
Sobeforeweexpressourprayerwithour
lipsweneedtohavepreparedthesoilof
our heart so that the words of Christ
wateredbytheHolySpiritcanbloomin
ourmouthandgivevoicetothegloryof
God our Father. How seldom we make
thispreparation,butitisvitalifweare
goingtotakeourcommunionwithGod
andmakespiritualprogressthestillness
of the heart is the receiver and
transmitter of all human longings and
expressions.
A Rabbinic prayer, that which is
taught in order to be recited, was seen
both as efficacious for communion with
God and a means of identification
cementing the bond between the
Teacher,thepupilandGod.
Teach us! is a request, which
recognisesDivineauthorityandpersonal
needswithinthecommunity.Intheoften
fractured and dissembled society in
which we live this honest and
enthusiasticchildlikesimplicitycomesas
a breath of fresh air. Furthermore, it

acknowledges that prayer is a gift that

has structure and a living tradition that
canbepassedonfromonegenerationto
another. The longevity of the Lords
Prayeristestimonytothattruth.
We see in the Acts of the Apostles
and continue to witness within the
Orthodox Church the three elements of
worship; Apostolic doctrine, Liturgical
prayers and the Eucharist. The prayers
werespecificallysetprayersinlinewith
Judaic practice and not extempore or
spontaneous. Acts 2:42; And they
continued steadfastly in the apostles
doctrineandfellowship,inthebreakingof
bread,andin(the)prayers.
Such set or formal prayers are
common in the East where Choirs,
ReadersandPsaltesoftenlearntheeight
tones and Kontakia off by heart, often
without being able to read music. It is
difficulttoimagineinthisageofinstant
information and social media just how
important the learning and reciting of
prayerswas,evenafewdecadesago.The
meaning of Prayer is discerned though
Theoria; the application for spiritual
growththroughPraxis.
ChristgivestoHisdisciplesamodel
ofprayerinwhichtheycouldAdoreGod,
Confess their sins, give Thanks to God
and Supplicate for their needs. These
ACTSconstitutetheworkoftheChurch.
However, one may see the Lords
Prayer in the greater Acts of Gods
Salvation as outlined in the Creed, the
Symbol of Faith and the context of
Christs coming, who as the Second
Adam,hasenteredintohistorytorenew
and to restore the relationship of God
withmanandmanwithGod.TheLords
Prayer is the seal and evidence of this
action. The Lord enters into a second
communionmuchmoreamazingthanthe
first St Gregory the Theologian
(Homily45:8)
This wish for dependency by the
disciplesmarksarecommencementofthe

dialoguebetweenearthandheavenafter
Adams excommunication from Eden
becauseofhiswishforindependence.We
oftennotethroughouttheGospels,how
oftenthedisciplesgetthingswrong.They
misunderstand and misjudge Our Lords
words, they are perplexed by His
parables, they vie for position amongst
themselves, they speak when not
appropriate;yethere,withtheirrequest,
theygetitright:Teachushowtopray!
AtourCommunityoftheHolyCross
in Lancaster, we hear the Lords Prayer
recitedindifferentlanguagesduringthe
Divine Liturgy: in English, Greek,
Slavonic,Romanian,Arabic,Germanand
Mandarinreflectingtheeclecticcallingof
the ekklesia! It is a microcosm of the
universalityofourHolyFaithandalittle
Pentecost where our corporate
affirmationisanaudiblewitnessthatwe
allbelongtoOneFather.
The Lords Prayer takes us to the
living past and to the heralded future
whilst uniting us with one another and
Godinthesanctifiedpresent.

Psalm 46:2; All nations clap your

handsdanceingladness.Theclappingof
handsisanappreciationofwhatGodhas
done in Jesus Christ. The symphony of
voices spans heaven and earth; the

prophets, martyrs, confessors, angels,

apostles, fathers and all the righteous
spirits join together. As the Triodion of
Great Saturday Ode 3 of the Canon
proclaims:Whatwasseparatedisunited.
ThewholeChurchonearthdwellsin
each believer, so whether we recite the
LordsPrayerathomeinourIconCorner
or with others at Church in the Holy
Liturgy, we stand next to Christ in the
Holy Spirit before the Father. Prayer is
thevoiceoftheChurchandinfusesallthe
senses with the love of God. Hebrews
10:20; Let us look to each other
encouragingoneanothertolove.
PrayerisLifelivedintheloveofGod.
On a recent visit to Romania a priest
friend,Fr.BogdanGeorgescuandIwere
driving to a Monastery. As we drove
alongthestraightroads,eithersideofus
werefieldsuponfieldsofsunflowers.All
of the heads of the Sun Flowers were
directed towards the Sun. The heads of
the Sun flowers in built natural radar
werefocusseduponthelightandtracking
the Sun! For Sun Flowers Light is Life!
For us too prayer is tracking and
followingtheLightoftheWorld.Forus,
ChristisLife.Christiansmaybefromthe
earth,buttheyareinvestedwiththeHoly
Spirit and their heads face towards the
heavens: Hebrews 12:2; Looking unto
Jesus,theauthorandfinisherofourfaith,
who for the joy that was set before Him
endured the cross, despising the shame,
andhassatdownattherighthandofthe
throneofGod.
Looking unto Jesus is therefore the
souls disposition towards God it is the
inclinationoftheheart,itisastandingin
theLordspresence.Themovementofthe
Holy Spirit directs our words upwards
towardsthethroneofGodinheaven.Like
a stone thrown into a pool our words
ripplefromthecentreofourbeing;they
expand upon the waters, they reach
outwards incrementally in an ever
enlarging,encompassingwaveoflove.St

Isaac the Syrian said: Perfect prayer

guidesmantoheaven.Itdisdainsthelove
ofthisworld.Byprayerwedrawtousthat
grace which is termed the Kingdom of
Heaven, and once we feel it exists, we
forgetearthandallthatbelongstherein.
Allwerememberisourinvisible,powerful
helper.
Pride, arrogance and hypocrisy on
theotherhandhastheoppositeeffect,it
separatesusfromtheLightofChrist; it
diminishesourhumanity.Aproudman
is always looking down on things and
people;and,ofcourse,aslongasyouare
looking down, you cannot see something
that is above you. C.S. Lewis, Mere
Christianity

WeshouldnotethatOurLordsays:
When you pray, say Indeed, we say
the Lords Prayer it is not a silent
meditation.WesaythePrayeroutloud,
but though we say the Prayer we must
also pray the prayer. This may seem
tautologousbutinfactitiseasytorecite
the Lords Prayer without taking
cognizance of its content. It is so
established that people recite it off by
rote rather like a child reciting the
mathematical times tables. Our saying
theprayerisnotsimplythemovementof

thelipsalone,itisthecogitationsofthe
mind and the stirrings of the heart
strengthened bythewill. Itdemandsall
of our being, all our effort and
concentration,totrulysayandthenlive
outtheLordsPrayer.
Although it is so well known, so
familiar, there is a danger that we slip
into automatic pilot when reciting the
LordsPrayer,ratherthanhavingtheHoly
Spirit as our Pilot. To exercise our
humanityinitsfullness,theprayermust
becomepartofus,throughtheindwelling
oftheHolySpiritwhoisamongstus.The
testimonyoffaithistransmittedamongst
the gathered community like the man
with the megaphone at a rally or
demonstration who voices the thoughts
and ideas of those around him. This
petitionsooftenheardintheHolyLiturgy
expressesthatsamecorporateconviction:
Let us praytotheLord,Lordhavemercy
(onus)
Teach usTheancientsknewthe
valueofeducationandtheimportanceof
a teacher. The need to acquire the
knowledgeofGodisamplyillustratedin
the Old Covenant with the form of
collected writings and sayingsknownas
"wisdomliterature.ThebooksofPsalms
andProverbsarefullofspiritualsagacity,
practical advice, guidance and
discernment for those who want to live
therighteouslife,butalifelivedwithin
thecommunityoffaithamongstothers
you and me us, together. Yet writing
wasaccompaniedbyanauditorymemory
of oral tradition that learned,
rememberedandrecited.
Tobecontinued
FrJonathan

55 MAXIMS OF
CHRISTIAN LIFE
Fr. Thomas Hopko was once asked to
come up with a simple and concise list
that would capture the essence of our
LifeinChristaswestruggleonthepath
towardssalvation.Hecameupwiththe
following55maxims,whichareusefulto
all.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.

BealwayswithChristandtrust
Godineverything.
Prayasyoucan,notasyou
thinkyoumust.
Haveakeepableruleofprayer
donebydiscipline.
SaytheLord'sPrayerseveral
timeseachday.
Repeatashortprayerwhen
yourmindisnotoccupied.
Makesomeprostrationswhen
youpray.
Eatgoodfoodsinmoderation
andfastonfastingdays.
Practicesilence,innerand
outer.
Sitinsilence20to30minutes
eachday.
Doactsofmercyinsecret.
Gotoliturgicalservices
regularly.
Gotoconfessionandholy
communionregularly.
Donotengageintrusive
thoughtsandfeelings.
Revealallyourthoughtsand
feelingstoatrustedperson
regularly.
Readthescripturesregularly.
Readgoodbooks,alittleata
time.
Cultivatecommunionwiththe
saints.
Beanordinaryperson,oneof
thehumanrace.

19. Bepolitewitheveryone,firstof
allfamilymembers.
20. Maintaincleanlinessandorder
inyourhome.
21. Haveahealthy,wholesome
hobby.
22. Exerciseregularly.
23. Liveaday,evenapartofaday,
atatime.
24. Betotallyhonest,firstofallwith
yourself.
25. Befaithfulinlittlethings.
26. Doyourwork,thenforgetit.
27. Dothemostdifficultandpainful
thingsfirst.
28. Facereality.
29. Begrateful.
30. Becheerful.
31. Besimple,hidden,quietand
small.
32. Neverbringattentionto
yourself.
33. Listenwhenpeopletalktoyou.
34. Beawakeandattentive,fully
presentwhereyouare.
35. Thinkandtalkaboutthingsno
morethannecessary.
36. Speaksimply,clearly,firmly,
directly.
37. Fleeimagination,fantasy,
analysis,figuringthingsout.
38. Fleecarnal,sexualthingsat
theirfirstappearance.
39. Don'tcomplain,grumble,
murmurorwhine.
40. Don'tseekorexpectpityor
praise.
41. Don'tcompareyourselfwith
anyone.
42. Don'tjudgeanyoneforanything.
43. Don'ttrytoconvinceanyoneof
anything.
44. Don'tdefendorjustifyyourself.
45. BedefinedandboundbyGod,
notpeople.
46. Acceptcriticismgracefullyand
testitcarefully.

47. Giveadviceonlywhenaskedor
whenitisyourduty.
48. Donothingforpeoplethatthey
canandshoulddofor
themselves.
49. Haveadailyscheduleof
activities,avoidingwhimand
caprice.
50. Bemercifulwithyourselfand
others.
51. Havenoexpectationsexceptto
befiercelytemptedtoyourlast
breath.
52. FocusexclusivelyonGodand
light,andneverondarkness,
temptationandsin.
53. Endurethetrialofyourselfand
yourfaultsserenely,under
God'smercy.
54. Whenyoufall,getup
immediatelyandstartover.
55. Gethelpwhenyouneedit,
withoutfearorshame.

NAMES OF DEPARTED
LOVED ONES TO BE
REMEMBERED THIS MONTH
Mar.12:Georgianna
Mar.18:Fr.ThomasHopko
Mar.19:MetropolitanPhilipofNorth
AmericaandFr.GeorgiosMyrou
MEMORY ETERNAL!
Pleasesendusthenamesofyourdepar
tedloved onesanddateoftheirdepar
tureinorderforthemtoberemembered.

PARISH NEWS
OnFeb.7th,theParishcelebratedourfirst
Divine Liturgy at St Martin's church,
Westgate!Aphotooftheexterioranda
fewoftheinteriorofthechurchduring
theliturgyfollow.

TheParishaftertheendoftheDivine
Liturgy
After the Divine Liturgy, Fr Jonathan,
Aidan, Dmitry, Ioannis and Anastasios
visited the hermits cell at St Patrick's
Chapel and Monastery at Heysham. A
phototakenonthesitefollows.

Ioannis,Aidan,DmitryandAnastasiosat
hermitscell,StPatrick'schapel.
Theiconostasisjustbeforethestartofthe
Liturgy

Thefaithfulduringthesermon

TheParishreceivedbeautiful Sticharions
asgift,tobewornbyourserversduring
the Divine Liturgy! They were provided
by Fr Igor and Yuri Ismagilov, Dmitry's
father from Moscow, Russia! Anastasios
Apostolidis donated for ournew church
various holy gifts brought by his family
from Drama, Greece. In addition, Oleg
Kolosov,providedatablewithextending
legstobeusedasaProskomedetable.We
are so ever grateful for these kind gifts
andpraythatourLordandSaviourJesus
Christgivesthereward!
Afteroneyear(Dec.2014)thatOleg
Lychkovskiy, Konstantinos Kalemis and
AntoniosPapakonstantinouconstructeda

new base for our iconostasis, Tony and

Ioanna Plater with the help of Aidan
Wearing and FrJonathan extendeditto
include the North and South Angels'
Doors. They stayed until 11.30 p.m. on
Sat.13thofFebruaryconstructingthenew
frame! We wholeheartedly thank Tony,
Ioanna and Aidan for the hard work
the'veputonthisholytask!

FrJonathanandAidanposinginfrontof
ourextendediconostasis.Aidanoneofour
new Sticharions provided by Fr Igor and
YuriIsmagilov

STAVRONIAN CORNER
Tatiani Rapatzikou and her mother
Vasiliki from Thessaloniki, Greece, have
sent candles, charcoal, incense and oil
wicksforournewChurch!MayGodgive
Hisblessingfortheirkindness!
~+~
DearFartherJonathan,
Please, accept our greetings and
congratulationsaboutthemovingofthe
ParishoftheHolyandLifeGivingCross
to the Church of St Martin of Tours in
Morecambe.
WearewishingthattheParishgrows
andmorepeoplecometothenewplace,
andmayaSundayschoolbeestablished
there, and all together do baking sale,
communitydiners(excellentfundraising
forChurch)andothersignificantevents.
Best wishes to Lancaster Orthodox
community,
Alla,AndreiandMasha

MAJOR CELEBRATIONS
THIS MONTH

AnastasiosApostolidis'motherChristina
andbrotherDimitriosfromDrama,Greece,
visitedLancaster.HereatFrJonathan's
iconcorner.

st
1Mar:St.DavidofWales(589)
nd
2Mar:OurHolyfathersStNicholas
Planas&StJoachimofIthacaand
Vatopaedi
th
7Mar:CleanMonday;Lentstartstoday
th
13Mar:SundayofOrthodoxy
th
17Mar:StPatrick,theEnlightenerof
Ireland(492)
th
20Mar:StCuthberttheWonderworker,
BishopofLindisfarne(687)
th
25Mar:TheAnnunciationofourHoly
TheotokosandEverVirginMary
th
30Mar:StJohnClimacustherighteous,
authoroftheDivineLadderofAscent

st
31
Mar: St. Innocent, Enlightener of
Siberia&Alaska

For the lives of Saints please visit the

CalendaroftheGreekOrthodoxArchdi
oceseofAmerica:www.calendar.goarch.org

ServicesatStMartin'sduringMarch*
Sat.5th
Sun.6th
Sat.12th
Sun.13th
Fri.18th
Sat.19th
Sun.20th
Fri.25th

10:30am HolyLiturgyfollowedbyMemorialservice
10:30am HolyLiturgy
2:00pm Vespers
10:30am HolyLiturgy
6:30pm FirstSalutationstotheHolyTheotokos()
2:00pm Vespers
10:30am HolyLiturgySundayofOrthodoxy
10:30am HolyLiturgyTheAnnunciationoftheHolyTheotokos
6:30pm SecondSalutationstotheHolyTheotokos()
Sat.26th
2:00pm Vespers
Sun.27th 10:30am HolyLiturgyfollowedbyParishlunch
*Helpsettingupthechurchisgreatlyappreciatedandstartsfrom9.15a.m.

Godcaresforeveryone.Despairisineffectalackoffaith
St.GeorgeKarslides

Forfurtherinformationpleasecontact:
FatherJonathanHemmings
67SibseyStr.,Fairfield,Lancaster,LA15DQ
Tel:+441524840759,+441524580600
Email:frjah@yahoo.co.uk
www.orthodoxlancaster.org.uk
www.antiochianorthodox.co.uk
ThefollowingblogsofOldStavroniansareavailableinRomanian,ConstiintaOrtodoxa,in
English,Orthodoxcityhermit,andinGreek,Orthodoxyrainbow.

TopandbottomsketchesarecreatedattheHolyMonasteryofTheAnnunciationoftheTheotokosChios,Greece,courtesyofFrTheodosiosDendrinos,Ithaca,Greece.
ThesketchofChristbyPhotisKontoglouwasscannedfromtheOrthodoxcalendaroftheApostolikiDiakoniaoftheChurchofGreece.