Monthly Archives: April 2025

Shropshire monastic property for sale

🔔 For Sale: A Sacred Place in Shropshire

Lower Gittenshay Cottage in Shropshire—formerly the Monastery of St Anthony & St Cuthbert—is now available for sale by informal tender.

The Trustees invite interested parties to submit offers and continue the legacy of this cherished space. Please share with anyone—individual, parish, or community—who may feel called to preserve its spiritual purpose. All proceeds from the sale will support Orthodox charitable work in the Midlands.

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Orthodox Crossing: Being Useful

Where does one begin, when you start looking at it? I mean that in no way to be some pervasive effort at a meaningful thought, but rather that I was looking at a pernicious shrub outside the entrance to our

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Photo Gallery of Holy Week and Pascha 2025

Christ is risen! It’s time to relive Holy Week and Pascha through photographs. Continue reading

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2025 Holy Week and Pascha services in Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury Orthodox Church 2025 Holy Week and Pascha service schedules in English, Greek, Romanian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Russian, and Serbian Continue reading

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Synaxarion for Holy and Great Thursday

On Holy and Great Thursday, we commemorate four sacred events: the Foot-washing, the Secret Supper, the preternatural Prayer, and the Betrayal itself. Read this beautiful synaxarion that reveals Christ’s ultimate acts of love and humility before His sacrifice. Continue reading

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The Panagia, the Life-Giving Spring

Discover the miraculous story of the Panagia, the Life-Giving Spring, whose feast we celebrate during Renewal Week and whose holy waters have healed emperors, patriarchs, and countless faithful throughout history. Read about the beautiful tradition of this sacred church in Constantinople where the Theotokos herself guided a future emperor to healing waters that continue to bless the Orthodox faithful to this day. Continue reading

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The Epitaphios

Experience the profound tradition of the Epitaphios this Holy Friday as we adorn Christ’s tomb with flowers and join in the moving funeral procession that is represents His victory over death. Join our parish in this beautiful and sacred observance where we lament at the tomb of our Lord before celebrating His glorious Resurrection. Please consider donating towards the flowers that will decorate our church’s sepulchre. Continue reading

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Why Did Christ Suffer Crucifixion?

Metropolitan Panteleimon of Koroneia explains the true meaning of Christ’s crucifixion—not as punishment to satisfy Divine Justice, but as an act of love that enables Him to help us in our own suffering and unite us with God the Father. Continue reading

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Holy and Great Friday

Join us this Holy and Great Friday as we commemorate the awesome, holy, and saving Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ who endured suffering and death willingly for our salvation. Through the twelve Gospel readings and solemn services, we are invited not merely to witness a tragedy, but to participate in the greatest triumph the world has ever known—where Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross transforms our sorrow into the joy of salvation. Continue reading

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Holy and Great Thursday

Join us for Holy and Great Thursday as we commemorate the Mystical Supper—the first Eucharist served by Christ Himself—where He established the new covenant through His Body and Blood. In this sacred service, we are reminded not only of Christ’s sacrifice but also of His commandment to love one another, for “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” Continue reading

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Holy Unction

Join us for the ancient sacrament of Holy Unction this Wednesday evening, where olive oil is blessed through seven prayers for the healing of both soul and body, continuing a tradition established in the earliest days of the Church. “Are any among you sick? Let them call for the presbyters of the Church to pray over them and annoint them with oil in the Name of the Lord” (James 5:14) Continue reading

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An Interpretation of the Hymnography of Matins on Holy Tuesday

“Behold, the Bridegroom comes at midnight”—read about the profound hymns of Holy Tuesday that remind us to keep our spiritual lamps burning with virtues and right faith. Dr. Michael Koutsos’s illuminating interpretation reveals how these ancient texts call us to be vigilant and ready, multiplying our God-given talents so that we may be found worthy to enter the bridal chamber of Christ’s Kingdom. Continue reading

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Holy and Great Monday

On Holy Monday, we commemorate the righteous Joseph, whose life foreshadows Christ’s—betrayed by his brothers, falsely accused, yet rising to save his people from famine. We also reflect on the barren fig tree cursed by Christ, reminding us that we too must bear spiritual fruit as we begin our journey through Holy Week with the solemn “Behold, the Bridegroom Comes.” Continue reading

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Our Duties for Holy and Great Week

Great Week is a sacred time for Orthodox Christians to observe the Passion of Christ through thanksgiving, prayer, fasting, Holy Communion, and forgiveness. In this homily we are taught that these 168 hours honour “great events, unique and world historic, which shocked the earth, the heavens, and that which is below the earth.” Continue reading

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The Matins of the Bridegroom Services

The first three evenings of Holy Week are marked by the beautiful and solemn Bridegroom Matins services, focusing on Joseph the Excellent, the Parable of the Ten Virgins, and the Anointing of the Lord by the penitent woman. Each service calls us to be vigilant and prepared for Christ’s coming, with oil in our lamps—representing the Holy Spirit and compassion—and hearts ready for repentance like the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet. Continue reading

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Homily on Holy Saturday: The Lord Descends into Hades

“Something strange is happening—there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep.” In this homily from St. Epiphanius, we witness Christ’s triumphant descent into Hades where He takes Adam by the hand and declares, “I am your God, who for your sake have become your son; rise from the dead, for I am the Life of the dead.” Continue reading

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A song of Romanos the Melodist for the Feast of Palms

Experience the profound beauty of Romanos the Melodist’s ancient hymn for Palm Sunday, where Christ is praised as both the humble rider on a colt and the Almighty who comes “to call back Adam” from death. Contemplate this poetic masterpiece that captures the paradox of our Saviour—throned in heaven yet willingly embracing poverty on earth—as we prepare for the journey through Holy Week. Continue reading

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