Christmas Service

On Sunday 9th January the parish of St. Silouan celebrated its first Christmas. As this was the first Sunday after Christmas, the feast of St. Joseph the Righteous, we were able to congratulate Fr. Joseph on his Saint’s day. Fr. Joseph spoke about the example of St. Joseph, the faith and humility by which he gave his service to God without the expectation of thanks or reward.
 
A congregation of nearly 50 people attended, and a festal meal was held afterwards, attended by Fr. William, priest of Holy Trinity, in whose parish hall we hold our services.
 
This was also the first time we used the portable iconostasis kindly loaned to us by the Parish of St. Nicholas, in Oxford, who now own their own Church (see www.stnicholas-oxford.org)

Photos of the day.

St Nicholas eve Food Fair

St. Nicholas Eve Eastern European Food Fair with Craft Exhibition and Sale by the Sisters of the St. Elizabeth Monastery, Minsk, Belarus took place on Saturday 18th December 2010 at the St. Boniface Church hall, Southampton.

The food was all really good, and it was impressive to see how much we were able to produce between us.
 
When we woke up to all the snow, it was obvious that God had a different plan in it all - yes, Shirley Road was nearly empty, but this meant that at the end of the day we were able to give a substantial amount of food to the St. James shelter for the homeless near the City Centre. Sr. Elena and Max came with me to take the food there, and it was very gratefully received. We were told there were actually some Eastern European people sheltering there, who would have been particularly comforted by the food.
 
It was St. Nicholas's day after all!

You can now view some pictures of the event in the Photogallery.

Our first Parish Meeting

On Sunday, Oct. 10th, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated. Preaching on the gospel for the day, about the miraculous catch of fish (Lk 5, 1-11), Fr Joseph said that this dramatically illustrated the difference between what we can accomplish by our own efforts alone compared with what is possible with God's blessing. That is why it is important for us to ask the Lord's help in all undertakings, both great and small.

After the parish lunch, we had the first meeting of our newly-formed Parish Assembly. The meeting formally adopted the Parish Statutes, and unanimously elected Dr Paula Nicholson as Churchwarden and Mrs Oxana Sweeny as Treasurer. A number of other matters relating to the life of the community were discussed. These decisions will come into effect following their approval by the Diocesan Bishop, Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh.

Our first Patronal Festival

The first patronal festival of the Parish of Saint Silouan of Mount Athos was celebrated on Saturday 25th September, on the Saturday before the Elevation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross. Fr Joseph, in his homily, 
showed how the life of St. Silouan was a fulfilment of the Gospel for that day. (Matt.10:37-11:1): leaving his beloved family, St. Silouan took up the cross as a monk on Mount Athos. St. Silouan’s life and teaching show how to take up the cross, each one according to his or her given measure, in the humble acceptance of trials and adversity.
 
The Liturgy was followed by a moleben to St. Silouan, and a festal meal enjoyed by all. We were joined by Fr William Perry from the parish of Holy Trinity, by whose kindness we have been able to use the church hall for our services. 

You can view pictures here.