Beloved brothers and sisters,
This is Community Bulletin #41 of Saint Ignatius Parish in Belfast
Contents of this Bulletin:
- This Week in the Life of the Church: Week after Pentecost
- A Pastoral Word: Services at the church in the past weekend
- News and Announcements: Faith & Fellowship this week, Catechesis, YAM
This Week in the Life of the Church
Blessed Pentecost!
We continue celebrating the Feast until the coming Saturday, when we mark its Leavetaking (Apodosis).
The major change in our prayer practice is the return, after the break during the Paschal season and between Ascension and Pentecost, of the prayer “O Heavenly King,” which resumes its usual place at the beginning of each service and in our private prayer rule.
“O Heavenly King, the Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art in all places and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.”
The other change is the return of full prostrations in our prayer practice, both at home and in church, which we did not make during the Pentecostarion season.
May the Holy Spirit guide you in prayer and spiritual life as we enter the summer season!
Saints and Feasts of the Week
*The saints named here accompany the days of the week as living witnesses of Christ. Only the principal saint or feast of each day is listed here, in keeping with the liturgical order of the Church.
- Sunday, 31st of May – Sunday of Pentecost
- Monday, 1st of June – Monday of the Holy Spirit, Justin the Philosopher and Martyr and his Companions
- Tuesday, 2nd of June – Nicephorus the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople
- Wednesday, 3rd of June – Holy Martyr Lucillian and those with him at Byzantium
- Thursday, 4th of June – SS Mary and Martha, sisters of the Righteous Lazarus
- Friday, 5th of June – Hieromartyr Boniface (Wynfrith) of Crediton, Apostle of Germany
- Saturday, 6th of June – The Apodosis of Pentecost, Hilarion the New of Dalmation Monastery
- Sunday, 7th of June – Sunday of all Saints
Hymns of the Week
*The hymns listed here are those that shape the prayer of the Church for the week, following the liturgical order and hierarchy. They are offered as an aid to prayer and may be used, as each is able, in personal prayer or a simple prayer rule at home.
APOLYTIKION OF PENTECOST IN TONE EIGHT
Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast revealed the fishermen as most wise, having sent upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them Thou hast fished the universe, O Lover of mankind, glory to Thee.
KONTAKION OF PENTECOST IN TONE EIGHT
When the High One descended, confusing tongues, He divided the nations. And when He distributed the fiery tongues He called all to one unity. Wherefore, in unison we glorify the most Holy Spirit.
Epistle and Gospel Readings:
*The Epistle and Gospel of the Sunday that begins the current liturgical week
- Epistle: Acts 2:1-11
- Gospel: John 7:37-52; 8:12
The Sunday and daily Scripture readings may be read online via the Archdiocesan website: https://www.antiochian-orthodox.com/calendar
A Pastoral Word: Services at the church in the past weekend
It was a great joy to celebrate the divine services over the Pentecost weekend at our community. Glory to God!
Many thanks to the servers, chanters, hospitality team, and all who offered practical help in making the services and celebrations possible and beautiful. And thank you to all who attended and celebrated with us.
The weekend opened with Daily Orthros and Divine Liturgy for the Saturday of Souls. Following the Liturgy, we served the Trisagion prayers in commemoration of all departed Orthodox Christians, including those whose names had been submitted by the faithful for prayer. We also blessed the koliva, which was distributed after the service.
Later that day, we celebrated Great Vespers for the Feast of Pentecost. During Vespers the five loaves, wheat, oil, and wine were blessed in the service of Litia and Artoklasia. At the end of the service, the faithful received anointing with the blessed oil and a piece of blessed Artoklasia bread.
On Sunday, we celebrated Festal Orthros and Divine Liturgy, at the conclusion of which we prayed the special kneeling prayers traditionally appointed for Pentecost.
The celebration concluded with a festive parish lunch.
You can check some photos from the services in this album: https://saintignatiusbelfast.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/SaintIgnatiusChurchDocuments/IgAw-KIQ_3gERo09v_3qnNW5AThXGZ_7VhNrLQl6tcBOvrw?e=KVVTg5
Blessed Feast, once again, and many years to everyone!
News and Announcements
- Faith & Fellowship Meeting this Wednesday, 3rd June, 7:00 PM – Join us on Zoom this Wednesday. We will pray Little Compline and speak about the passage from the St Paul’s letter to Hebrews which is assigned for the coming Sunday of All Saints. Everyone welcome! Link: https://ucl.zoom.us/j/93643306643.
- Final Reminder – Online Catechesis Group. Our next online Catechesis Group will begin in June for those wishing to learn about the Orthodox Christian faith in a structured way, with the intention of being received into the Church.
Several people have already joined. If you would still like to participate, please contact Fr Dmitry as soon as possible by email or text message (WhatsApp available): fr.dmitry@saintignatiusbelfast.org or +44 7479 630020 - Young Adult Ministry (YAM) Belfast – Final Call for Volunteers. We are still looking for a few more young adults to help form the YAM Belfast Committee and assist with planning activities and building fellowship for young adults in our parish (ages approximately 18–35). If you are interested in helping, please contact Fr Dmitry as soon as possible by email or text message (WhatsApp available): fr.dmitry@saintignatiusbelfast.org or +44 7479 630020
- Have you visited our Parish Library yet? Our library offers a growing collection of Orthodox books for adults and children: spiritual classics, lives of the saints, theology, Church history, and books for young readers. A good spiritual book can deepen our understanding of the faith and accompany us in our spiritual life.
You can browse the catalogue and request books online through the parish website. All the information about borrowing books, together with the online request form, can be found here: https://saintignatiusbelfast.org/library
Our librarians, Michael and Porphyrios, will be happy to help if you are looking for something to read. You can contact them at: library@saintignatiusbelfast.org
