Event Overview
Join us for a special weekend of veneration and celebration as we dedicate a new icon of Saint Sylvester of Rome and Saint Hosius of Cordoba, featuring a relic of Saint Sylvester. This sacred event coincides with the Sunday of the Paralytic and forms part of our Nicaea 2025 celebrations, marking 1700 years since the First Ecumenical Council.
Schedule of Events
Saturday, 10 May
Venue: Church of the 318 Holy Fathers, Dove Close, Sutton, Shrewsbury, SY2 6FB
- 6:00 PM – Arrival of the Icon and relic and Vespers
- During the service, the faithful will have the opportunity to venerate the relic of Saint Sylvester
- Anointing with oil from the unsleeping lamp
Sunday, 11 May – Feast of the Sunday of the Paralytic
Venue: St. Julian’s Church, Fish Street, Shrewsbury, SY1 1UH
- 9:30 AM – Matins & Divine Liturgy
- Following the service, the icon and relic will be available for veneration
Sunday, 11 May
Venue: Shrewsbury Cathedral, Belmont
- 12.30 PM The Icon and relic will depart with the Faithful to Shrewsbury Cathedral for veneration by the Roman Catholic Community and a thanksgiving service.
- 1:00 PM Fellowship in Shrewsbury Cathedral parish room
About the Saints
Saint Sylvester of Rome (c. 280-335) was Pope during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great. He is known for his role in the conversion of Constantine, the establishment of Christianity as the religion of the Roman Empire, and his spiritual authority in battling demonic forces. While he could not personally attend the First Council of Nicaea due to advanced age, his representatives played a crucial role in defending Orthodox doctrine against Arianism.
Saint Hosius of Cordoba (c. 256-359) served as Bishop of Cordoba for nearly sixty years and was a trusted advisor to Emperor Constantine. As a confessor who had suffered during earlier persecutions, he presided over the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, where he was instrumental in formulating the Nicene Creed and establishing the doctrine of Christ’s full divinity.
Nicaea 2025 Connection
This icon dedication is part of our parish’s participation in the worldwide Nicaea 2025 celebrations, commemorating 1700 years since the First Ecumenical Council where these two saints played crucial roles in defending Orthodox Christianity against the Arian heresy.
Registration
This event is free and open to all. No pre-registration is required.
Prayer Requests
If you have prayer requests for the saints, please use this form:
Give
We have commissioned the icon and special hymnography for the dedication as part of our Nicaea 2025 celebrations. All offerings towards the cost of making the icon and writing hymnography would be gratefully received.