tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22460562898940021242024-03-12T23:01:32.247+00:00Orthodox Church in SussexFire Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392525785345739580noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246056289894002124.post-62622776799291563372026-11-11T21:03:00.010+00:002024-01-06T10:09:25.132+00:00Orthodox Parish of the Nativity of Christ<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CC_fZ_0qoaDvmxxg-9sx0QbDEUnuoxYwmb2b-40t8OJf_fWdyGWAKqafPyfOhDN-O5UTjf_IVfvpL9VCey1NR3KAknAWvfp_nXRqBUcp90L1NW8YdBKBTNJwE-wWDGEsI2QmrBmJRPE/s1600/Ch4.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CC_fZ_0qoaDvmxxg-9sx0QbDEUnuoxYwmb2b-40t8OJf_fWdyGWAKqafPyfOhDN-O5UTjf_IVfvpL9VCey1NR3KAknAWvfp_nXRqBUcp90L1NW8YdBKBTNJwE-wWDGEsI2QmrBmJRPE/s200/Ch4.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Our Parish belongs to the worldwide Orthodox Church, being part of the Archdiocese of Thyateira & Great Britain, within the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Deanery's website: <a href="http://www.thyateira-deanery.uk/">www.thyateira-deanery.uk</a></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">. </span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="color: black;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br /></div><div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="color: black;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Worshipping at the beautiful </span><a href="http://orthodoxsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/st-thomas-becket-church-lewes.html"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">St Thomas a Becket’s Church</span></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">Cliffe High Street, LEWES, BN7 2AW on most Sundays, at 11.30 AM.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWj92zuEL8c79nZTCvme-5MZhQ7cWpnEF2gY2-lUOu-Oap51x3wmW2wDFoyq3Ei3MHj8bcrLoYHkSGuif5JQZzB5TaPpAaXjjFld1B0alinuZjcYWvEVmn-BQG9yIRyVSW1pS-FMUpgA/s1600/Ch2.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWj92zuEL8c79nZTCvme-5MZhQ7cWpnEF2gY2-lUOu-Oap51x3wmW2wDFoyq3Ei3MHj8bcrLoYHkSGuif5JQZzB5TaPpAaXjjFld1B0alinuZjcYWvEVmn-BQG9yIRyVSW1pS-FMUpgA/s200/Ch2.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">See </span><a href="http://orthodoxsussex.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/calendar%20of%20services"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Calendar of Services</span></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> for up-to-date information. </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Rector: Father Ian Wallis,</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">15 Barnett Road BRIGHTON BN1 7GJ, telephone: 01273 55 32 30, email: <a href="mailto:ianoutwest@aol.com">ianoutwest@aol.com</a></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Parish Warden: Mr Anthony Stunt,<br />email: </span><a href="mailto:silverinkwell@yahoo.co.uk">silverinkwell@yahoo.co.uk</a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span></span><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFcBfbCv1CDKkpV2XFLbh69HyUOKfmIUJxuYG0IVma4YaDecnDiBufm6g2isg2k8A9FdL1RJpl_pdpVsxZ5rRBKBdiqr_uVAtix6qqG9B19Bv1-tlRjnOdiTWavCEsrxnQH6Cx2xlzK8/s1600/0_012.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFcBfbCv1CDKkpV2XFLbh69HyUOKfmIUJxuYG0IVma4YaDecnDiBufm6g2isg2k8A9FdL1RJpl_pdpVsxZ5rRBKBdiqr_uVAtix6qqG9B19Bv1-tlRjnOdiTWavCEsrxnQH6Cx2xlzK8/s200/0_012.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Safeguarding Officer: Mr Paul Dariush Mohandes,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">telephone: 07976 988 006</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">For Russian/Ukrainian speaking contacts:</span><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Mrs Vitalina Fesyk</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">, email: </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><a href="mailto:vitalinafesyk@gmail.com">vitalinafesyk@gmail.com</a></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span></span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div>Follow us on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/567245777167124/permalink/1415692088989151/ " target="_blank">Facebook</a> </div><div><span> <span style="font-family: arial;">
<b><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span></b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Members of all Christian communities are most welcome to attend our services, and share in the light </span><a href="http://orthodoxsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/refreshments.html"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">refreshments</span></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> afterwards. </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">On this website you can read about our </span><a href="http://orthodoxsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/apostolic-tradition-mission.html"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Mission</span></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> as well as find the answers to many of your questions about our Church. Please have a look at pages about </span><a href="http://orthodoxsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/baptism-christening.html"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Christening</span></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">, </span><a href="http://orthodoxsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/marriage-wedding-service.html"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Wedding Service</span></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">, </span><a href="http://orthodoxsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/about-fasting.html"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Fasting</span></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> and </span><a href="http://orthodoxsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/giving.html"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Giving</span></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> as well as pages about our Church and its </span><a href="http://orthodoxsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/icon-of-nativity-when-father-sergei.html"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Sacred Icons</span></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">.</span><br /></span></span>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><br /></div>Fire Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392525785345739580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246056289894002124.post-84836065097827098342026-01-01T13:36:00.067+00:002024-02-19T11:06:49.985+00:00Latest Notice of Services <h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">2024</span></b></h2><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>25th February, Sunday of Publican & Pharisee: </b><b>11,30 a.m. Matins & 1st Hour</b></li><li><b>3rd March, 17th Sunday of Luke: 11,30 a.m. Jesus Prayer Service</b></li><li><b>10th March, Sunday of Last Judgement: </b><b>11,30 a.m. Matins & 1st part of Baptism/Reception </b></li><li><b>17th March, Forgiveness Sunday: </b><b>11,30 a.m. Liturgy with Baptism/Reception </b><b>& Rite of Forgiveness</b></li><li><b>24th March, Sunday of Orthodoxy: 11,30 a.m. Liturgy</b></li><li><b>31st March: No Service</b></li></ul><div><div><br /></div><div>The Parish belongs to the worldwide Orthodox Church, being part of the Archdiocese of Thyateira & Great Britain, within the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Members of all Christian communities are most welcome to attend our services.</div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Rector: Father Ian Wallis, 15 Barnett Road BRIGHTON BN1 7GJ telephone: 01273 55 32 30 </span></div><div><span>Email: ianoutwest@aol.com <br /><br /></span></div><div><span>Контакт для говорящих по-русски и по-украински: Mrs Vitalina Fesyk </span></div><div><span>Email: vitalinafesyk@gmail.com <br /></span><br /></div></div>Fire Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392525785345739580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246056289894002124.post-10141489362036304002025-01-01T23:17:00.005+00:002023-10-25T14:00:50.617+01:00Contact Us<span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>ORTHODOX PARISH OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></b><br /></span>
Worshipping at St Thomas a Becket’s Church<br /> Cliffe High Street, LEWES BN7 2AW<br /> <br />Rector: <br />Father Ian Wallis<br />15 Barnett Road BRIGHTON BN1 7GJ<br />telephone: 01273 55 32 30; email: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">ianoutwest@aol.com</a> <br /><br /> Parish Warden: <br />Mr Anthony Stunt, email: <span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="mailto:silverinkwell@yahoo.co.uk">silverinkwell@yahoo.co.uk</a></span><br /><br />Контакт для говорящих по-русски и по-украински:<br /> Mrs Vitalina Fesyk, email: </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><a href="mailto:vitalinafesyk@gmail.com">vitalinafesyk@gmail.com</a></span></span><div><span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span>
<b style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">How to find us:</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR64z0vZnLt3z2TxXtQ5trjeDcVwbO7jE1T80MfysJxzoNSvZpUBmTKgmC_QaRnbODChyphenhyphenONQZFk1WPq7j1lDV8pYqfBS2bE3B5YIX5J1TOZXbiLsVAy6On3gFVo3GZMJ03F98B1-aeTjU/s1600/Ch+Map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR64z0vZnLt3z2TxXtQ5trjeDcVwbO7jE1T80MfysJxzoNSvZpUBmTKgmC_QaRnbODChyphenhyphenONQZFk1WPq7j1lDV8pYqfBS2bE3B5YIX5J1TOZXbiLsVAy6On3gFVo3GZMJ03F98B1-aeTjU/s640/Ch+Map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>Fire Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392525785345739580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246056289894002124.post-7558221156862981352024-12-30T18:08:00.000+00:002014-11-03T17:00:26.120+00:00PARISH CONSTITUTION<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">To read, click on the link below: </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://mindskillsmedia.co.uk/files/DRFT%28IW%29%20CONSTITUTION.pdf" target="_blank">PARISH CONSTITUTION</a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
THE PARISH OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST<br />
OF ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS IN THE TOWN OF LEWES AND THE ADJACENT COUNTIES<br />
<br />
Fire Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392525785345739580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246056289894002124.post-56507903151227068002024-01-10T00:12:00.000+00:002012-04-29T23:13:21.564+01:00St Thomas a Becket Church, Lewes<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">St Thomas a Becket is an ancient and peaceful church, situated at the end of Cliffe High Street. It is open daily, for services, meditation, prayer and visits.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbeRt5WKEz8lyo3DF6IayJh7tQEYl7qh_vNj3o3Jw_xcmO2Lp5jwcFAgHv5QCAoxBP8woX8wNDgBjrzEjZG6KblrMru8c1UpECya5FERFPUp13khlU-x6DKdA4dMAmD_ggfxjQT2xBek/s1600-h/Ch5.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424898073253173554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbeRt5WKEz8lyo3DF6IayJh7tQEYl7qh_vNj3o3Jw_xcmO2Lp5jwcFAgHv5QCAoxBP8woX8wNDgBjrzEjZG6KblrMru8c1UpECya5FERFPUp13khlU-x6DKdA4dMAmD_ggfxjQT2xBek/s400/Ch5.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<blog-cut>
</blog-cut><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil66O8oiab86r9yBGC0E4RvHOgtmpbha5LWuxC7RIRAxzki57Z6dCN3-SK0BuDmqO6q6bUzIGiH7j-3ERO7hfeN35oNHExudXxWhb7g0IKF4J62Lig8LK8I38pIlr8YTZTaKqGQQLDsOY/s1600-h/Ch3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424898070665035986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil66O8oiab86r9yBGC0E4RvHOgtmpbha5LWuxC7RIRAxzki57Z6dCN3-SK0BuDmqO6q6bUzIGiH7j-3ERO7hfeN35oNHExudXxWhb7g0IKF4J62Lig8LK8I38pIlr8YTZTaKqGQQLDsOY/s400/Ch3.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCI1YIDlK1StnUVn6K1Dk5wevvnaCD2aA-5hCnXRb4PSFsjMe0ucrPVjGlUckbPIgo3bu3FNr0HMA2aTBcGrEEEGE12_wjn3TrpMUF_bzqXm3RLdeCmEzevcipm_3BssgvEjv5xoNVdbs/s1600-h/Ch4.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424898062747409074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCI1YIDlK1StnUVn6K1Dk5wevvnaCD2aA-5hCnXRb4PSFsjMe0ucrPVjGlUckbPIgo3bu3FNr0HMA2aTBcGrEEEGE12_wjn3TrpMUF_bzqXm3RLdeCmEzevcipm_3BssgvEjv5xoNVdbs/s400/Ch4.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
</div>Fire Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392525785345739580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246056289894002124.post-21217374711427391112024-01-09T13:34:00.000+00:002019-04-04T12:45:37.454+01:00Refreshments<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40BvIAg_BNMCHqYqDrZBJSWVCum5_3Vn2uRlwm53YxiPl6vegiyRNfmRtlmmXBd7fJhXXXbbZitUnKZMbdaNvANhIwV85VSh8bxeyFBTb0bWOCyvYqOQH2eEieDC-4gcNwJl4HsUCiIQ/s1600/0_012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40BvIAg_BNMCHqYqDrZBJSWVCum5_3Vn2uRlwm53YxiPl6vegiyRNfmRtlmmXBd7fJhXXXbbZitUnKZMbdaNvANhIwV85VSh8bxeyFBTb0bWOCyvYqOQH2eEieDC-4gcNwJl4HsUCiIQ/s400/0_012.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">fter every service we have refreshments served in the Church Hall.<br /><br />Feel free to come and join us and meet the members of the parish.<br /><br />The atmosphere is warm and friendly and you can find out more about the church in this informal gathering. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><em>После каждой службы мы пьем чай в Церковном Холле.</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><em>Приходите, пожалуйста, чтобы угоститься и познакомиться с прихожанами нашей Церкви в дружеской и неформальной обстановке. </em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><em>Мы всегда рады новым людям!</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
Fire Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392525785345739580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246056289894002124.post-23072458890706952432024-01-08T00:37:00.000+00:002019-04-04T12:46:13.126+01:00Father Ian<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "century gothic";"><strong>Rector of the Parish: </strong>Rev Fr Ian Wallis, B.Ed.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNZU4yOTed9_HoP72ONefzixWOdIKmo76heeLguKqUCzBcxGkSTPT3lgU0qjwxOCUnpfgPymG7proGmoAgn-A3ta_w68tLd8YOrTYSDcbC8s1WIVvIHnsrbdalk-C6B04u9veht5i_Rg/s1600-h/Ch2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNZU4yOTed9_HoP72ONefzixWOdIKmo76heeLguKqUCzBcxGkSTPT3lgU0qjwxOCUnpfgPymG7proGmoAgn-A3ta_w68tLd8YOrTYSDcbC8s1WIVvIHnsrbdalk-C6B04u9veht5i_Rg/s400/Ch2.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<strong>Father Ian tells about himself:</strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman";">I was born in Brighton in 1953, and educated locally, graduating from the University of Sussex in 1977 with an Honours Degree in Education and Religious Studies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was baptized as an infant in the local parish of the Church of England, but not confirmed until 1971.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman";">It was while I was studying for my Degree that I first met Father Sergei Hackel (the first Rector of the Parish of the Nativity of Christ) when he was Reader in Russian Studies at the University of Sussex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman";">After graduating, I moved to London, and attended services at the Cathedral of the Dormition and All Saints, in Knightsbridge; and I was received into the Orthodox Church at the Cathedral in 1978.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman";">When I returned to live in Brighton, I became a member of Father Sergei’s parish, and was subsequently elected Churchwarden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was appointed a Reader to the Parish in 2001, having assisted in the celebration of services, by singing and serving, for a number of years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman";">After Father Sergei’s death (in 2005) the Parish was assigned to the care of Archpriest Alexander Fostiropoulos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Father Alexander had responsibilities elsewhere (besides Lewes) and needed someone who lived locally to share his pastoral role, with a view to taking over from him completely; so after due consideration, I was ordained<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to the diaconate on 21<sup>st</sup> May 2005, and to the priesthood on 19<sup>th</sup> November 2006.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman";">I was the Assistant Priest in the Parish for two years, and throughout that time the aim had been for me to get enough experience and training (including passing the Driving Test!) for me to succeed Father Alexander as Rector.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Bishop Basil of Amphipolis visited the Parish on 7<sup>th</sup> December 2008, he told us that both he and Father Alexander felt confident that I should be Rector, in place of Father Alexander, and this was subsequently confirmed by a Decree of the Archdiocese dated 8<sup>th</sup> December 2009.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Fire Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392525785345739580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246056289894002124.post-1029763644463587012024-01-06T22:58:00.000+00:002011-12-03T23:35:41.155+00:00The Apostolic Tradition: MISSION<div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mission as martyrdom: </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">our English word ‘martyr’ comes from a Greek word that </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">means ‘witness’, and the Parish has been (and continues to be) a witness by its prayerful presence in the church of St Thomas a Becket in Cliffe, Lewes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There has been a place of Christian worship in this part of Lewes since at least the 12<sup>th</sup> Century, and the church is a living part of the long root of Catholic tradition in Britain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Parish is committed to giving regularly to support Cliffe Parish Church, and we believe ourselves to be especially blessed in being able to worship there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our humble belief is that we as Orthodox Catholics, are in a communion with the living Father, mediated to us through Christ, in the Holy Spirit, and through those who have drunk the Lord’s cup, and been baptized with his baptism (‘the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church’).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are in that communion, and we receive that communion, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for the life of the World</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mission as Liturgy: </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">when we bring our ikons into the church, put up lights before </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">them, greet them, and honour them with incense, there is a continuation of the practice of our ancestors, as well as a witness to our belief in the communion of saints as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anamnesis</i> (which means the ‘not-forgetting’ or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">re</i>-membrance) not only of the recognised Saints, but also of those departed members of the parish, who were known to us (and dear to us) as well as the departed members of our own families and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Liturgy (our service of the Eucharist or Holy Communion) is our act of remembrance <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">par excellence</i>; and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anamnesis</i> in the Liturgy is the core experience of what we believe to be a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">living</i> tradition of Christ and the saints, in the communion of the Holy Spirit: a creative and collective reality, which is the Church’s true treasure.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>In the Liturgy, each of us offers that part of the world which is ours, to God, and receives back from God the gifts that God wants to give to our world: we are to give those gifts to our families, our friends, our neighbours, our world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mission to the world: </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The bread that is offered in the Liturgy is given by the Parish, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">and everyone has the opportunity to contribute to it, but there is a Liturgy <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">beyond</i> the Liturgy: we should live the Liturgy every day of our lives, and we should give to God every day of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Parish asks its members to give into its bank account by means of Standing Order, on a regular basis, a proportion of what they have received from the ‘Father of lights’ (Jas 1,17).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is as much a part of our ‘living sacrifice’ and ‘reasonable service’ to God (Rom 12,1) as what is offered at the services in church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our giving in support of the Parish is an expression of our communion with one another, and a means ‘for building up the body of Christ’ (Eph 4,12).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been born again through baptism into a family-like relationship with one another (a new covenant) in Christ, and we rejoice that we are being saved <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">together, </i>with the help of one another, living and departed; and that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">through us</i> the world around us might be saved.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Fire Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392525785345739580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246056289894002124.post-20657066385850227652024-01-06T17:17:00.002+00:002016-02-15T13:05:45.537+00:00GivingDear All<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Please remember that the Parish is here for all who need it, when they need it, and it needs to be supported on that basis: people's support for the Parish should not be determined by whether they have managed to come to the Service on any particular day or not. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman";">That is why, members of the Parish are encouraged to give regularly in support of its mission, and a good way of doing this is to give a fixed proportion of your income by means of a Standing Order each month.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman";">The Parish asks its members to give into its bank account by means of Standing Order, on a regular basis, a proportion of what they have received from the ‘Father of lights’ (Jas 1,17).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is as much a part of our ‘living sacrifice’ and ‘reasonable service’ to God (Rom 12,1) as what is offered at the services in church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our giving in support of the Parish is an expression of our communion with one another, and a means ‘for building up the body of Christ’ (Eph 4,12).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been born again through baptism into a family-like relationship with one another (a new covenant) in Christ, and we rejoice that we are being saved <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">together, </i>with the help of one another, living and departed; and that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">through us</i> the world around us might be saved.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 18pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman";">(The Apostolic Tradition: MISSION)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman";">Regular giving in this way is about offering our lives to one another as a church: it is about mutual self-giving.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman";">In the Liturgy, each of us offers that part of the world which is ours, to God, and receives back from God the gifts that God wants to give to our world: we are to give those gifts to our families, our friends, our neighbours, our world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 18pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman";">(The Apostolic Tradition: MISSION)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><strong><u>You can set up Standing Orders yourself:</u></strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 19px;"><b>The Parish of the Nativity of Christ</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 19px;"><b>Account Number: 65766130</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 19px;"><b>Sort Code: 08-92-99 (The Cooperative Bank)</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Or - complete </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman";">A Standing Order Mandate, which is available from Father Ian (see <a href="http://orthodoxsussex.blogspot.com/search/label/contact%20us"> ‘Contact us’</a>).</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman";">You can give a one-off donation to the above Bank Account should you prefer it to Standing Order.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Gift Aid:</span></u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Why donate through Gift Aid?</b></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Donating through Gift Aid means that the Parish – The Parish of the Nativity of Christ Orthodox Christian Property Trust Deed, Registered Charity no. 1161893 - can claim an extra 25p for every £1 that you give – and it won’t cost you any extra!</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Paying enough tax to qualify for Gift Aid</b></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If you have paid tax on either your <a href="https://www.gov.uk/income-tax">income</a> or on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/capital-gains-tax/overview">capital gains</a> (or both) your donations will qualify, as long as they’re not more than four times what you have paid in tax in that tax year (6 April to 5 April) and you must tell the Parish if you stop paying enough tax.</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What you need to do</b></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You need to make a Gift Aid Declaration for the Parish to claim. Please contact Fr Ian for a form and return it to the Hon Treasurer at the address shown at the bottom of the form. You can include all donations from the last four years, but not for any years when you didn’t pay enough tax.</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Higher rate taxpayers</b></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If you pay tax at the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/income-tax-rates/income-tax-rates">higher or additional rate</a>, you can claim back the difference between the rate that you paid, and the basic rate, on your donations; do this either -<br /> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">through your <a href="https://www.gov.uk/self-assessment-tax-returns">Self Assessment tax return</a> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">or by asking HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to <a href="https://www.gov.uk/reporting-your-tax-code-as-wrong">amend your tax code</a> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(With <a href="https://www.gov.uk/donating-to-charity/donating-straight-from-your-wages-or-pension">Payroll Giving</a>, you don’t pay the difference between the higher and basic rate of tax on your donations.)</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!</span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
Fire Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392525785345739580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246056289894002124.post-13126729856168068422024-01-05T23:08:00.000+00:002011-12-14T17:21:57.769+00:00Marriage (Wedding Service)<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>Father Ian says:</strong> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">MARRIAGE (WEDDING SERVICE)</span><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">With the Wedding Service (Marriage or Holy Matrimony): the couple are seen to be coming together in a relationship that can be considered an expression of the one new covenant in Christ that embraces <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> the baptized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I quote again from the Mission statement,</span><br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our humble belief is that we as Orthodox Catholics, are in a communion with the living Father, mediated to us through Christ, in the Holy Spirit, and through those who have drunk the Lord’s cup, and been baptized with his baptism (‘the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church’).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are in that communion, and we receive that communion, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for the life of the World</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The couple are crowned as a sign that their witness to Christ is now as husband and wife, in mutual giving, the one to the other; and they become a domestic church (within the parish) where the Holy Trinity is glorified and served throughout their married life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with Holy Baptism, our belief is that the proper context for celebration of that mutual giving is the Sunday Liturgy. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #990000;">Anyone thinking about the possibility of our parish celebrating a marriage (wedding service) either for themselves or their family or friends, should contact the Rector (see ‘<a href="http://orthodoxsussex.blogspot.com/2011/11/contact-us.html"><span style="color: #660000;">Contact Us</span></a>’ for details) for more information about the practicalities involved.</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong><span style="color: #660000;">Если вы хотели бы получить информацию о праздновании Венчания в нашем приходе (касается ли это Вас лично, Вашей семьи или друзей), пожалуйста, обращайтесь к Отцу Иану (его номер телефона указан на странице ‘</span></strong><a href="http://orthodoxsussex.blogspot.com/2011/11/contact-us.html"><strong><span style="color: #660000;">Contact Us</span></strong></a><strong><span style="color: #660000;">’) , чтобы обсудить все практические детали.</span></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEihoIisCZIEr4ZvTl4c0I_3A_rEe_SxPRwaYqVYjKfrT5Oc0zFpnYHBU5r19eDQjOIK5x2oy-LER8eSCW0wILEMoFVkmG46GuTDfC6P_lDRUVwvrSVp_VxYay-UFJ2Cdxy0FCLryxByg/s1600/3528109744_8bda82e420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEihoIisCZIEr4ZvTl4c0I_3A_rEe_SxPRwaYqVYjKfrT5Oc0zFpnYHBU5r19eDQjOIK5x2oy-LER8eSCW0wILEMoFVkmG46GuTDfC6P_lDRUVwvrSVp_VxYay-UFJ2Cdxy0FCLryxByg/s1600/3528109744_8bda82e420.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div><span style="color: #990000;"> </span></span>Fire Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392525785345739580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246056289894002124.post-7781089728999359052024-01-05T23:04:00.004+00:002011-12-06T23:20:47.719+00:00Baptism (Christening)<strong>Father Ian says:</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">BAPTISM (CHRISTENING) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘My mother and my brethren are those who hear the word of God, and do it.’ (Lk 8,21)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The evangelist of Luke’s Gospel has Jesus say these words, and there are very similar words in Matthew’s Gospel (Mt 12,46-50).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our baptism (or christening) has brought us into a renewed relationship with both God and our neighbour: to quote from our Mission statement,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have been born again through baptism into a family-like relationship with one another (a new covenant) in Christ, and we rejoice that we are being saved <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">together, </i>with the help of one another, living and departed; and that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">through us</i> the world around us might be saved.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The full expression of that relationship is experienced in the Holy Liturgy (or Eucharist, Holy Communion) and again I think it is worth quoting from our Mission statement,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Liturgy (our service of the Eucharist or Holy Communion) is our act of remembrance <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">par excellence</i>; and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anamnesis</i> in the Liturgy is the core experience of what we believe to be a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">living</i> tradition of Christ and the saints, in the communion of the Holy Spirit: a creative and collective reality, which is the Church’s true treasure.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our belief is that receiving Holy Communion is the completion of the rite of Baptism, and that the proper celebration of the service of Baptism is in the context of the Sunday Liturgy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #990000;">Anyone thinking about the possibility of our parish celebrating a Baptism (Christening) either for themselves or their family or friends, please, contact the Rector (see ‘<a href="http://orthodoxsussex.blogspot.com/2011/11/contact-us.html"><span style="color: #660000;">Contact Us</span></a>’ for details) for more information about the practicalities involved.</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #660000;">Если вы хотели бы получить информацию о праздновании Крещения в нашем приходе (касается ли это Вас лично, Вашей семьи или друзей), пожалуйста, обращайтесь к Отцу Иану (его номер телефона указан на странице ‘</span><a href="http://orthodoxsussex.blogspot.com/2011/11/contact-us.html"><span style="color: #660000;">Contact Us</span></a><span style="color: #660000;">’) , чтобы обсудить все практические детали.</span></span></b><br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5owD0ysg6pnkdhyUJbClWL2R79xBTjmVZzDxF1lia7CzRRXUHdwmM_VSDPh6bQSc5ZIcIhHbH-ZDAP8j03gRsTobinsAB0r6xd7uV2J-I7cKZNoilM0w6q1-R13Ldrxvyjl8qpotLHY/s1600/candles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5owD0ysg6pnkdhyUJbClWL2R79xBTjmVZzDxF1lia7CzRRXUHdwmM_VSDPh6bQSc5ZIcIhHbH-ZDAP8j03gRsTobinsAB0r6xd7uV2J-I7cKZNoilM0w6q1-R13Ldrxvyjl8qpotLHY/s640/candles.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Fire Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392525785345739580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246056289894002124.post-79014011267222931452021-05-31T11:35:00.000+01:002021-05-31T11:35:30.042+01:00The Sacred Ikons<div><b>The Principal Ikons</b></div><div><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeqe2DFBPb-aIevi7LwKrtZu6js1IiwaubwwT3p7KFzh6genNDyJjnYJo4Xx1p3bGjZ_PB5nx6gaU7aH52BhDMtLNjDU5A9M4jnMcIIzUH0eSPWXdY-SPoxk3F2fniF8V-5JhLaVh8XY/s1600/P1010036.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeqe2DFBPb-aIevi7LwKrtZu6js1IiwaubwwT3p7KFzh6genNDyJjnYJo4Xx1p3bGjZ_PB5nx6gaU7aH52BhDMtLNjDU5A9M4jnMcIIzUH0eSPWXdY-SPoxk3F2fniF8V-5JhLaVh8XY/w240-h320/P1010036.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">Whilst it is very common for Christian places of worship to have a space where an altar/table stands, the manner in which that space is marked off (if it is marked off) varies, e.g. a low wall, or a rail, or a screen may be in place. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our parish’s
two principal ikons - <b>one of Christ</b>, and o<b>ne of his Mother</b> (her official title in
Greek, ‘Theotokos’, means ‘the Birth-giver of God’), who is holding the infant
Christ - have been painted in order to stand on either side of the central entrance
into the space where the altar/table stands.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Christians believe that our approach to God is through
Christ: but Christ did not suddenly appear from nowhere, and the stories to do
with his Mother, Mary (and also his extended family e.g. John the Baptist) have
always been considered as important for understanding both who he is and what
he is about. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4NfqayK9mbQXs_n5J148md_Hb9dmwuj_ZqD4YPERErb0IjKTpSbXH3duDhQ4CCTqKui8bDvqRuq1pW_QBqiArx6zHij7PGCuprKrl2qBpPRXLAZQ-nSEdM5qLZLsTbqyO-5IEg4RDPI/s1600/P1010035.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4NfqayK9mbQXs_n5J148md_Hb9dmwuj_ZqD4YPERErb0IjKTpSbXH3duDhQ4CCTqKui8bDvqRuq1pW_QBqiArx6zHij7PGCuprKrl2qBpPRXLAZQ-nSEdM5qLZLsTbqyO-5IEg4RDPI/w240-h320/P1010035.JPG" width="240" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our two principal ikons are painted in a way that
symbolizes this way of understanding who Christ is, e.g. the colour of Christ’s
shirt is the same colour as his Mother’s veil, and this references both that he
has taken flesh in the womb of his mother, and that she is clothed with his
innermost nature, which is divine. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We believe that Christ’s Mother was the first to
experience the renewal of nature that begins with the conception of Jesus in
her womb.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The infant Jesus is depicted as close to his Mother, and
reaching out to embrace her; but he is also holding a scroll as a sign that he
is both the fulfilment of the words spoken to her by the angel (Lk 1, 28-37)
and that he embodies everything that the Prophets have heard of the Word of the
Lord concerning Christ. Mary is shown
guiding our eyes towards her infant son, with her left hand: to all who seek an
approach to God, she offers her son.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><strong>The Icon of the Nativity</strong></div><div><b><br /></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjje59HQJjAYpwZ1ckKDM6VH6jx4t-dJRlFK5J1e2GsaBfqe54-CH47FUoQB-IEew7vHMW2zaAEa_GS9a8frTWWXWTFrpEOnh3R9hiwgag7ssH2QinexrE3TtVUtVFy_xv1n-SsWX5jMQ/s1600/0_1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjje59HQJjAYpwZ1ckKDM6VH6jx4t-dJRlFK5J1e2GsaBfqe54-CH47FUoQB-IEew7vHMW2zaAEa_GS9a8frTWWXWTFrpEOnh3R9hiwgag7ssH2QinexrE3TtVUtVFy_xv1n-SsWX5jMQ/w320-h238/0_1.JPG" width="320" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When Father Sergei Hackel took up his teaching post at the University of Sussex in the1960’s, a small group of émigrés, converts, and other Orthodox Christians, gathered around him for the celebration of the occasional service. Archpriest Alexander Fostiropoulos was one of those early members (he was then a layman) together with his wife Patricia, and their friends Andy and Mary Sherwood. In the 1960’s, in the time of Khruschev, the Orthodox Church in Russia passed through yet another wave of persecution; but the Diocese of Sourozh, in Great Britain, kept free of this and was in the process of developing statutes (based on the proposals of the Russian Sobor (1917-18) that would form the basis for its own self-government.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Father Sergei, Archbishop Anthony (Bloom) and many of the clergy and people of the diocese (particularly those of the 2nd or 3rd generation from émigré families) knew the ways that the Russian State used to control all religious associations: the policy was aimed at the elimination of all religious groups, under the pseudo-Marxist pretext that religion would gradually disappear in the historical process of forming the New Society.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was during this period of renewed persecution in Russia (at the direct instigation of Khruschev) that the visit of HH Alexis I (the Patriarch of Moscow at the time) to the Diocese of Sourozh took place; and it was a conversation between the Patriarch and Father Sergei that gave rise to the naming of this parish (the then loosely constituted group had yet to be recognized as such) after the Nativity of Christ. Father Sergei told Patriarch Alexis that he was celebrating services at his house in Barcombe Mills (near Lewes) in what had once been stables, and Alexis said: ‘Well, Father, you must name the parish after the Nativity of Christ, and then many people will come on its Feast of Title.’ </span></div></div><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<strong>The Icon of St Maria</strong><br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzbSEgVZx4zujBN9vVWqFaQ19DRhG6aLqssjkKpFaCWvmw8Jq6UYKQNfSByATX-wnNFm4Mhy3xqZ-wG7a9tzmf2Ykj1Ao-pBsQdslgXGH80rYHlYMBas5DFGa0xH9yYCApr8Ha9S3lR4/s1600/0_2.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzbSEgVZx4zujBN9vVWqFaQ19DRhG6aLqssjkKpFaCWvmw8Jq6UYKQNfSByATX-wnNFm4Mhy3xqZ-wG7a9tzmf2Ykj1Ao-pBsQdslgXGH80rYHlYMBas5DFGa0xH9yYCApr8Ha9S3lR4/s400/0_2.JPG" width="400" /></a></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Father Sergei Hackel’s biography of Mother Maria (Skobtsova) was first published in 1965 (Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd, London) under the title ‘One, of Great Price’, and it was subsequently re-published under the title ‘Pearl of Great Price’ (1981, St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, New York). She was murdered by the Nazis at Ravensbruck concentration camp on the 31st March 1945, which happened to be Holy Saturday, by the Roman calendar. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Researching Mother Maria’s life had left Father Sergei in no doubt as to the enduring quality of her witness to Christ. He had written the biography because he believed that many people would benefit (as he himself had) from a study of her life; and the book contributed in no small way to a widespread recognition of both Mother Maria, and the tradition that had inspired her.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Towards the end of his life (Father Sergei died in 2005) he had an opportunity to speak to His All-Holiness Bartholomew (the Ecumenical Patriarch) about Mother Maria, and the importance of her witness. Father Sergei raised the question whether the time had come to glorify Mother Maria as a saint, and to his delight the Patriarch replied: ‘Yes, why not?’ Our Holy Mother Maria was first glorified as a saint in 2004, at services in the cathedral at Rue Daru, Paris: Father Sergei was amongst the many clergy and laity in attendance.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our parish is named after the Nativity of Christ, but through the labours (and at the express wish) of Father Sergei, our Holy Mother Maria has become our patron saint, to inspire and guide us. We feel connected to her in a number of ways, not only through Father Sergei’s work, but also because she was personally known to both Archbishop Anthony (Bloom) and Hieromonk Lev Gillet, who were both (in their separate ways) influential to the Orthodox-Catholic mission in Great Britain.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Father Dimitry Klepinin was one of Mother Maria’s companions in Paris, and was also arrested by the Nazis, because he worked with her (and a number of other companions - one of whom was her son, Yura) in helping Jews to escape from occupied France. During one of his interrogations by the Gestapo, Father Dimitri took his pectoral cross and pointed to the figure on it with the words: ‘And do you know this Jew?’</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Father Sergei was acutely conscious of anti-Semitism both in Russian culture (he was frankly critical of the writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky, for example) and contemporary church life (he had no hesitation in identifying anti-Semitism where it occurred amongst the hierarchy of the Orthodox Church in Russia) and he would edit liturgical texts to avoid using anti-Semitic material. He was a member of The Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ) which has been working since 1942 to combat anti-Semitism and promote Jewish/Christian dialogue.</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(As told by Father Ian, 2012)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br />
<br /><br />
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>Fire Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392525785345739580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246056289894002124.post-68805690484519950912016-11-11T12:48:00.000+00:002016-11-11T12:48:06.066+00:00The Language of Icons, 16 November 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1ENZjTri9ahziXrZFnfekPwyfePqWaTKJkHlFO9CjU8zGcli8R1Ir_2leZGNq_MyToUPX3Wif5ItzPRxGdssJPdC0DFeexzmaEepg-xJxsFgUmGkTD8ZGOPPDrdf5QcMVI2GU-Wwa_w/s1600/New+Picture+%25286%2529.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1ENZjTri9ahziXrZFnfekPwyfePqWaTKJkHlFO9CjU8zGcli8R1Ir_2leZGNq_MyToUPX3Wif5ItzPRxGdssJPdC0DFeexzmaEepg-xJxsFgUmGkTD8ZGOPPDrdf5QcMVI2GU-Wwa_w/s1600/New+Picture+%25286%2529.bmp" /></a></div>
<br />Fire Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392525785345739580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246056289894002124.post-82048566497497866952012-12-24T16:01:00.000+00:002016-02-15T13:02:08.601+00:00Merry Christmas Everyone!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GRFDkPE7WaU/TvX3OACcNrI/AAAAAAAAAHk/afBVMXUpqos/s1600/Church+Christmas.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="566" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GRFDkPE7WaU/TvX3OACcNrI/AAAAAAAAAHk/afBVMXUpqos/s640/Church+Christmas.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
Fire Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392525785345739580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246056289894002124.post-17473161348322052492012-11-12T16:46:00.000+00:002013-06-23T11:14:32.367+01:00CHRIST IS RISEN!<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwh10nJPCtQt0PuWFbel1xQ3DbHjhvt2T_-_IddQ7atsLo3VWcvHwz6LqkA3k4iH_Cki-vLgn8QTAT9hJik34COanlEIOfF_429RqvXv_4IeFJSi1XbSUfTaSuMLptF_4yffLwKAKpYM/s1600/TheResurection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwh10nJPCtQt0PuWFbel1xQ3DbHjhvt2T_-_IddQ7atsLo3VWcvHwz6LqkA3k4iH_Cki-vLgn8QTAT9hJik34COanlEIOfF_429RqvXv_4IeFJSi1XbSUfTaSuMLptF_4yffLwKAKpYM/s1600/TheResurection.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>CHRIST IS RISEN!</strong></span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>ХРИСТОС<span lang="RU"> </span><span lang="RU">ВОСКРЕСЕ</span><span lang="FR">!</span></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>HRISTOS ANESTI! </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span lang="FR"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>HRISTOS VOSKRESE!
</strong></span></span><br />
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span lang="FR">HR</span><span lang="FR">İ</span><span lang="FR">STOS A’</span><span lang="FR">İ</span><span lang="FR">NV</span><span lang="FR">İ</span><span lang="FR">AT!
</span></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span lang="FR"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>CHRISTUS RESURREXIT! </strong></span></span><br />
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span lang="FR">LE CHRIST EST RESSUSCIT</span><span lang="FR">É! </span></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span><span lang="FR"><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></span></strong></span><br />
<span lang="FR"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>CHRISTUS IS
OPGESTAAN! </strong></span></span><br />
</div>
<div>
<span lang="FR"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>CHRISTUS IST AUFERSTANDEN! </strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span lang="FR"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>AL MASEEH QAM! </strong></span></span><br />
</div>
<div>
<span lang="FR"></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span lang="EL">ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ</span><span lang="EL"> </span><span lang="EL">ΑΝΕΣΤΗ</span><span lang="FR">! </span></strong></span></span></div>
Fire Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392525785345739580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246056289894002124.post-27085591895036755112011-11-23T19:24:00.002+00:002011-11-23T19:24:34.057+00:00About Fasting<strong>Father Ian explains:</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church (of which the parish is a part) is a body with a long history, and a wide geographical spread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should, therefore, not be at all surprising that there are (and always have been) differences of practice within it; and that applies as much to the practice of fasting, as it does to the practices of prayer, and worship, that accompany it: what is said here about fasting can only be taken as a general guide.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘Fasting’ is commonly understood as going without food for a limited period of time, but we more usually employ the term (in the church calendar) as days when we <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">abstain</i></b> from certain types of food and drink: on ‘Fast Days’ we mostly abstain from meat and fish (including any sea creature with a backbone), eggs and dairy products; also olive oil (other vegetable oils are often substituted) and wine (usually understood as including all alcoholic beverages).<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">However, fasting should also be done in secret: it is better to break the fast than to draw attention to the fact that we are fasting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In particular, when we are with people who are not keeping the fast, we should be careful to eat what we are given, and also to provide for others<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a choice of food: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">no one should be forced to fast.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Britain, we have a long history of Catholic practice, and substituting fish for meat on Fridays is a well-known custom: however, the wider form of abstention outlined above is not so well-known, and neither is its extension to include all Wednesdays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Similarly, Lent (or the ‘Great Fast’) is relatively well-known as a period of abstention in preparation for Easter (or ‘Pascha’) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">but not the fast before Christmas</i></b> (or the ‘Nativity’) sometimes called the ‘Philip Fast’ (because it starts on 15<sup>th</sup> November, which is the day following St Philip’s Day).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even less well-known are the fasts in the summer: one before the Feast of SS Peter and Paul (29<sup>th</sup> June) and one before the Dormition (or Falling-Asleep) of the Most Blessed Virgin (15<sup>th</sup> August).<o:p></o:p></span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The church calendar tells us when these fasts begin (including a number of days not mentioned here) and also those ‘Fast Days’ when fish, wine or oil are allowed: the Calendar published by the Orthodox Fellowship of St John the Baptist is recommended for use in our parish.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘Fasts’ and ‘Fast Days’ are noted in the church calendar, but the calendar also contains the principal scripture readings (and the names of the saints that are more commonly commemorated) for each day of the year: fasting (as briefly described above) is offered to us by the Church to be used along with prayer (in company with the Saints and the heavenly host).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fasting without prayer will damage you emotionally:</i></b> if you fast, and find that you are becoming irritable or angry, then either find more time for prayer, or relax the fasting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The change of diet is offered as a help to prayer, and prayer is a way of releasing our spirit to love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have loved, and served your family, your friends, your neighbours, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and your enemies</i></b>, you have kept the fast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Fire Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392525785345739580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246056289894002124.post-86212856420229319972011-05-30T15:27:00.000+01:002018-05-30T15:31:49.825+01:00DATA PRIVACY NOTICE <div align="LEFT">
<br /></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">DATA PRIVACY NOTICE </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri"; font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Your </span></span></i><span style="font-size: small;">personal data: </span><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;">your </span></span></i><span style="font-size: small;">consent </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;">You may request at any time that any of your personal data – in our possession – be either removed/deleted or corrected, for whatever reason. However, members of the Parish (those people listed on the Membership Roll) should be aware that they are obliged to have their name and address recorded: a request to remove/delete their contact details would equate to them ceasing to be listed on the Membership Roll. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
</span></span><b><span style="font-size: small;"></span></b><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Electronic data </b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;">The data currently collected is primarily your email address and/or phone number and/or postal address. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
</span></span><b><span style="font-size: small;"></span></b><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Paper Records </b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;">The Parish has a Parish Register of baptisms/receptions, marriages and funerals; and included in this are copies of birth/civil marriage/death certificates: these records are permanent. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
</span></span><b><span style="font-size: small;"></span></b><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>How is your personal data processed? </b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Your personal data is used for the following purposes: - </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
<br />
To serve our Parish membership i.e. those people listed on our Membership Roll; <br />
<br />
To serve the wider public, who call on the ministry of our clergy; <br />
<br />
To inform people of relevant news, events, activities and services; <br />
<br />
To maintain the accounts and financial records of our Property Trust (including the processing of Gift Aid); <br />
</span></span><b><span style="font-size: small;"></span></b><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>On what basis is your personal data processed? </b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Explicit consent is needed for us to keep people informed about news, events, activities and services; and also to process Gift Aid, when applicable. Processing relates only to members/former members of the Parish, or those who wish to have contact with the Parish and/or its clergy, for whatever purpose. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
</span></span><b><span style="font-size: small;"></span></b><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sharing your personal data </b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;">This information is treated as confidential, and not shared with anyone else, unless necessary to fulfil pastoral obligations. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;">
</span></span><b><span style="font-size: small;"></span></b><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>How long is your personal data kept? </b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times new roman"; font-size: small;">The Membership Roll is updated every year; Gift Aid declarations, and associated paperwork, should be kept for up to 6 years, after the calendar year to which they relate; but the Parish Register, containing details of baptisms/receptions, marriages and funerals, is a permanent record. </span></span><br />
<br /><br />
May 2018Fire Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392525785345739580noreply@blogger.com