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Metropolitan Silouan’s Visit — 8th–9th March

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Dear Friends

In the first decade of the second century, less than a hundred years after the Resurrection, a man named Ignatius stood before the Emperor Trajan: he refused to offer sacrifices to idols and encouraged others to follow his example.

Then Trajan pronounced sentence as follows: ‘We command that Ignatius, who affirms that he carries about within him Him that was crucified, be bound by soldiers, and carried to the great city Rome, there to be devoured by the beasts, for the gratification of the people.’

And we would expect shock and panic.  We would be looking for ways to liberate him from this cruel and barbaric execution.  But not Ignatius.

For St Ignatius this was the opportunity for him to glorify God,

I am the wheat of God, and let me be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of Christ.
— To the Romans, 4

And on his journey from Antioch to Rome he writes seven letters, explaining that he goes to martyrdom willingly.

Only request in my behalf both inward and outward strength, that I may not only speak, but truly will; and that I may not merely be called a Christian, but really be found to be one.  For if I be truly found a Christian, I may also be called one, and be then deemed faithful, when I shall no longer appear to the world.

Nothing visible is eternal.  For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.  For our God, Jesus Christ, now that He is with the Father, is all the more revealed in His glory.  Christianity is not a thing of silence only, but also of manifest greatness.
— To the Romans, 3

But his letters also give to us how we understand what a bishop is.

For, since you are subject to the bishop as to Jesus Christ, you appear to me to live not after the manner of men, but according to Jesus Christ, who died for us, in order, by believing in His death, you may escape from death.  It is therefore necessary that, as you indeed do, so without the bishop you should do nothing, but should also be subject to the presbytery, as to the apostle of Jesus Christ, who is our hope, in whom, if we live, we shall at last be found.
— To the Trallians, 2

For the bishop does not rule with an iron fist, as would Caesar, but that we should endeavour to live in harmony with him.

Wherefore it is fitting that you should run together in accordance with the will of your bishop, which thing also you do.  For your justly renowned presbytery, worthy of God, is fitted as exactly to the bishop as the strings are to the harp.  Therefore in your concord and harmonious love, Jesus Christ is sung.  And man by man, become a choir, that being harmonious in love, and taking up the song of God in unison, you may with one voice sing to the Father through Jesus Christ, so that He may both hear you, and perceive by your works that you are indeed the members of His Son.  It is profitable, therefore, that you should live in an unblameable unity, that thus you may always enjoy communion with God.
— To the Ephesians, 4

St Ignatius puts it more starkly elsewhere,

It is well to reverence both God and the bishop.  He who honours the bishop has been honoured by God; he who does anything without the knowledge of the bishop, does in reality serve the devil.
— To the Smyrnaeans, 9

This weekend we are blessed to be joined by our Father in Christ, Metropolitan Silouan.  And while every Divine Liturgy is the remembrance commanded by Christ of His death and Resurrection, of the defeat of death, of sin and of idolatry, when the bishop himself is present the full unity of the Church is manifest.  Our unity with him is a sign, a symbol, of eternal Life.

Let nothing exist among you that may divide you; but be united with your bishop, and those that preside over you, as a type and evidence of your immortality.
— To the Magnesians, 6

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us run into the embrace of our Father in Christ as he visits his community—the Church of the Twelve Apostles—which he himself established and founded just a few years ago.  Our unity with him is the sign of our unity in Faithfulness, our honour for him is the sign of our honour for God, our following him is the sign of our following Christ.

Wherefore, as children of light and truth, flee from division and wicked doctrines; but where the shepherd is, there follow as sheep. For there are many wolves that appear worthy of credit, who, by means of a pernicious pleasure, carry captive those that are running towards God; but in your unity they shall have no place.
— To the Philadelphians, 2

Come, let us greet him in oneness of mind and unity of Faith.

Give heed to the bishop, that God also may give heed to you.  My soul be for theirs that are submissive to the bishop, to the presbyters, and to the deacons, and may my portion be along with them in God!  Labour together with one another; strive in company together; run together; suffer together; sleep together; and awake together, as the stewards, and associates, and servants of God.
— To Polycarp, 6

Come and see!

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We serve a meal following the Liturgy on Sundays. All are welcome.

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Do you, or someone you know, want to join our mailing list and receive our weekly email? Then let me know.

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Sermon

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.

Another person wrongs me and I am burned up inside: anger possesses me as I go about my day. Someone speaks an unkind word and I am full of rage, someone does an unexpected act and I am apoplectic, someone merely exists and I am full of fury. I allow my health to suffer for the sake of my vexation, my relationships to suffer for the sake of me irritation, my life to suffer for the sake of holding on to these wrongs against me.

Another person has a bad day and gets over it, is spoken to rudely and lets it go, gets into an accident but brushes it off. And his life—his health, his relationships, his work, his relaxation—is of a better standard because of it. He may have nothing but possesses everything.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the Lord commands us to forgive. Not suggests nor encourages, He commands. But this is not for the sake of the other person, it is for our own. For when we hold onto anger it eats away at us, corrupts us, turns us towards pride and entitlement. When I hold onto anger it is I who suffers, not the other person. Anger seeks to possess its victim, demonise its victim, pull down its victim. And in holding onto it I turn my back on God.
…

Read this Sermon, No longer possessed by anger.
Archive of Past Sermons.

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Services this week

Friday 7th March
Discussion on the Prophecy of Isaiah, 8 pm
Online only

Saturday 8th March
Great Vespers, 6.30 pm
At 3rd URC Scout Hall, Chandlers Ford

Sunday 9th March
Matins and Divine Liturgy, 9 am
At 3rd URC Scout Hall, Chandlers Ford

Online session is via Google Meet: please get in contact for the details.

Please join us: all are welcome, come and see.

Attending Church

We meet at 3rd URC Scout HQ, Kings Rd, Chandlers Ford SO53 2EY. The Scout hall is behind and to the left of the URC Church. Come and See.

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Can I help you?

I am here for you, you need only ask. Is there a way I can support your life of faith? Get in touch.

Can you help the parish?

Yes, absolutely. Offer yourselves to the Lord: pray! Make available to him all your talents and ask him how he would like you to use them — listen for his reply.

Your prayers!

With love in Christ

Fr Alexander
[email protected]