On Sunday, 26 January, the parish of the Holy Trinity had the joy of a pastoral visit from His Eminence Metropolitan John of Dubna. Metropolitan John was welcomed by Father Silouane, the first priest of the Crypt, Father Charles-Vladimir, Protodeacon Joseph, Deacon Boris and many of the faithful. The choir, directed by its choir master Ivan Kedroff, upheld the prayer throughout the Divine Liturgy presided over by our beloved Metropolitan.
Just before the Little Entrance, Father Deacon Boris, in recognition of his devotion to the parish, was honoured with the title of protodeacon, with the right to wear a burgundy skufia. Axios!
And Father Charles-Vladimir, no less devoted, was honoured with the gold cross! He may also wear a kamilavka and a nabedrennik! Axios!
This Sunday we commemorated the Holy New Martyrs of Russia. Never in the history of the universal Church was there a persecution as great, as extensive in space and time, and as uninterrupted as the one that raged in the USSR in the twentieth century. The martyrs and holy confessors given by the Russian Church at that time number in the tens of thousands. The Soviet authorities carried out mass arrests and executions.
“O New Martyrs, who walked the earthly path confessing Christ, through your sufferings you gained boldness; pray to Him who strengthened you, that at the hour when trial comes upon us, we may receive the divine gift of courage. You are an example to those who venerate your struggle, for neither affliction, nor torment, nor death could separate you from the love of God.” Kontakion of the Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, Tone 2
“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of Christians” said Tertullian (c. 155 – c. 225).
“But before all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be a time for you to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.” Lk 21:12–19 (Holy New Martyrs)
The homily delivered by Metropolitan John was on the holy martyrs who resisted and kept the faith thanks to the holy prayer of the blind man of Jericho, heard in the Gospel of the day (Lk 18:35–43): “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” Our heart needs this prayer in order to be purified. The Epistle of St Paul to Timothy and the Gospel of this day are in perfect harmony, for understanding them nourishes our prayers and meditations. God is love, and we experience this love of God by keeping this prayer in our heart. We live in a difficult world where having faith can be a martyrdom. Let us trust, as the Apostle Paul says, in Him who shows us the way; this is what all these martyrs confessed. Let us be, like these martyrs, bearers of hope and faith! Let us not forget the sacrifice of all these martyrs, bishops, priests, laity, men, women, children, who bore witness to Christ! Let us also pray for all the Christians who are currently persecuted and martyred throughout the world!
After the Divine Liturgy, the clergy and the faithful gathered around our Metropolitan for a festive coffee prepared by the women of the parish. Thank you all for this beautiful day!
Armelle LG, secretary of the parish council
