On 21 of October Father Stephen and Deacon Panteleimon traveled to the Church of the Forerunner and Baptist John in Haringey, North London to attend the annual clergy conference of the Archdiocese.

It was an opportunity for the archdiocese to share many of its initiatives and the support it is giving to churches.

Among the exciting initiatives announced was a plan to establish a new monastery in the United Kingdom. His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas is working with His Grace Bishop Raphael of Ilion (based in Edinburgh) to establish a monastery in the Highlands. The McTaggarts, members of the Church of the Saint Andrew in Edinburgh and owners of a 4,000 acre estate at Ardross have generously offered to gift land to the archdiocese on which to establish a monastery.

His Grace Bishop Raphael explained to the clergy conference that it had long been the McTaggarts’ prayer that an Orthodox monastery be established in the Highlands. When Bishop Raphael approached the family to ask whether they could sell them some land it was an answer to those prayers. The family refused however to sell the archdiocese the land and insisted instead that the appropriate land be accepted by the archdiocese as a gift.

Archbishop Nikitas and Bishop Raphael are now working together with the churches of the Archdiocese in Scotland to bring these exciting plans to fruition.

As well as the exciting announcement about a new monastery in the United Kingdom, at the Clergy Synaxis, the archdiocese reported on other important initiatives. Those of particular relevance to our church in Shrewsbury are as follows:

• a project to prepare material for adult catechism
• Discover Orthodoxy – online adult catechism classes
• enlightened evenings – social gatherings for young adults
• family fun days and other camping ministries
• teaching of Byzantine chant to communities across the country
• training programme for youth workers
• ministry to end modern slavery and human trafficking
• the Thytaeira Midlands Ecclesiastical Seminary