Author Archives: Father Andrew

Two Saints of Huntingdonshire

St Neot

This future saint was born in the west of England in the first half of the ninth century. In early life he came under pressure from his father, Ethelwulf, to become a soldier, but instead he became a novice at the monastery in Glastonbury. He was probably helped in this refusal by the fact that physically he was very short. Neot must originally have had an English name. However, as at that time the word ‘neophyte’ was commonly used for monastic novices, this was shortened to ‘neot’, giving the future saint his name.

Neot was admired for his zeal with humility and would get up in the middle of the night to go to the church and pray. In time, pilgrims from all over started going to Glastonbury to listen to Neot’s wisdom. However, he desired to live as a hermit in a quieter spot. Therefore, he travelled westwards, like many English people at the time, to settle near a remote place in central eastern Cornwall, then known as Hamstoke. The location Neot chose was surrounded by thick woodland and hills. In time Hamstoke became known as Neotstoke, for Neot lived here, as if he were a novice, a ‘neot’, mortifying his body by fasting, vigil and prayer.

Later a monastery formed around him and Neot was made Abbot. King Alfred became a visitor and the King’s miraculous healing here came as a result of the holiness of Abbot Neot. In 877 the Abbot fell ill and sensing his earthly end, he took communion. He addressed his flock as a faithful shepherd, instructing all to live in peace and stretching forth his hands towards heaven, he breathed out his spirit. It was 31 July. His relics were kept at the monastery and they attracted considerable numbers of pilgrims.

A century later, and very far from Cornwall in the west, in about 975 a monastery was founded in the east of England, close to the River Great Ouse in Eynesbury. This is in what was until 1974 Huntingdonshire, though now called part of Cambridgeshire. A local nobleman and landowner, usually known by the name of Leofric and his Lady Leofleda, set up a monastery on their land and chose a notable holy person as their patron.

This was St Neot, as he had become famous through his healing of the English King Alfred and many miracles. This choice may also have been influenced by the Celtic blood and speech of many in the local population (see below). An Englishman from Celtic Cornwall would have made this a wise choice. With the support of King Alfred’s great-grandson, King Edgar (+ 975), who was encouraging monastic life, and despite some opposition in Cornwall, St Neot’s relics, apart from one arm, were brought from Cornwall to Eynesbury.

Here they were placed in a shrine at the monastery and Eynesbury came to be renamed Neotsbury, now St Neots. The church at the monastery was consecrated in the presence of the monastic founder Ethelwold, Bishop of Winchester (+ 984), Æscwin, Bishop of Lincoln, Brithnoth, Abbot of Ely, and many other notables. Leofric and Lady Leofleda asked Abbot Brithnoth and Bishop Æscwin for their protection and that they would send more monks there from the nearby monasteries in Ely and Thorney.

Although the monastery of Neotsbury, that is, St Neots, was attacked by the Danes in 1010, the buildings were repaired and rebuilt, and it is recorded that the relics of St Neot, which had been saved, had been restored to the monastery by 1020. Although 31 July is St Neot’s Day, locally in St Neots in Cambridgeshire, his feast was kept on 28 October, the day of the translation of his relics from Cornwall. St Neot’s relics disappeared at the Protestant Reformation, but may still be concealed in the town of St Neot’s today and protecting it.

St Ives

St Ives (also known as Ivo) was a bishop, originally from Celtic Cornwall. His relics were uncovered in about 1001 when a peasant found his coffin with an intact body and three other bodies while ploughing at a place then called Slepe, later renamed St Ives, in Huntingdonshire. St Ives appeared to the ploughman in several visions, obliging him to tell a monk at the large monastery at nearby Ramsey, one of the five great Fenland monasteries, of his discovery. The latter did not take this seriously at first, whereon St Ives also appeared to him in visions.

When the monastic community learned of this, they rejoiced at the discovery. Abbot Ednoth of Ramsey set about building a church in St Ives’ honour near the site of the discovery and this settlement was given the right to hold a market and renamed St Ives. On 24 April 1002 Abbot Ednoth translated St Ives’ body and a small monastery was founded in Slepe. His feast was assigned precisely to 24 April. Later there was some confusion and some claimed that St Ives was a Persian saint. This is untrue.

Some non-believers have suggested that St Ives was a pure invention in order to attract pilgrims and so generate income in competition with the nearby town of Eynesbury/St Neots, sixteen miles further down the river. A generation earlier it had obtained the relics of the English St Neot from Cornwall. However, St Neot’s relics were physically brought to St Neots, whereas those of St Ives and his companions were miraculously found. This coincidence and both Cornish connections can perhaps be explained by the fact that the local population in the isolated fenlands, including around St Ives and Ramsey, was, as in other isolated pockets in England, Celtic (‘British’).

Even in the eleventh century Celtic/Brythonic speech could still be heard in the area, notably around nearby Ramsey, where some of the relics found were kept. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FHRTpEhaAs). This indicates that in the fifth and sixth centuries, before the settlement of the English, there may have been a small monastery here, set up from Cornwall to serve local remaining Celtic Christians and then centuries later a ploughman had found the relics of the monastic founders. Although the present location of the relics of St Ives is unknown, the town of St Ives still has a special atmosphere today.

Holy Neot and Ives, Pray to God for us!

Our Archbishop Athanasius of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The Most Reverend Athanasius of Bogdania, Vicar Bishop of the Diocese of Italy, was elected on Friday 25 October to the dignity of the Romanian Orthodox Archbishop of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The newly elected Archbishop of Great Britain is 42 years old and has been a bishop of the Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church since May 2018.

He was born on 17 January 1982 in Chisinau in the Republic of Moldova, being the first of the two sons of Eugen and Ala Rusnac and also speaks Russian. He has held Romanian citizenship since 12 October 2010.

He was tonsured monk on 8 December 2008 and then was ordained deacon. On 16 April 2009 he became a priest for the chapel of the Diocesan Centre and the Dormition Monastery in Rome. Between 2009 and 2018 he served at the ‘Dormition of the Virgin Mary’ Chapel next to the Diocesan Centre in Rome.

On 15 February 15 2018, he was elected Vicar Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, with the title of Bogdania , and on 1 May he was consecrated bishop.

Archbishop Athanasius was an engineer. He studied between 2000 and 2005 at INSA Lyon (Institut National des Sciences Appliqués de Lyon – France). He obtained the degree of Engineer with a Master’s degree, his speciality – Telecommunications and Networks. He also followed a specialisation internship in the field of IT (MT Systems – Lyon, France).

Between 2006 and 2010, he attended the ‘Saint-Serge’ Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Paris, as did Fr Andrew Phillips, but that was over 25 years earlier. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in pastoral theology in 2010. Between 2010 and 2012, he attended a Master’s course in Practical Theology (Canon Law), at the Faculty of Theology ‘Andrei Șaguna’ in Sibiu. Master’s thesis – ‘Principles of Canon Theology in the Diaspora, with special reference to Italy’.

The Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as the Diocese of Ireland and Iceland, were established on 29 February 2024. The new dioceses are part of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of Western and Southern Europe.

There are over a million Romanians living in Great Britain who currently have 100 parishes, branches and Orthodox missions, as well as three monasteries.

An article from 2020

The life story of the hierarch baptised at the age of eight. From Communism to the Italian diaspora.

The youngest Romanian hierarch, Bishop Atanasie de Bogdania, turned 38 on Friday 17 January 2020. The hierarch gave an interview in which he talks about the story of his life, beyond the already known biography during his almost two years of service as Vicar Bishop of the Diocese of Italy.

Bishop Atanasie de Bogdania was born in Chisinau during the atheist Communist regime and was baptised around the age of eight along with his brother and father. He first became an engineer in Telecommunications and Networks in France, and then a monk in Italy, being a close disciple of Metropolitan Joseph of Western and Southern Europe and of Bishop Silouan of Italy.

His Eminence’s father was a university professor, and his mother worked in a publishing house, things that did not allow them to have visible faith in society. Both the wedding of the parents and the baptism of the children took place after 1990.

‘My father, after Communism fell, with great joy went to the first church he came across, a place of worship that had recently opened because the vast majority of churches had been closed, and asked the priest to marry him. The father, being an experienced minister, asked him: ‘Are you baptised?’, «No!», «But children?», «No children are baptised!».

“In this context, all three of us were baptised: me, my brother, the current deacon Mircea and my father. Shortly after, the parents got married,” recalls the hierarch.

“So, the first encounter with God consciously took place right when I received the Sacrament of Baptism at the age of 8. I remember the gestures that the priest made, the songs from the choir, the emotion of the people who surrounded us, that “How many of you have been baptized in Christ, have also clothed yourselves in Christ”, all of this left a mark on me”.

The Archbishop says that the Most Reverend Metropolitan Joseph and the Most Reverend Bishop Silouan formed him.

“At that time I was young, at 18 I arrived in France and with other colleagues from the INSA Lyon Faculty we went together to monasteries, churches and meetings with young people organised by the parishes. Such great openness, the natural way in which the hierarchs behaved, the way in which they approached people, opened in me this leaning towards Theology”.

This was followed by theological studies and various ministries within the EORI (Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Italy): Diocesan Secretary, Administrative Counsellor, Exarch of the Monasteries and Diocesan Vicar.

On 15 February 2018, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church elected him Vicar Bishop of the Diocese of Italy, with the title “of Bogdania”. The consecration took place on 1 May 2018 in Rome.

His Eminence defines his ministry in Italy as a “family” one and relies heavily on the closeness between the clergy and the faithful.

“I try to spend as much time as possible in the territory, that’s why I feel close to the priests, with whom I have a very good relationship. I was godfather to many at their ordination, some I trained with, others I trained and I think we are a real family”.

“This is what I would like in the future: to be a family, together to carry the achievements, but also the hardships. I would like us to be as responsible as we have been until now, that is, to work together for our salvation.”

Although he has been a bishop since 2018, His Eminence has served for ten years in the administration of the Diocese of Italy. “During the ten years of activity, much has been done materially, but the biggest achievement is that our churches are full, people love and seek the Church. That is why our responsibility is very, very big. But in the family everything goes together, both good and bad, to the glory of God”.

 

The Fall of the Western Empire: All Roads Lead to Kazan

According to the American-run Mediazona group, which no-one would ever accuse of being pro-Russian, the number of Russian deaths in the Ukrainian conflict is now nearly 73,000, with perhaps another 100,000 wounded and 6 deserters. This compares with 848,000 Ukrainian deaths and seriously wounded, with perhaps 1,000,000 less seriously wounded and over 80,000 deserters, let alone the millions who have run away abroad to avoid being press-ganged into the suicidal military who are dying in vain for the USA.

Ex-President Zelensky is now so desperate and delusional that he is blackmailing and bluffing NATO with the threat of using nuclear weapons. This threat is if NATO does not allow the Ukraine to join it and so if NATO countries are not obliged to participate in the US proxy war directly. This is an empty threat, because he does not have any nuclear weapons and cannot obtain them. And a NATO proxy war is by definition one in which NATO does not lose any troops.

As for the Western Empire with its plutocrat oligarchy, it is desperately trying to hold on in the Ukraine and the Middle East until the inauguration of the new US President in January 2025. They know that the war is lost. Even if they throw a few more billion dollars at the Ukraine, it will make no difference, as dollar bills do not win wars. Already a trillion dollars, which is what this futile conflict has so far cost the USA and Western Europe in subsidies and suicidal sanctions, has made no difference except to postpone the inevitable defeat of Kiev.

Only arms, munitions and soldiers make a difference. And there are very few of those left in the Ukraine, especially after the disastrous invasion of Russia’s historic Kursk province. This has already cost nearly 26,000 Ukrainian dead and seriously wounded and nearly 1,000 tanks, vehicles and artillery pieces. As for the NATO warehouses, they are almost empty, and NATO countries are unable in their very deindustrialised state to make arms and munitions. The casino player has little more to bet; the hand is lost. How can he leave the gaming table without losing face?

As for the Ukrainian regime, it is clearly a Fascist state which steals hundreds of churches from the faithful and allows its armed gangsters to lock them up so no-one can go in. No-one will go in. Whereas Russia has a military strategy, Kiev has only a PR strategy, Psyops, devised by US and UK PR companies which give out their lies to be parroted by the Western media. (As for Israel, it is bankrupt, its economy is in tatters and hundreds of thousands of Israelis are fleeing, especially to Cyprus, Greece and the USA. Who wants to live in Israel now?).

In fact, the plutocrat oligarchs are now facing their nightmare of a threefold defeat in the headlines: Russian troops greeted victoriously by masses of people lining the roads, as they liberate the Russian port of Odessa and Transdnistria and vigorous support shown for Russia all over north-east and south-east Europe, not only in Hungary and Slovakia; the Russian victory comes in establishing a New Ukraine in the north and west of the present Ukraine on the model of Belarus and with an independent Church; Iran shoots down over 50 Israeli warplanes and destroys Israeli bases and concentrations of armour and troops with its unstoppable hypersonic missiles; Chinese troops land in Taiwan and greeted as liberators by virtually all the (Chinese) people who live there and support for China shown throughout the Asia-Pacific.

The reality is that the US has $36 trillion of unpayable debt. This is more even than its official GDP, which in reality is far lower than that declared.  It has wasted $8 trillion on its forever wars which it has lost since 2003. It also has to finance some 750 military bases in 80 countries, not to mention CIA offices all over the world. Only US arms merchants and politicians benefit. The US can no longer afford to keep its colonies among the Global Majority, and will be obliged to abandon Israel, South Korea, Taiwan, just as it has had to abandon the Ukraine. It will have to evacuate Western Europe, which will finally have to sort itself out, dividing into four regions, the 21 countries of the north-west and south-west, and the many others in the north-east and south-east, close to Russia, which in this way become ready to join BRICS. The US will be left, at best, to concentrate on its crippled self.

Nine hundred years of Western colonisation, 450 years of colonial expansion to the peripheries of Europe, 450 years of colonial expansion outside Europe, and since 1945 decolonisation, first political and now at last real, that is, economic and geopolitical, have led to the present situation. The Western world is collapsing because it is harvest-time and the devil is dancing around it. The BRICS Summit in Kazan is not the beginning of the end of the Western Empire, but the ending of the end of that Empire.

 

 

 

On Whistle-Blowing: For the Freedom of the Church, We are Fearless Against the American Schism

If we live a life for Christ, we strive to do what He would have done.

Thus, when an MI5 spotter showed interest in me in Oxford in 1977, I replied by blowing the whistle.

Thus, when homosexual bureaucrat-bishops representing the Patriarchate of Constantinople, the sort who, once bribed, recently founded a fake church of atheist thugs in the Ukraine (the OCU), showed interest in me, I replied by blowing the whistle.

Thus, when Moscow bureaucrat-bishops, homosexuals, secretly married, alcoholics, sectarians who rebaptise one another, and, worst of all, politicians who manifestly profess atheist values, tried to recruit me, I replied by blowing the whistle.

In my lifetime, I have seen the Greeks lose it and then the Russians. The Greeks were only interested in Hellenism. The Russians, at that time, were only interested in Soviet politics. Russia, as I continually repeated ever since my return there after de-Sovietisation, in 2007, could go one way or the other, towards the whole Church or towards racial and nationalist introversion, it was on a knife-edge. Sadly, it went the other way, towards nationalist schism, and cut off from communion and concelebration with the mainstream. We can only pray and hope that that tragedy will be overcome. At present the Russian Church is out of communion even with itself in Western Europe. As for the Church in the Ukraine, it must receive independence, or else it will be boycotted. The people will not go to churches under Moscow, just as they do not go to fake churches.

The mantle has passed on our long and thorny path of building our new Local Church of Western Europe. I have no interest in those who have no openness and want to form nationalist ghettoes. There is no future with them, as they are absorbed by internal, racial questions which are spiritually irrelevant. As a result, they disobey the canons and use canonical discipline to apply purely political decisions. Those who live according to nationalistic criteria have no interest in Local Churches. Therefore, they have committed suicide in Western Europe.

When the bureaucrats obeyed the State and tried to close down our churches because of ‘covid’, I replied by blowing the whistle.

We are not afraid of death because God protects. When sociopaths become psychopaths, they turn violent. So what? Salvation lies in the path of Confession or Martyrdom.

If you have a conscience, honour and integrity, you must act against schism, whoever is creating it. At such moments you are not concerned by slanders and personal attacks, because you are taken up by the protective grace of God and you must follow that grace. Grace is irresistible. You must resist schism, because it always turns into heresy, as our Metropolitan Joseph very precisely predicted in February 2022.

Thus, the refusal to concelebrate with another part of the Church, because it receives Orthodox in the customary way of the Church, indeed soon turned into heresy. This heresy is that of the rebaptism of Orthodox who have long been receiving the sacraments of the Church. The rejection of the sacraments of the Church by such typically Protestant, anti-sacramental schismatics is a heresy. Like the proselytising pharisees, recruiting and rebaptising Christians in the freezing cold sea is not a solution to increasing the tiny numbers in your tiny schismatic and sectarian communities.

Two liturgies and five baptisms this weekend and, much as usual, some 200 communions from three chalices. And a certain ‘bishop’ wanted to close our church and even told people that we are ‘closed’! He is ignored. As with the fake Church in the Ukraine, it is the same persecution here. But here the law and the canons are on our side. Western Europe is different from the USA. Europe belongs to Europeans, not to Americans. We are not bossed about and do not speak American. We have our own culture.

 

Akathist to St Alexander (Vinogradov) (1938)

Акафист священномученику Александру Виноградову

 

Память: 28 июля / 10 августа (+ 1938)

 

 

Кондaк 1

 

Священномyченику и доблестному воину Христову Александру грешнии возносим победитeльная и благодaрственная хваления, не бо яко наeмник, дyшу свою за стaдо свое положи, сего рaди крепость неодолимую и венeц нетленен победы от руку Христа пастыреначaльника прият: тeмже любовию поeм ему:

 

Радуйся отче наш Александре, новый мучениче и скорый помощниче.

 

Икос 1

 

Ангельскую любовию Христа возлюбивший и Тому Единому служити желавый в трудех пастырских, молитвах усердных и страданиях велиих образ добродетелей явил еси, сего ради прими от нас сии усердные похвалы:

 

Радуйся, измлада Бога возлюбивый.

Радуйся, заповеди Его сохранивый.

Радуйся, веры истинной поборниче.

Радуйся, отеческих преданий защитниче.

Радуйся, добродетелей сокровище стяжавый.

Радуйся, дар мудрости Божией приявый.

Радуйся, носяй венец нетления.

Радуйся, даруяй нам исцеления.

Радуйся, русских святых сонаследниче.

Радуйся, древних мучеников сопрестольниче.

Радуйся, церкви Православной украшение.

Радуйся, земли нашея утверждение.

Радуйся отче наш Александре, новый мучениче и скорый помощниче.

 

Кондак 2

 

Видящее людие нрав твой долготерпелив и кроток, яко с малых лет к Богу прилеплялся еси, мы же дивяся таковому благоразумию, со умилением подвизаемся пети: Аллилуйа.

 

Икос 2

 

Разум Превечный предустави тя ко спасению в житии твоем, яко напаялся еси духовно от монастырского крина и всей земли Тамбовской, те же все сие умножил еси дарованиями велиями, сподоби и нас от земли нашей напитаться во еже всем ко спасению. Сего ради ублажаем тя тако:

 

Радуйся, отрасле благочестия избранный.

Радуйся, благословенной землей воспитанный.

Радуйся, от юности Христу служити призванный.

Радуйся, сердцем в Бозе утвержденный.

Радуйся, звездо, путь верным указующий.

Радуйся, свеще, свет дивно дарующий.

Радуйся, цвете благовонный нас облагоухаяй.

Радуйся, каменю веры присно утверждаяй.

Радуйся, молитвы кадило благовонное.

Радуйся, лампадо веры негасимая.

Радуйся, молитвенниче недуги исцеляющий.

Радуйся, в нуждах скоро помогающий.

Радуйся отче наш Александре, новый мучениче и скорый помощниче.

 

Кондак 3

 

Сила Всевышнего ведуще тя непрестанно в житии твоем, приведе во обитель иноческую града Сарова и тамо молитвою и пощением во служение Христу себе уготовляя воспевал еси Богу: Аллилуйа.

 

Икос 3

 

Имущи велие желание душеполезное сокровище стяжати, предал еси себе в послушание старцу святому Николаю, во еже постом, смирением, наипаче молитвою житию ангельскому последуя. Мы же похваляюще сие поем усердно тако:

 

Радуйся, чистоты телесной хранителю.

Радуйся, старца наставлений исполнителю.

Радуйся, заповеди Господни исполнити желавший.

Радуйся, ревностью по Бозе пламеневший.

Радуйся, в молитве время проводивый.

Радуйся, пример для братий бывый.

Радуйся, цевнице дивная боговещания.

Радуйся, златый кимвале восклицания.

Радуйся, Царя Славы прославивый.

Радуйся, на путь спасения сим наставивый.

Радуйся, возлюбленного Иисуса в сердце носивый.

Радуйся, любовь ко всем стяжавый.

Радуйся, Церкви всем сердцем прилепивыйся.

Радуйся, Христу сораспяться вседушно возгоревыйся.

Радуйся отче наш Александре, новый мучениче и скорый помощниче.

 

Кондак 4

 

Бурю нападения на Русь Православную нашу отвратити тщался еси, егда воином Отечество от врагов иноземных защищал еси, да незыблемо сохранятся грады и веси, вера утверждена пребудет, да людие невозбранно воспевают: Аллилуйа.

Икос 4

 

Слышаша и видеша множества напастей мира сего, николиже ближнии и други забывая, на стезю пастырскую призван был еси, во еже день и нощь бытии служителем таинств церковных для спасения всех людей, сего ради благодарственно воспеваем:

 

Радуйся, Церковных Таинств благочестивый совершителю.

Радуйся, в небесный Иерусалим путеводителю.

Радуйся, дому Божию страже и хранителю.

Радуйся, иереев добрых попечителю.

Радуйся, апостольских преданий ревнителю.

Радуйся, церковных канонов насадителю.

Радуйся, глаголов вечных возвестителю.

Радуйся, душ заблудших просветителю.

Радуйся, у Престола Божия о нас печальниче.

Радуйся, о грехах наших молитвенниче.

Радуйся, кающихся грешников покровителю.

Радуйся, погибели геенской избавителю.

Радуйся отче наш Александре, новый мучениче и скорый помощниче.

 

Кондак 5

 

Боготечная звезда явился еси людям быв ревностным служителем Божиим, яко в обличении расколов наипаче порадел еси, во еже нераздран хитон Христов сохранити. Таковому в тебе дару радующееся, воспеваем: Аллилуйа.

 

Икос 5

 

Видеша тя пастыря добра, емуже суть овцы своя, желая всем вся быти, да все взыщут Единого Бога. Мы же, уповая достигнути спасения преславным ходатайством твоим, возносим ти сицевая:

 

Радуйся, к небеси всех приводяй.

Радуйся, на пути сем утверждай.

Радуйся, стадо Христово упасл еси.

Радуйся, овец заблудших не отвергл еси.

Радуйся, яко тобою сетей мира избавляемся.

Радуйся, яко тобою ревности по Бозе исполняемся.

Радуйся, свет дел твоих пред человеки просветися.

Радуйся, заповедем научивый и сотворивый я.

Радуйся, паствы твоея присное сохранение.

Радуйся, во всем пути ея соблюдение.

Радуйся, веры и надежды сеятелю.

Радуйся, любви Христовой носителю.

Радуйся отче наш Александре, новый мучениче и скорый помощниче.

 

Кондак 6

 

Проповедник и оплот веры православной явился еси отче Александре, за сие бурю гонений воздвигоша врази Христовы на тя, но вверив живот свой Божию промышлению, усерднее взывал еси: Аллилуйа.

 

Икос 6

 

Воссиявый яко поборник чистоты Православия в граде Моршанске, от лжеучений безбожных и прельщений душепагубных обновления чад Церковных сохраняя словом и делом, за сие от святого епископа Серапиона удостоился еси  рукоположения, с ним и мы купно ублажаем тя:

 

Радуйся, раскол и ересь посецаяй.

Радуйся, гордых и строптивых устрашаяй.

Радуйся, лжеучителей лукавство разоривый.

Радуйся, маловерных в правой вере утвердивый.

Радуйся, крепкая вайя древа правоверия.

Радуйся, богоизбранный посрамителю неверия.

Радуйся, от стрел лукавых оградивый.

Радуйся, мечом духовным сохранивый.

Радуйся, усты Божественными истины являяй.

Радуйся, Евангелия словеса вещаяй.

Радуйся, падающих крепкое возведение.

Радуйся, право стоящих споможение.

Радуйся отче наш Александре, новый мучениче и скорый помощниче.

 

Кондак 7

 

Хотяще Христу следовати взем крест долготерпения и злострадания, егда гонители в темницу заточиша тя желая устрашити, ты же верен святой Церкви явился еси, воспевая твердо сие: Аллилуйа.

 

Икос 7

 

Новые козни воздвигоша мучители, егда ведоша тя в землю Сибирскую, где они безстудие творяше и обители святыни разоряше, но и тамо прещений вражиих не убоявся единому Заступнику от всяких бед усердныя моления возносил еси, мы же благоговейно воспоминающее сие, похвалами ублажаем тя сими:

 

Радуйся, немолчное исповедников славо.

Радуйся, предивное мучеников похвало.

Радуйся, Христовы Церкви твердое забрало.

Радуйся, укрепления небесного зерцало.

Радуйся, лукавым силам устрашение.

Радуйся, подвигами сими наше утешение.

Радуйся, яко тобою глумители посрамляются.

Радуйся, яко тобою сила Божия является.

Радуйся, всецелое отвержение показавый.

Радуйся, над кознями восторжествовавый.

Радуйся, мраз и глад в изгнании терпевый.

Радуйся, святость души сим явивый.

Радуйся отче наш Александре, новый мучениче и скорый помощниче.

 

Кондак 8

 

Странное и безумное житие твое показася людям неверным, яко за истину святыя православия терпел еси велия лишения, не имея где главы приклонити, из веси в весь отступниками веры гонимый, ты мужественно перенося сие взывал укрепляющему тя Богу: Аллилуйа.

 

Икос 8

 

Весь путь жития предал в руце Божии не устрашился еси уз, оплевания и поругания лишь единого на потребу искавый, сего и мы тщашеся достигнути научаемся от тебе благодарственно воспевая:

 

Радуйся, крест свой прияв, Христу следовавый.

Радуйся, стезю страданий за Него избравый.

Радуйся, великими скорбми искушенный.

Радуйся, упованием на Бога утвержденный.

Радуйся, иский отечества небесного.

Радуйся, не брегий успокоения телесного.

Радуйся, обычаев греховных искоренителю.

Радуйся, к добротели неустанный водителю.

Радуйся, кающихся с Богом примирителю.

Радуйся, Спасителя возлюбших покровителю.

Радуйся, благоприятную ко Господу молитву возсылаяй.

Радуйся, теплою молитвою державу нашу согревавый.

Радуйся отче наш Александре, новый мучениче и скорый помощниче.

Кондак 9

 

Вси видящии тя во граде Моршанском яко пастыря верного почитаху и ведяху, яко не поклонился еси пред властию безбожною и обстояниями мирстими, верность Господу Единому хранивый и сице научивый сим и нас в терпении пети: Аллилуйа.

 

Икос 9

 

Ветия многовещаннии не могут изрещи всех страданий, егда бо тя на осуждение смерти изведе, с радостью великою предал еси душу твою за веру истинную и Христа распятаго, сего ради укрепляя нас малодушных прими воскликновения достохвальные:

 

Радуйся, воине Христов непобедимый.

Радуйся, в терпении адаманте невредимый.

Радуйся, зломыслящих наветы претерпел еси.

Радуйся, от яростных поношений приял еси.

Радуйся, сердец смятенных умирителю.

Радуйся, поступков твердых ободрителю.

Радуйся, неверия сумнительного избавляеши.

Радуйся, яко от малодушия исцеляеши.

Радуйся, российских мучеников споспешниче.

Радуйся, священства мучимого сподвижниче.

Радуйся, духовных совершенств высото.

Радуйся, христианского смирения глубино.

Радуйся отче наш Александре, новый мучениче и скорый помощниче.

 

Кондак 10

 

Спасти хотя душу твою, мучения даже до смерти не убоялся еси, ныне же в селениях праведных водворившись, Отца Небесного о песнословящих тя прилежно моли, вопиющих тако: Аллилуйа.

Икос 10

 

Стена ограждения церкви православной стал еси на крови твоей, яко крин прорастший со всем сонмом новомучеников, о сей победе над миром убо радующееся вернии восклицаху ти таковая:

 

Радуйся, Православия неблазненный ревнителю.

Радуйся, шатания людей искоренителю.

Радуйся, Евангельского света чудное блистание.

Радуйся, гонимых за правду упование.

Радуйся, Господню волю сотворивый.

Радуйся, Христовы заповеди сохранивый.

Радуйся, честную кровь за веру пролиял еси.

Радуйся, блаженство тем стяжал еси.

Радуйся, истину подвигами утвердивый.

Радуйся, благочестие трудами возрастивый.

Радуйся, чистоты веры хранителю.

Радуйся, благочестия любви насадителю.

Радуйся отче наш Александре, новый мучениче и скорый помощниче.

 

Кондак 11

 

Пение всеумиленное принесоша Богови людие чтущие память твою от предел земли Моршанския на месте твоего упокоения идеже святыми мощами пребываеши благодарственно вопием прославившему тя Господу: Аллилуйа.

 

Икос 11

 

Светоприемную свещу зрим тя стране Тамбовской верным людям, яко новоявленного мученика нарекла тя церковь православная, тако утверди святую веру на месте земнаго отечества твоего, да никия козни безверия не возмогут поколебати ея, тако уповающе на Бога взываем:

 

Радуйся, твердый столпе православия.

Радуйся, кормчий ко пристанищу вечныя.

Радуйся, щите защищаяй благочестие.

Радуйся, мечу посецаяй злочестие.

Радуйся, блуждающих во мраце окормителю.

Радуйся, честнейший целомудрия хранителю.

Радуйся, светильниче Церковь озаряяй.

Радуйся, молящихся ти души умиряяй.

Радуйся, недугующих страстями исцеляеши.

Радуйся, окамененных сердцем оживляеши.

Радуйся, печальниче болящим и безпомощным.

Радуйся, заступниче убогим и обидимым.

Радуйся, яко помраченных просвещаеши.

Радуйся, яко просвещенных утверждаеши.

Радуйся отче наш Александре, новый мучениче и скорый помощниче.

 

Кондак 12

 

Благодать дадеся ти от Бога, отче приснопамятный Александре, во еже бытии нерушимым камнем Церкве. Твоему житию желающее всем сердцем подражати, умоляем тя быти нам в ходатая и заступника, да сохраншеся христианами, Твоим ходатайством прославляем Бога: Аллилуйа.

 

Икос 12

 

Поющее праведное житие твое, восхваляют в градах многих пречестное твое имя, удивляясь духовней твоей крепости и с любовию, воспоминая о всех подвизех твоих, тако и по всей земле восписуют ти хваления таковая:

 

Радуйся, за веру живот свой положивый.

Радуйся, путь свой правый сохранивый.

Радуйся, всем Богу угодивый.

Радуйся, до смерти Ему верен бывый.

Радуйся, неусыпный страже нашего спасения.

Радуйся, брегущий нас от вражьего ловления.

Радуйся, венцем победным блистаяй.

Радуйся, в тимпане славу Божию бряцаяй.

Радуйся, в отечестве небеснем пребываяй.

Радуйся, земное отечество не забываяй.

Радуйся, славы Божия ревнителю.

Радуйся, молитв наших исполнителю.

Радуйся отче наш Александре, новый мучениче и скорый помощниче.

 

Кондак 13

 

О, страдальче многосветлый, отче наш Александре! Прими малое хваление сие, в простоте сердечней возносимое и ходатайством твоим у Христа Бога нашего, избави нас от всех болезней душевных и телесных, от всякия беды, напасти и ересей губительных, да выну благодарящее Господа, радостно воспеваем ему славу:

 

Аллилуйа, Аллилуйа , Аллилуйа.

 

Сей кондак читай трижды, затем Икос 1 и Кондак 1

 

 

Молитва

 

О всечестный и благородный отче наш новомучениче Александре, Моршанския земли похвало, твоего рода слава, и благочестивия семьи твоея утешение! Велию любовь ко Господу имея, измлада странников и монашествующих возлюбивый, законы евангельския непреложно исполняя, душу твою за паству полагал еси в час гонения, милующим сердцем болезнуя о всех, просящих твоея помощи. Приими малое сие моление наше, и яко в земном житии твоем отирал еси всяку слезу, так и ныне, милосердый молитвенниче и ходатаю наш, возьми тяготы, болезни и скорби наша, исполни страждущая сердца радостию, светом лика твоего служителей и предстателей Алтаря Христова на святыя подвиги пастырскаго делания подвигни, соблюди милостию твоею супружества в мире и единомыслии, младенцем воспитание даруй, юность настави, старость поддержи. Умоли Человеколюбца Бога о прощении безчисленных прегрешений наших, да очистив душу покаянием, к деланию доброму приступим. Ей, отче благородный, буди и нам пастырь добрый, наставляя на стезю спасения, да молитвами твоими безпорочно преидем путь жития нашего и обрящем Отечество Небесное, идеже ты со ангелы и всеми святыми предстоиши Престолу Святыя Троицы, славяще Безначальнаго Отца со Единородным Его Сыном и Пресвятым, и Благим, и Животворящим Его Духом во веки веков. Аминь.

 

Akathist to the Venerable Gabriel of Samtavro, Confessor and Fool-for-Christ

Kontakion 1

 

Chosen vessel of the grace of God, fragrant source of miracles, boast of Iberia, O most wondrous Father Gabriel! Now do we offer thee a song of praise, and since thou hast great boldness towards the Lord, deliver us from all misfortunes, that we may cry to thee with love:

 

Rejoice, O venerable confessor Gabriel, fool for Christ and wonderworker!

 

Ikos 1

 

Imitating the angelic life, thou didst please God with thy purity and humility, O most blessed Father Gabriel, and thou wast found worthy of acquiring the great gifts of the Holy Spirit! Marvelling at the greatness of thy feat, we call out to thee thus:

 

Rejoice, well of the wisdom of God;

Rejoice, spring of the living faith.

Rejoice, heart that contained Christ;

Rejoice, tree who has brought forth spiritual fruit.

Rejoice, thou who wast chosen by God from birth;

Rejoice, thou who wast called to serve Him;

Rejoice, thou who didst enlighten the Iberian land by thy miracles;

Rejoice, thou who didst shine forth by thy God-pleasing life.

Rejoice, thou who wast affirmed by God on the rock of faith;

Rejoice, thou who didst preach the Name of Christ with love.

Rejoice, thou who didst endure many sorrows in thy life;

Rejoice, thou who didst enter the Kingdom of Heaven thereby.

Rejoice, O venerable confessor Gabriel, fool for Christ and wonderworker!

 

Kontakion 2

 

Seeing the abundant outpouring of miracles from thy shrine, O Venerable Father Gabriel, we are confirmed in faith and piety. Revering thee as a wondrous pleaser of God, with thankful lips we cry to the Lord, the Giver of good things: Alleluia.

 

Ikos 2

 

Beseech the Lord to enlighten our reason, O pleaser of God Gabriel, that, shaking off earthly passions and vain cares, we may ascend with our hearts and minds to the heavenly abodes, wherein thou dwellest, and call out to thee thus:

 

Rejoice, fragrance of the Paradise of Christ;

Rejoice, radiance of the grace of God.

Rejoice, boast and adornment of the garden of the Mother of God;

Rejoice, thou who didst strike terror into the insolent who did sacrilege.

Rejoice, thou who didst strive for monastic solitude from thy youth;

Rejoice, thou who didst call out to God for help.

Rejoice, thou who didst heed the Word of God;

Rejoice, thou who didst obey His commandments.

Rejoice, thou who didst bear the chains of feigned foolishness;

Rejoice, thou who didst put to shame the delusions of this world.

Rejoice, thou who didst love poverty and humiliations;

Rejoice, thou who didst glorify the Name of God.

Rejoice, O venerable confessor Gabriel, fool for Christ and wonderworker!

 

Kontakion 3

 

Strengthened by the power of the love of Christ, bestowed on thee from above, O Venerable Father Gabriel, thou wast zealous in acquiring feats like the Fathers of the Ancient Church.  Growing in humility and meekness, thou didst pray for heavenly help, crying out to the Lord: Alleluia.

 

Ikos 3

 

Having great faith and firm trust in the Lord, thou didst choose the path of foolishness, O most wondrous Father Gabriel. Singing with love and glorifying God, wondrous in His saints, we call out to thee thus:

 

Rejoice, ray of the Sun of truth;

Rejoice, thou who wast illumined by the light of Christ.

Rejoice, adamant of the Orthodox faith;

Rejoice, glory and praise of fasters.

Rejoice, thou who dost brighten our hearts with the light of faith;

Rejoice, thou who dost teach us awe.

Rejoice, zealot of piety;

Rejoice, zealous builder of a church of God.

Rejoice, thou who didst save profaned holy places from desecration;

Rejoice, thou who didst reject the threats of persecutors.

Rejoice, thou who didst bear the yoke of Christ with love;

Rejoice, thou who didst serve God diligently.

Rejoice, O venerable confessor Gabriel, fool for Christ and wonderworker!

 

Kontakion 4

 

Shunning the storms of the sea of life and seeking solitude and prayer, thou didst come to Betania Monastery, O most Blessed Father Gabriel! Instructed by spirit-bearing fathers, praising Almighty God, thou didst cry out to Him with tenderness of heart: Alleluia.

 

Ikos 4

 

When the inhabitants of Iberia heard of thy boldness in glorifying the name of Christ out loud, they marvelled at thy feat. Having put to shame the worship of an idol, thou didst ascend to the cross of sufferings. Singing of thy feat, O Venerable Father Gabriel, we proclaim to thee:

 

Rejoice, spirit-bearing child of the fathers of Betania;

Rejoice, zealot of monastic feats.

Rejoice, bright adornment of the Church of Christ;

Rejoice, illumination of the Iberian land.

Rejoice, thou who didst enrich thyself by poverty and reason;

Rejoice, thou who partookest of heavenly glory.

Rejoice, thou who didst capture the devil by thy exploits;

Rejoice, thou who didst commit an image of the Godless leader to fire.

Rejoice, thou who didst preach the faith of Christ while in bonds;

Rejoice, thou who didst bring sinners to repentance.

Rejoice, thou who wast confined to a home for the insane;

Rejoice, thou who wast glorified by Divine miracles.

Rejoice, O venerable confessor Gabriel, fool for Christ and wonderworker!

 

Kontakion 5

 

Thou wast a star guided by God shining in the firmament of Iberia, O wondrous Father Gabriel. Enduring suffering and reviling for Christ and reckoned among the outcast, now thou dost glorify Him with the saints, crying out to the Lord: Alleluia.

 

Ikos 5

 

Seeing thy zeal for God, O venerable one, the enemy of our salvation poured out his fury on thee through the Godless authorities. And thy lot, O Holy Father, was sorrows and persecutions. Singing of thy feats, which astonished the angels, we fall down to thee with love:

 

Rejoice, fountain of Divine miracles;

Rejoice, heart full of love.

Rejoice, thou who didst endure slander with gracious soul;

Rejoice, thou who didst conquer enemies with love.

Rejoice, thou who didst choose grave slabs for thy bed;

Rejoice, thou who didst shine forth in the abodes of heaven.

Rejoice, thou who didst humbly beg for alms;

Rejoice, thou who didst receive a reward in heaven.

Rejoice, thou who didst touch the tears of the Lord on the Cross;

Rejoice, thou who wast found worthy to hear His voice.

Rejoice, thou who wast freed from prison by the Zealous Intercessor;

Rejoice, thou who wast consoled by the Mother of God.

Rejoice, O venerable confessor Gabriel, fool for Christ and wonderworker!

 

Kontakion 6

 

The land of Iberia preaches thee, O wondrous Father Gabriel, swift intercessor in misfortunes and ardent petitioner for the salvation of our souls. Thou didst humbly wear the cross of holy foolishness and thank the Lord in sorrows, and now thou dost teach us to glorify Christ, prayerfully singing to God: Alleluia.

 

Ikos 6

 

Thou hast shone forth with grace, like the brightest beacon, like the radiant dawn, O Venerable Father Gabriel. Singing of thy great feat and labours, with love we call out to thee thus:

 

Rejoice, abode of the Holy Spirit;

Rejoice, receptacle of great gifts.

Rejoice, adornment of Samtavro Convent;

Rejoice, wondrous multiplication of the glory of the saints.

Rejoice, thou who didst subdue the fleshly mind to the spirit;

Rejoice, thou who didst put the cunning of the enemy to shame.

Rejoice, thou who didst conceal the gracious gifts of God behind feigned intoxication;

Rejoice, thou who didst heal those suffering from the disease of addiction to drink.

Rejoice, thou who wast compassionate to sinners;

Rejoice, thou who didst wish salvation for all.

Rejoice, thou who didst despise the intimidations of the enemy;

Rejoice, thou who didst boldly preach Orthodoxy.

Rejoice, O venerable confessor Gabriel, fool for Christ and wonderworker!

 

Kontakion 7

 

Wishing to serve the Lord, O Father Gabriel most worthy of praise, thou didst shun all the fleeting and vain things of this world. Following Christ on the path of suffering, with a simple heart thou didst cry out to Him with love: Alleluia.

 

Ikos 7

 

The Lord raised thee up, a new and venerable monk, O most praised Father Gabriel, in the hour of the harsh persecution of the Church of Christ. Singing of thy great feat, O most wondrous one, we cry to thee thus:

 

Rejoice, pillar of Orthodoxy;

Rejoice, sincere friend of Christ.

Rejoice, thou who wast warmed by the grace of God in sorrow;

Rejoice, holy heir of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Rejoice, thou who art filled with Divine love;

Rejoice, thou who didst live an angelic life on earth.

Rejoice, thou who wast persecuted in thy life;

Rejoice, thou who now dost glorify Christ with the saints.

Rejoice, thou who dost call down the mercy of God on sinners;

Rejoice, thou who dost bring those gone astray to their senses.

Rejoice, thou who didst heal a family from barrenness by thy prayers;

Rejoice, thou who didst tell them of the birth of their daughter.

Rejoice, O venerable confessor Gabriel, fool for Christ and wonderworker!

 

Kontakion 8

 

Thou wast a stranger and passing visitor in this world, O most worthy of praise Father Gabriel. Seeking the City of Heaven, thou didst choose the thorny path of salvation, thanking the merciful Lord for all things and singing to Him: Alleluia.

 

Ikos 8

 

All filled with the grace of God and strengthened in arduous labour by the Lord, thou didst call out to Him: ‘He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust!’ And thou dost teach us to abide with Christ, all calling out to thee:

 

Rejoice, leader of those seeking salvation;

Rejoice, heavenly seed of the land of Iberia.

Rejoice, champion of the Orthodox faith;

Rejoice, wondrous converser with the saints.

Rejoice, defender of the offended;

Rejoice, comforter of the afflicted.

Rejoice, thou who dost show us speedy help;

Rejoice, thou who dost call us to repentance.

Rejoice, thou who dost drive away the darkness of despair;

Rejoice, thou who dost fill our hearts with hope.

Rejoice, thou who dost rescue us from sudden death by prayer;

Rejoice, thou who dost deliver us from disasters and misfortunes.

Rejoice, O venerable confessor Gabriel, fool for Christ and wonderworker!

 

Kontakion 9

 

All the saints and the heavenly hosts received thee with joy, O Father Gabriel most worthy of praise, when the path of thy earthly wanderings ended and thou wast taken up to the heavenly Jerusalem. And marvelling at what a wonderworker and man of prayer the Lord has given us, with thankful hearts we cry to Him thus: Alleluia.

 

Ikos 9

 

Orators with their fleshly wisdom are not able to grasp the height of thy exploit, O venerable one. Concealing the great gifts of the Holy Spirit beneath the veil of foolishness for Christ, shining forth in the purity of thy life, reckoned among the insane, thou didst put to shame the wisdom of this world, O most wondrous Father Gabriel. For this reason we praise thee thus:

 

Rejoice, fragrant flower of Paradise;

Rejoice, thou who wast exiled for the sake of truth.

Rejoice, thou who didst flourish like a palm in thine immaculate life;

Rejoice, most zealous pleaser of God.

Rejoice, thou who didst warm hearts by the radiance of thy holiness;

Rejoice, thou who didst have invincible wealth of the soul.

Rejoice, thou who didst gain the Heavenly Kingdom by thy humility of spirit;

Rejoice, thou who didst inherit the promised land for thy meekness.

Rejoice, thou who didst burn with prayer to God;

Rejoice, thou who didst endure torment for the sake of Christ.

Rejoice, thou who wast strengthened by the grace of God;

Rejoice, thou who wast instructed by the Holy Spirit.

Rejoice, O venerable confessor Gabriel, fool for Christ and wonderworker!

 

Kontakion 10

 

Walking the saving path towards the heavenly Jerusalem, thou didst acquire the spirit of peace, O Venerable Father Gabriel. Putting all thy trust in the Lord, now thou dost teach us to follow in the footsteps of Christ and commend ourselves to His good will, singing to Him with love: Alleluia.

 

Ikos 10

 

Unbreachable wall of prayer, shield protecting the faithful, warrior of Christ rescuing sinners from the abyss of perdition, we beseech thee, O Venerable Father Gabriel most worthy of praise, forsake not us who are besieged by the storm of passions without thy help, that we may call out to thee thus:

 

Rejoice, mirror of Divine love;

Rejoice, praise of the meek.

Rejoice, strengthening of the weak in faith;

Rejoice, intercession for the suffering.

Rejoice, instructor of those who seek salvation;

Rejoice, admonition of the proud.

Rejoice, fountain of Divine healings;

Rejoice, heir of the abodes of heaven.

Rejoice, ray who shone forth in the gloom of Godlessness;

Rejoice, preacher who didst denounce heresy.

Rejoice, thou who didst cast down the power of the enemy by fasting and prayer;

Rejoice, thou who wast victorious over evil spirits by humility.

Rejoice, O venerable confessor Gabriel, fool for Christ and wonderworker!

 

Kontakion 11

 

We offer thee songs of praise, O most wondrous Father Gabriel. Iberia rejoices, and Samtavro Convent exults, glorifying the merciful Lord Who has given us His saint, with love proclaiming to Him: Alleluia.

 

Ikos 11

 

O wonderful light, O guiding star to those living in the darkness of sin, O Venerable Father Gabriel. Vouchsafed the formidable appearance of the Queen of Heaven, thou didst beseech mothers not to destroy their children in the womb. Therefore, as to a zealous intercessor for us we call out to thee thus:

 

Rejoice, glorious chosen one of God;

Rejoice, thou who didst please Him from thy youth.

Rejoice, thou who didst conquer enemies with the Name of Jesus;

Rejoice, thou who didst call on the Chosen Leader of the hosts for help.

Rejoice, thou who didst seek the Heavenly Kingdom;

Rejoice, thou who didst acquire treasures of the Holy Spirit.

Rejoice, thou who didst loud thunder out the Word of God;

Rejoice, thou who didst put unbelief to shame.

Rejoice, thou who didst wear a diadem in holy foolishness;

Rejoice, thou who didst receive a crown of glory.

Rejoice, thou who didst devote thy life to God;

Rejoice, thou who didst preserve the precious gift of faith from thy youth.

Rejoice, O venerable confessor Gabriel, fool for Christ and wonderworker!

 

Kontakion 12

 

Acquiring the grace of God and reaching the City of Heaven by the path of the commandments of Christ, O Venerable Father Gabriel, now in the Church Triumphant with the saints and heavenly hosts, with loud voice thou dost hymn the King of kings and offer Him the song of praise: Alleluia.

 

Ikos 12

 

Singing of thy most glorious feats and miracles, we marvel at thy angelic life, O Father Gabriel most worthy of praise, and offer thee our prayers of praise, crying out to thee with love thus:

 

Rejoice, thou who art clothed in the robe of humility;

Rejoice, thou who wast borne up to the heights of heaven.

Rejoice, fragrant oil of the grace of God;

Rejoice, chosen confessor of Christ.

Rejoice, thou who didst perform the Jesus Prayer;

Rejoice, thou who didst beat adversaries with the Name of Christ.

Rejoice, thou who didst denounce the powers that be;

Rejoice, thou who didst put worldly wisdom to shame.

Rejoice, thou who didst heal a heterodox from grievous illness;

Rejoice, thou who didst enlighten his soul with the light of the faith of Christ.

Rejoice, healer from cancer and manifold ailments;

Rejoice, liberator of those possessed with demons.

Rejoice, O venerable confessor Gabriel, fool for Christ and wonderworker!

 

Kontakion 13

 

O wondrous Father Gabriel most worthy of praise, our swift comforter and intercessor! Accept this song of praise from us, beseech the Almighty Lord that we may be saved from everlasting condemnation and torment and be found worthy to sing to Him with thee: Alleluia.

 

This kontakion is read three times, then Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1 again.

 

 

Prayer

 

O Venerable Father Gabriel, wonderworker of Samtavro, thou who didst shine forth in the feat of foolishness for the sake of Christ! Offer up thy prayers for us to the Lord like fragrant incense, Deliver us, O most wondrous father, by thy intercession from every misfortune and disaster, destroy the snares of the demons, quench enmity and heal the sick. The stream of miracles of God from thy holy shrine, O venerable one, does not become shallow, nor does the stream of His mercy to us sinners, who pray to thee, dry up.

 

Thou who wast vouchsafed the gift of great love from the Lord, who didst bear the burdens of thy neighbours and shed tears for sinners and the suffering, take our prayers and weeping of repentance to the throne of God. May we be vouchsafed by thy help, O father most worthy of praise, to pass through the tollhouses without hindrance and reach the Heavenly Homeland, where the unceasing voice of those who celebrate glorifies the Most Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

 

Troparion, Tone 2

 

Receptacle of the Holy Spirit, confessor of the faith of Christ who shone forth in Iberia, O Venerable Father Gabriel! Thou who wast rejected by the world, glorified by thy foolishness for Christ and burning with the love of Christ, hearken to us thy people, that the Lord may forgive our transgressions.

 

Kontakion, Tone 5

 

Fruitful vine of the garden of Paradise, valiant soldier of Christ, O venerable Father Gabriel and Wonderworker of Samtavro! Thou who didst ascend to the heights of virtue and surpassed the wise by thy wisdom, O most wondrous fool for Christ, beseech the Master and Almighty that He may deliver us from bondage to sin, the violence of the adversary and great hardships.

 

The Akathist to the Venerable Gabriel of Samtavro, Confessor and Fool-for-Christ was composed in Church Slavonic by Maria Alexandrovna Pukhova of Moscow and first published with the blessing of Archbishop Ephraim (Gamrekelidze) of Bolnisi (Georgian Orthodox Church) in 2018. It was translated into English by Dmitry Lapa and Archpriest Andrew Phillips.

 

A Short Life of St Gabriel of Samtavro

The Venerable Confessor Gabriel of Samtavro, ‘Fool-for-Christ’ (secular name: Goderdzi Vasilyevich Urgebadze), was born in Tiflis (now Tbilisi) on 26 August 1929. The family called him Vasiko after his Communist father who had been murdered in unclear circumstances when the future saint was a little child. He had a brother, Mikhail, and two sisters named Emma and Juliet.

From childhood Vasiko was endowed with Divine grace. He would build little churches from pebbles and light matches inside them. The boy avoided noisy games with his peers, preferring loneliness and silence. Sometimes he would run down the street with a long stick. At those moments birds would flock around him with his stick and accompany him with their chirping.

Vasiko first heard about Christ when he was seven. Having come to the church of the Great-Martyr Barbara and seen the crucifix, he burst out crying: ‘Why were you crucified?’ The church caretaker, who heard his words, advised Vasiko to buy a book about the life of Jesus Christ. When Vasiko acquired the Gospel (which he soon learned by heart), it was the beginning of his new life. From that day until his death, his mind was filled with only one thought and the desire to live for Christ alone.

Once Vasiko was standing on a balcony in thought. Looking up, in the crystal clear sky he saw a large shining cross, cutting through the firmament right to the horizon. At that moment the boy was very surprised, but he later came to understand that it was his cross that he was to carry to his Golgotha.

His family did not understand Vasiko and so he tried to read the Gospel without their knowledge. But when his mother – though a honest, hard-working and not irreligious woman – found out about this, she threw out the Holy Scriptures in a fit of anger. After her act Vasiko left home. Frozen and hungry, the youth completely relied on the will of God. He wandered from monastery to monastery, from church to church because the authorities forbade monks to admit minors. The boy did not return home until the spring. Now the family resigned themselves to his choice and no longer hindered him.

During the Second World War, when Vasiko was twelve, people learned about his extraordinary gifts and flocked to him. The boy would tell them whether their loved ones were to return from the front or not, console them, give them wise advice and even preach Christ, often saying, ‘Go to church, don’t renounce Christ and don’t abandon spiritual life.’ The young saint saw through people and would often stop and say to strangers who, fearing the Soviet government, hid their icons in attics or other places, ‘Give the veneration due to your icons! If you don’t need them, give them to me – I will keep them and you can take them back any time if you decide to give them due veneration.’ Despite his strange behaviour, many people saw boundless love in the boy and loved him; though many laughed at him and mocked him, persecuting and humiliating him as a madman throughout his life.

The efforts of Vasiko bore fruit: little by little people began to return to the faith. He would always humble himself in different ways. Thus, Vasiko could sit by a heap of rubbish in a very conspicuous place for hours and repeat loudly, ‘Don’t forget, Vasiko, you are rubbish and don’t think highly of yourself.’ According to tradition, when the teenager ran away from home for a time, a kind woman who was a fortune-teller gave him refuge. The saint was full of pity for people who wallowed greatly in sin and wanted to save her. When the woman fell ill, he said he would receive people in her place. But instead of ‘fortune-telling’ Vasiko preached the Gospel to her visitors, telling them to mend their ways, repent and take Communion and revealed their forgotten sins. Inspired by him, the woman later abandoned fortune-telling and began to go to church.

Years later Vasiko built a church with seven cupolas in the courtyard of his house in Tbilisi to pray – the Soviet regime repeatedly destroyed it but he rebuilt it each time. This church – now with one big cupola – still exists. He dug a grave-like hole in one of the rooms of his house. It served him as a bed.

The young saint did his two-year military service in Batumi: despite the very strict regime, he kept all the fasts and went to church secretly. After the army he worked as a caretaker and singer at the Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi.

In 1955, at the age of twenty-six, Vasiko became a monk with the name Gabriel in honour of the Venerable Gabriel the Athonite. Three days later, at the Cathedral of Sts Peter and Paul in Kutaisi Bishop Gabriel (Chachanidze) ordained him hieromonk. Later the elder used to say: ‘There is no greater heroism than monastic life.’ Enlightened by the grace of the Holy Spirit, Father Gabriel fearlessly preached the Orthodox faith during the years of persecution. He first served at Sioni Cathedral, and between 1960 and 1962 – at Betania Monastery of the Nativity of the Mother of God, where he became close to some holy ascetics of Betania. When the monastery was closed by the atheist authorities, the saint moved back to Tbilisi where he served at the Holy Trinity Cathedral for a few years.

At the May Day parade in 1965 in Tbilisi, he burned down a huge twelve-metre portrait of Lenin hung on the building of the Supreme Soviet of the GSSR, urging people to worship Christ, not an idol. Only thanks to Divine help was he not executed by firing squad, though he was severely beaten and even earlier he had been declared insane – ‘a psychopathic individual who believes in God and angels’. He went through KGB detention centres where he was repeatedly mercilessly beaten, prison and spent seven months in a mental hospital. After he was released, he was suspended (by some Georgian bishops who wanted to please the authorities) from serving in the church for years and even denied him access to church and Holy Communion for some time. Father Gabriel related:

‘I lived under five Patriarchs, slept in cemeteries for twenty-five years and spent fifteen years in poverty. When I froze from the cold in winter, I turned from one side to the other since the stone was warmer. In the cemetery the Lord delivered me from fear, my children.’

After the May Day incident the saint embarked on a very heavy service of ‘foolishness for Christ.’ In his feigned foolishness, he would throw a jug without a bottom over his back, walking barefoot from house to house through the streets, repeating every now and then: ‘A person without love is like this jug without a bottom!’ In his feigned ‘folly’, Fr Gabriel would often wear a diadem on his head, walk barefoot at any weather, and even pretended to be drunk, while boldly and unceasingly preaching Christ in the streets, exposing vice and secretly helping people. Father Gabriel searched for desecrated icons thrown out onto heaps, restored them and emptied ruined churches of rubbish.

The saint spent much of his later years at the Samtavro Convent of St Nino (in the ancient town of Mtskheta which is over 2,500 years old and situated fifteen kilometres north of Tbilisi). The convent was founded in the fourth century. Formerly Mtskheta was the capital of the east Georgian Kingdom of Kartli and it was there that Orthodoxy was proclaimed the national religion of Georgia in 337 A.D. In 1971, with the blessing of Catholicos-Patriarch Ephraim II of Georgia Fr Gabriel was appointed the spiritual father of Samtavro Convent and a seminary attached to it. There he spiritually supported, gave guidance and instructions to the sisterhood.

The elder often left the convent and wandered, alone or with a few companions, sometimes covering great distances, reaching places in dangerous areas or which were difficult of access, visiting the abandoned and ruined churches and monasteries and predicting that the bloody Red regime would go, all of them would be restored and services would start again. St Gabriel would often say: ‘My cross is the whole of Georgia and half of Russia.’

In the final years of his life Fr Gabriel lived in King Mirian’s round tower at Samtavro Convent where he had a tiny cell. But he would spend most of the time performing incredible spiritual feats, living in a small unused wooden shed with large holes which the convent had previously used as a chicken coop. It is unfathomable how he managed to live in such a tiny space where it was impossible to stand erect and to stand the damp and frosts in winter without heating. First the nuns were surprised by the saint’s ‘eccentricity’: the elder could scold the sisters, make them eat from dirty dishes, demand various ‘strange’ obediences from them, make them do something. He particularly tried to eradicate any signs of pride and arrogance in those in his spiritual care. But soon they understood that it was impossible to take offence at him—his eyes shone with tender love and affection.

A visionary and wonderworker, a healer and instructor, a prophet and consoler, clairvoyant and wise, humble and simple like a child who shed seas of tears for sinners, Fr Gabriel gained the love of many of the faithful in Georgia, Russia and even beyond, who flocked to him in great numbers every day. The extreme self-humiliation of Elder Gabriel was amazing. His sister Emma (+2016) recalled: ‘He was a fragile soul from childhood. Human praise weighed down on him. As a priest he would weep bitterly after coming home from services. Once I heard him weeping loudly alone in church when the door was open. I entered and asked him what the matter was. And he replied, “My sister, Christ was born in a manger, while people show me respect and kiss my hand”.’

Let us mention two remarkable facts from St Gabriel’s life. Firstly, once an angel revealed to him the hidden location of a portion of the Svetitskhoveli (‘life-giving pillar’ in Georgian) cross, after which together with the Samtavro nuns he uncovered it and now the relic is kept at this convent. And, secondly, once St Gabriel was visited by some Hindus who argued that the Orthodox teaching of the Holy Trinity was erroneous. And, though the elder demonstrated his miraculous power only in the most extreme cases, he took bread, put it on a tray and said: ‘You see: the bread is one and undivided!’ Then in the Name of the Trinity he made the sign of the cross over the bread – and water, fire and wheat appeared in its place. ‘Look! Water, fire and wheat have appeared instead of bread. Likewise, the Holy Trinity is divided into Three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.’ Then he made the sign of the cross over the water, fire and wheat – and they turned into bread again. After that the elder said: ‘The Holy Trinity is One and Undivided just as this bread is one and undivided!’

St Gabriel was planning to move to another monastery and live as a recluse, but in a Divine revelation he was told not to leave Samtavro and serve people wholeheartedly. And the elder received all who came to him, though he knew no ranks and had an individual approach to every person. He knew a ‘remedy’ for each soul: he could denounce and shout at some and be extremely gentle and nice with others. His heart ached because of people’s sins, and he prayed for the salvation of all. He lived by the joys, sorrows and problems of his spiritual children, saving many from spiritual darkness and setting them on the path of righteousness through his gifts of the Holy Spirit. And many felt absolutely transformed in his presence. St Gabriel’s rare gift of love can even be seen in his facial expression and eyes on his photographs, portraits and icons.

St Gabriel foresaw in the spirit the Georgian coup etat, the internal military conflict of 1991-1992. When no one could have imagined this, he would shout: ‘Blood, blood on Rustaveli Avenue! Georgian blood is being spilt!’ He prayed with such a groan, tears and mournful cry to Christ and the Mother of God for the salvation of his motherland. During the conflict he would toll a bell in Samtavro every day and imposed such a strict fast on himself that he barely ate anything over those months.

The saint possessed a great gift of hospitality. At Samtavro he used to welcome and treat absolutely all guests to the food he would cook himself as long as his health allowed. He strove to bring people as close to God as he could. His words had a special power and penetrated directly into the hearts of pilgrims. He taught everybody to cultivate love for God and their neighbour, repentance, humility and generosity.

His half-sister Juliet recalled: ‘I would ask him: “Listen, you attended school for only six years and didn’t want to study any more. How do you know so many things?” It was so interesting to listen to him. No historian related the things he related. No highly intelligent and educated person would have been able to tell the things that he told us about the Lives of saints, the history of Georgia and Russia. He knew everything from somewhere!’ Though St Gabriel’s life was full of privations, poverty, pain, suffering, sorrows and ridicule, the saint who burned with Divine love always radiated joy and inner peace. When before his death his mother asked him why he had chosen such a heavy cross, Fr Gabriel replied: ‘I couldn’t have lived otherwise.’

For the past year and a half of his life the saint was gravely ill with oedema and was practically bedridden due to a leg fracture. Shortly before his repose he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite by the current Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II. Father Gabriel reposed on 2 November 1995, aged sixty-six. He was canonised in an incredibly short time – seventeen years after his death, and two years later his name was added into the calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church. On 22 February 2014, Father Gabriel’s incorrupt relics were uncovered and now they lie in the church of the Transfiguration in Samtavro Convent.

After his repose the Lord glorified His saint with the gift of miracles and healing, so the stream of those who are suffering and come to his holy relics never decreases. Miracles occur not only from his relics, but also from his burial board (according to his last will, he was buried without a coffin, just wrapped in a sackcloth shroud and strapped to a board according to an old monastic tradition), vestments, wonderworking and myrrh-streaming icons (in Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries in the former USSR) and holy oil blessed on them. There are numerous reports of his posthumous miracles of healing and appearances all over the world, and by his love, example and prayers he brings people living even in non-Orthodox and non-Christian countries on all continents to Orthodoxy.

His numerous prophecies about the end times, the future of Georgia and Russia are well-known. He used to repeat, ‘In the end times people will only be saved through love, humility and kindness. Kindness will open the gate of Paradise, humility will take them there, and love will make God visible.’ Some call St Gabriel ‘the Georgian Elder Paisios the Athonite.’ There are many books and documentaries dedicated to the holy confessor Gabriel in Georgian, Russian, English and probably other languages.

After St Gabriel’s repose his mother Barbara became a nun in Samtavro with the name Anna and passed away in 2000 at a very advanced age, outliving her holy son by five years. She is buried at Samtavro Convent near him. All believers can experience the power of this wonderworker of our age by praying to him as he is always quick to answer.

Venerable Father Gabriel, pray to God for us!

The Prayer of Elder Gabriel

Lord, I beseech Thee, hear us from Heaven, turn Thy gaze on us and have mercy on us. Let us go with peace to walk Thy path, fulfil Thy commandments and move away from evil. Teach us, O Lord, to pray to Thee and obey Thy holy commandments, so that our hearts may become devoted to Thee and we may follow Thy holy law. Amen.

Some sayings of St Gabriel (Urgebadze):

‘Only he who learns to love will be happy. But do not think that love is an inherent talent. You can and must learn to love.’

‘Without sacrifices for the sake of the Lord and your neighbour you will not succeed in spiritual life at all. Without sacrifice you will not learn to love.’

‘God does not accept empty words. God loves good deeds. Good works – this is precisely what love is.’

‘Live in a way so not only God but people too can love you.’

‘Do not judge. The Judge is God Himself. He who judges is like an empty wheat ear, with his head lifted high he looks down on others. Even if you see a murderer, a harlot or a drunkard lying on the ground, do not judge anyone. God has given them the reins, but He is still holding yours. If he gives you the reins too, you may find yourself in a worse situation by committing the sins you are judging them for and perish.’

‘First God cures, and then the doctor. But he who does not thank the doctor does not thank God either. The labourer is worthy of his wages. The mind and the hands of the doctor do God-pleasing work.’

‘For God it does not matter whether you are a monastic or a lay person. The main thing is to strive for God. But will anyone be able to attain perfection? It is through striving that a person is saved. Monastic things will be required of monastics and lay things of laypeople.’

‘In the end times supporters of the Antichrist will go to church, get baptised and promote the Gospel commandments. But do not believe those who do not have good works. You can know a true Christian only by his deeds.’

‘Hate evil. But love and have pity on those who do evil. Maybe someone who is doing evil today will be cleansed by prayer, fasting, tears and remorse tomorrow and become like an angel. Everything is possible for God. There have been many such examples.’

‘Love is higher than all the canons and rules. If you hate at least one person, you are abominable before God. We must love everybody. But if you cannot, at least wish everybody well.’

‘Keep in mind that God is love. Do good as much as possible so your kindness may save you. Be humble as God blesses the humble. Repent right now so your sins may be forgiven; “tomorrow” is merely Satan’s snare. Love one another, since without love no-one will go to Heaven.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A New Publication: New Services to Saints

The first volume of New Services, mainly to Saints of Western Europe, has now been published and illustrated in a large-print, spiral-bound A4 book of 147 pages for Church use, with rubrics printed in red. The services are composed in the standard English liturgical style of the mainstream, as established by the late Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) in the translation of the Lenten Triodion made by himself and Mother Mary nearly fifty years ago. This book is available from frandrew_anglorus@yahoo.co.uk. The cost is £10 in Great Britain and $20 elsewhere. The easiest way to pay is by Paypal, using the above e-mail. Below we enclose the foreword to this book and a sample from one service.

New Services to Saints

 Most Orthodox services to the major saints of Western Europe were composed between 1980 and 2020, though a few go back even before this, mainly through the inspiration of St John of Shanghai and Western Europe (+ 1966). All these services come from the inspiration of grassroots veneration for the local saints despite virulent opposition from some, expressed by one Archbishop (now Metropolitan) in the Russian Church, even as recently as 2015.

Of the 62 services to the major saints of the British Isles and Ireland, long available on the orthodoxengland website (together with services to lesser-known saints), 50 are connected with England (though 8 of them are not English), 5 with Ireland, 4 with Wales and 3 with Scotland. 53 of these services were composed by my late friend, the prolific translator of the Church’s liturgical treasury, Monk Joseph (Isaac/Edward Lambertsen). Eternal Memory!

From 2010 on, he composed a great many of the services for local Western saints on my commission, as I knew that his health was already failing, and that he was very busy, engaged with the composition of other services to saints of all lands and ages, as well as with translations. Isaac worked quickly, sending me his services for checking, improvements and electronic publishing.

Six services on the orthodoxengland site (All the Saints of the Western Lands, All the Saints of the Isles, St Felix, St Audrey, St Alfred and St Edmund) were composed by myself to long-beloved local saints between 1998 and 2015, though in part they go back before that. Three services (St Patrick, St Brigid and St Edward) were composed by the late Valeria Hoecke and translated by Monk Joseph. One (St Botolph) was composed by monks of the Transfiguration Monastery in Boston in 1992. One (St Rumwold) was composed by Rumwold Leigh of London.

To those I composed I have added the Akathist to the Felixstowe Icon of the Mother of God. Then there is an Akathist dedicated to my inspiration from always, St Andrew the Fool for Christ, and, as an Appendix, another to the martyred Gregory the New, two saints who lived almost exactly 1,000 years apart. It should be made clear that the latter has not yet been canonised and his name is still much slandered, but we firmly believe that canonisation will come in God’s own time. All three services were composed between 2000 and 2020, when the storm clouds of persecution were gathering over us and we needed the protection of the saints. (I do not include here our translation of the Slavonic Akathist to St Gabriel (Urgebadze), nor my composition of the Slavonic Akathist to St Alexander (Vinogradov), the New Martyr (+ 10 August 1938), which will both be published here in the coming days.

For many years available in an unedited form on the orthodoxengland website, these services have long needed editing and presenting in a homogeneous form for use in the British Isles and Ireland. Time has been in short supply in a very large parish and group of parishes and it will be a labour of love over the next few years to bring the other services to the same standard, as set by the translations of the late Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware), master of liturgical Greek and liturgical English. This edition reflects that standard.

This has meant consistently standardising the use of capital letters and punctuation, as well as eliminating that curious mixture of artificially archaic English, Latinate Victorianisms and untranslated foreign literalisms, beloved by some neophytes. Our services are intended for use in the mainstream liturgical English in use in our at present more than 100 parishes in the British Isles and Ireland, with foreign and alien phraseology and sectarian idiom removed.

We humbly dedicate and offer this booklet to the Most Reverend Metropolitan Joseph of Western and Southern Europe and his Synod of Bishop Mark of France, Bishop Nectarius of Brittany, Bishop Silouan of Italy, Bishop Athanasius of Italy, Bishop Timothy of Iberia, Bishop Theophil of Spain, and to Metropolitan Seraphim of Central and Northern Europe, Bishop Sofian of Germany and Bishop Macarius of Sweden. (We knew Metr Seraphim quite well when he was a young priest in Paris in the 1980s and he came to our home in Paris several times).

Our five-million strong Metropolias, soon to have at least one new bishop, but already with 1,046 parishes and expanding rapidly, has the task of caring for the more than 1.1 million Romanian Orthodox in the British Isles and Ireland. We also have to bring together Orthodox of all nationalities who live here and strengthen our mission to the native peoples of these islands. We have to unite them all together organically in authentic and canonical mainstream Orthodoxy, outside any political and sectarian extremes. The recent consecrations of our convent on the Isle of Mull in Scotland to the Celtic Saints and the dedication of our new church in Durham to St Cuthbert and St Bede provide our local witness to this. Many Years, Vladica!

Mitred Archpriest Andrew Phillips,

Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,

St John’s Orthodox Church, Colchester, England

 

Contents

All the Saints of the Western Lands (Feast falls in June or July)

All the Saints of these Isles (Feast falls in June or July)

St Felix, Apostle of East Anglia (+ 647) (8/21 March)

St Audrey of Ely (+ 679) (23 June/6 July)

St Edmund, King of East Anglia, Martyr (+ 869) (20 November/3 December)

St Alfred of England (+ 899) (26 October/9 November)

Akathist to the Felixstowe Icon of the Mother of God (8/21 September)

Akathist to St Andrew the Fool for Christ (+ 936) (2/15 October)

Appendix: Akathist to Gregory the New (+ 1916) (17/30 December)

 

Service to All the Saints of the Western Lands

On the first Sunday after the commemoration of All Saints, that is the first Sunday of the Fast of the Holy, Glorious and All-Praised Apostles, we may celebrate the memory of all the Saints who have shone forth in the Western Lands.

 At Vespers

At ‘Lord I have cried’, we sing 10 stichira, 4 of the Resurrection in Tone 1, and 6 of the Saints in Tone VIII.

For one thousand years the light of the Sun of Righteousness shone forth from the East on the lands of the West, forming a Cross over Europe, before they fell beneath the darkening shades of the Churchless night. Let us now return to the roots of our first confession of the Holy Spirit in the bright Sunrise of Orthodoxy, which is brought again from the East, and so shine forth the light of the Everlasting Christ once more.

O all the saints of the Western Lands, pray to God for our repentance and return, our restoration and resurrection. Tell the people to leave aside the things of men, the fallen fleshly mind and all its vain musings, for they are without the Saviour and the Spirit. And so, through your life in the Holy Trinity, shall we find salvation in the purity of the Orthodox Faith before the end.

Now do we sing to all the saints of the lands of the West, and at their head the apostles Peter and Paul, the true glory of Old Rome, and, like stars in the dark night sky, to the constellation of the martyrs and fathers who followed in their apostolic footsteps, leaving behind them the great treasury of holy relics. O First Rome, who art glorious in thy saints alone, do thou return to the eternal faith of Orthodoxy through the Holy Spirit, Who proceeds from the Father, as the Saviour tells us.

Thus from the fountainhead of the East through Old Rome flowed streams of the Holy Spirit to all the lands of the West, through Gaul and Spain, to the uttermost isles in the far ocean and to all the lands of the north, where darkness saw the light of Christ and all the trees of the forest bowed their heads before the Wisdom and Word of God, forsaking the superstitions and proud errors of the pagan past.

O all you holy women, martyrs, matrons and queens, from Old Rome to Sicily of the south, from Sardinia to Iberia, from Gaul to the islands of Britain, from the Celtic realms to the Germanic lands of the north, preferring the humble truth of the Galilean to the proud might of pagan lore, ye have brought the words of Christ to dumb men, raising up infants and kings to the measure of the stature of Christ, so hallowing your peoples and our souls by the light of the Holy Trinity.

In these latter times the light of the true Faith has come to us once more. Driven from the East by evil men, Divine Providence has shown us the surpassing Wisdom of the Word of God, to enlighten our hearts and our minds by the Holy Spirit in the Church. Therefore now do we praise Archbishop John, who came from the east with true teaching to renew the commemoration of the saints of old, and who prays to God for the salvation of our souls.

 

 

A New Publication: The Benckendorff Papers

The interviews taken with a Russian Countess and a Russian Count and posted on this site on 22 June and 31 July 2024 have now been published and illustrated in an A5 booklet of 43 pages under the above title. The booklet is available from frandrew_anglorus@yahoo.co.uk. The cost is £2 in Great Britain and $5 elsewhere. The easiest way to pay is by Paypal, using the above e-mail.

Archdiocesan Assembly of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Great Britain and Northern Ireland

On the afternoon of 13 October all four clergy from Colchester and two lay delegates went to our new St George’s Cathedral in Enfield. Here we were met by nearly 200 delegates from the Romanian and Moldovan parishes in England and Wales and the seven bishops who form the Synod of the Metropolia of Western and Southern Europe. There are 870 parishes and many monasteries and convents in the Metropolia. Twenty years ago there was only one bishop and thirty parishes. Today there are sixty parishes in Rome and ten parishes in London alone. Of the seven bishops at present, there are three bishops in France (one of them is French), two in Italy and two in Spain and Portugal.

Altogether nearly four million people who belong to the Metropolia, as the Romanian and Moldovan Diaspora is over four times larger than all the other Orthodox put together. The number of Orthodox in the Romanian Archdiocese in England is now over 1.2 million, including the children born here. Vladyka Joseph said that there are 24 qualified candidates to be ordained in Great Britain, where there are already 100 parishes and in years to come there will be hundreds more.

Vladyka spoke of the need to unite others into the Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of all nationalities. The main aim of the meeting was to announce the two candidates to be Archbishop here next year. The two announced were Bishop Theophil and Bishop Athanasy. The latter is Moldovan and is Russian-speaking.

From Kabul to Kiev and the Future of the Russian Orthodox Church

After his brutal rebuff in Washington (together with Starmer), ex-President Zelensky is now desperately touring leaders of Western Europe, even seeing the Pope, in order to try and get support for his failing regime. The fact is that, regardless of whether Harris or Trump wins in the US elections in a few weeks’ time, the US has abandoned Zelensky’s Ukraine, turning its back on it and disengaging from it. The US media will just stop talking about the Western rout in the Ukraine, as they did in Afghanistan. Kabul or Kiev, it is the same thing. You have lost, sweep it under the carpet, it never happened. The US has to face Israel’s military and economic collapse and its great commercial rival, China. It has no more time for the loser in Kiev. Americans never like losers, so it is walking away from them.

The US has dumped Kiev on Europe and will, as usual, leave Europe, whose tail the US has been wagging for years, hanging out to dry. The US refused to allow Kiev to make deep strikes on Russia, it will not allow Kiev to join NATO, indeed it cancelled the Kiev-NATO Rammstein meeting of 12 October and the majority of the EU do not want Kiev to join it. (Ironically, the only country which enthusiastically supports Kiev’s EU membership is the UK, which itself left the EU!) Yes, the EU may string Kiev along, which will then string naïve Ukrainians along, but Europe has no more arms or munitions to give Kiev, and many countries, like Germany, Croatia, Italy and Slovakia, have publicly said so. Just as the British ran back to their island at Dunkirk in 1940, so the US is running back to the Big Island in 2024.

As for Zelensky, he will also try to run away to the same place. The Russian Army has all but destroyed the suicidal Ukrainian forces which crossed the border into the Kursk province of Russia. 22,000 Ukrainian troops are already dead or wounded. From Kursk Russian forces could cross into Sumy province and take Kiev. For the 7 January? Russia will get on with the reformatting, absorbing and rebuilding of the Ukraine as a New Ukraine under a new government in Kiev, effectively forming a southern Belarus. Russia will take back the Russian south and east, including Odessa and Kharkov. A small slice of the south-west corner may return to Hungary, with autonomy granted at last to Carpatho-Rus (what Kiev condescendingly called ‘Zakarpattia’), and perhaps small slices in the south will return to Romania.

By agreement with Moldova the Russian Federation could take back Transdnistria and probably, also by agreement, Gagauzia. These moves would be extremely popular, but leaving Romania to take back most of Moldova. As for the tiny Baltics, they will die out, until they reach friendship agreements with Russia, once their US elites have been removed. This Baltic situation will be repeated throughout Western Europe, as US elites in the EU and the UK are removed by popular vote – as indeed is already happening. The defeat of the Neo-Nazi regime in Kiev will also bring freedom for the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church and shame on the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which the US bribed to set up a fake Church for ‘the national Ukrainian religion’, to replace the Church of God.

At this, questions will arise for the Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, centred in Moscow. In nearly three years of the conflict in the Ukraine, the Patriarchate has lost control (to the CIA) of its New-York based Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), whose sociopaths have been rebaptising other Orthodox. It has also lost control of the Church in the Ukraine, in Moldova and in the Baltics. In the Western world the Moscow Patriarchate has been discredited, with the Patriarch of Moscow even being banned from Canada, the UK and Lithuania and its parishes there contracting and losing virtually all Non-Russians. The racist rejection by Muscovites of Moldovans, Ukrainians and local people, many of whom had been devoted to the Russian Orthodox Church for fifty years and more, has been scandalous.

It is now difficult to see what the Church authorities in Moscow can do to recover the situation. Moscow is in schism with the Greek Churches. It has invested in Africa, officially a Greek territory. Other Local Churches distrust it. Tens of millions have been disaffected from Moscow, after it betrayed them, in one way or another, including now banned priests inside Russia, who have been forced to leave the country in order to continue. Regardless of the outcome in the Ukraine, that is, the inevitable Russian military and political victory, you cannot force people to be what they are not. You cannot force people to go to church. It may even be that the Russian government will have to intervene in Moscow Church matters in order to bring it round to abandoning its disastrous and suicidal policy of centralisation.

May God’s Will be done.