February  2008
 

”Fr. Samuel venerating the relics of St Parascheva Iasi, Romania”

 In this Issue

 Fr. Samuel’s visit to Romania
New Orthodox Study Bible

Fr. Samuel’s visit to Romania

     Romania

     In October last year Radu and Oana made it possible, by the grace of God, to visit their homeland of Romania. I did not know what to expect and what I found was wonderful.

     We visited beautiful churches, some attached to monasteries, some simple parish churches but all covered in icons … the saints of the ages welcomed us into each holy place. More impressive, however, was the fact that there were people coming and going all the time, lighting candles and praying, venerating relics and icons, bringing their needs and the needs of their loved-ones to the Healer of the sick and Lover of mankind.

     The main reason for our visit was to venerate the relics of St. Parasceva the younger at Iasi, Radu’s home-town. St. Parasceva’s feast day is October 14th and her relics are brought out of the Metropolitan Cathedral and put outside under a specially constructed shelter so that the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who come, from all over the world, are able to venerate them more easily, over several days. Radu told me that it would be crowded … that was an understatement!

     We were given very special treatment, by courtesy of the Mirfield Romanian Parish connection, and escorted through the crowds to venerate St. Parasceva on her dais. The cover was lifted and we asked for her prayers for all of you. We were given flowers touched to the relics and brought them back to share with you. Then we discovered that a relic of St. John Chrysostom was also there, brought from Meteora monastery.

     We were escorted then into the cathedral to venerate other relics and to write down names to be commemorated in the prayers.

     Taken into the Altar, we then stayed for several hours to serve the Vigil with a bishop, several priest and monastics, and eight deacons.

     We were told there would be no chance of getting into the cathedral the next day, Sunday, but the Liturgy would be relayed to huge screens in the grounds.

     It was bitterly cold the next day, but we stood for several hours, with thousands of others as Patriarch Daniil served the Divine Liturgy. One old lady knelt with her head touching the ground for the whole time. The crush was amazing, yet no-one tripped over her, or kicked her or thought it strange.

     This was my introduction to “poor” Romania, incredibly “rich” in the real things of God. More to come!
 

New Orthodox Study Bible

     The complete Orthodox Study Bible is due for publication this month. This Bible will offer the first ever English translation of the Old Testament, from the Greek Septuagint text, by Orthodox Christian scholars. As the Septuagint text was the one quoted by Christ and the Apostles, this will be a long overdue comparative to the many English translations in circulation which are based on more modern Hebrew language sources. It will offer the complete text of Scripture with Orthodox commentary. The New Testament notes have also been revised and updated to incorporate more Patristic notes. The complete Orthodox Study Bible (hardback) is £29.95; bonded edition is £49.95. It may be ordered through our church bookstall. Please contact Winifred (Kim).

If you have any items for the newsletter, please e-mail Simon Harvey at simon.harvey@stoke.gov.uk or else leave a copy of your submission with Father Samuel or with Simon at church. Ideally, submissions should be made by the 15th of the month to get into the following month’s edition. Exceptions may be made in emergencies.