We were very pleased to receive His Grace Bishop Maximos of Melitene on Friday 15 April when he came to our church for the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. We had a good attendance for a Friday evening and five men came to meet the bishop with the possibility that they may be ordained deacon.  I am pleased to report that this may indeed happen and two of the men are to be ordained soon.

His Grace then visited us again last Sunday 1 May as a more general Pastoral visit to our community.  He is now based in the Midlands, currently living in Coventry,  and we very much hope we shall see a great deal more of him.  The Orthodox Church is an Episcopal Church and the communities need to have a bishop on hand to help us with our mission, our planning and our decisions.

Many thanks to all those who helped with the occasion, putting up the marquee, cleaning  and providing food etc.  He did say that generally in the future he will not expect a great feast!  And we discovered that some bishops can drive!

May God grant him Many Years amongst us!