Beloved brothers and sisters,
Christ is Risen! Tá Críost éirithe! Χριστὸς ἀνέστη! المسيح قام! Христос Воскресе!
This is Community Bulletin #39 of Saint Ignatius Parish in Belfast
Contents of this Bulletin:
- This Week in the Life of the Church: Leavetaking of Pasha and Ascension of Our Lord
- A Pastoral Word: Healing and Wisdom
- News and Announcements: No Faith & Fellowship this week, Catechesis, YAM
This Week in the Life of the Church
For the final time this year, I greet you with the Paschal proclamation: Christ is Risen!
On Wednesday, 20th of May, the Church celebrates the Leavetaking (Apodosis) of Pascha. The Greek word apodosis literally means “giving back” and refers to the official conclusion of a feast. Pascha, however, is unique even among the Great Feasts of the Church, as its leavetaking comes not after one week, but after thirty-nine days during which we have continued to celebrate the Feast of Feasts.
The fortieth day after Pascha is always the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord, which this year falls on Thursday, 21st of May.
There can be a temptation to feel sadness at the Leavetaking of Pascha, as the radiant season of resurrectional joy comes to its end. Yet the Feast of the Ascension is not a reason for sorrow, but for even greater rejoicing. Christ ascends so that the Father may send the Holy Spirit upon the faithful, but also because His saving work is now brought to completion.
It is not simply God Who ascends into Heaven, but the perfect God-man. Our human nature, united to Christ, is raised up and seated at the right hand of the Father in glory. This is the destiny to which all of us are called. The Ascension reveals the purpose of human life: union with God.
The theology of the Feast is beautifully expressed in the first sticheron at “Lord, I Have Cried” during Great Vespers for Ascension:
The Lord was taken up into the Heavens that He might send the Comforter unto the world. The Heavens made ready His throne, and the clouds His ascent. The Angels marvel as they see a man more exalted than they. The Father receiveth Him Whom He hath with Him eternally in His bosom. The Holy Spirit commandeth all His Angels: Lift up your gates, O ye princes. Clap your hands, all ye nations; for Christ hath ascended whither He was before.
Liturgically, from Wednesday evening we cease singing “Christ is risen from the dead…” at the beginning of the services and in our prayer rule, together with the other Paschal hymns and customs. However, we still do not say the prayer “O Heavenly King” until the Feast of Pentecost.
I wish all of you a blessed Apodosis of Pascha and a joyful Feast of the Ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
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, 17th of May – Sunday of the Blind Man
- Monday, 18th of May – Holy Martyrs Peter, Dionysius, and those who suffered in Athens under Decius
- Tuesday, 19th of May – St. Dunstan, 25th archbishop of Canterbury
- Wednesday, 20th of May – Leavetaking of Pascha
- Thursday, 21st of May – Ascension of our Lord; Constantine and Helen, Equal-to-the Apostles
- Friday, 22nd of May – Hieromartyr Basiliscus, Bishop of Comana
- Saturday, 23rd of May – St. Michael the Confessor, bishop of Synnada
- Sunday, 24th of May – Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council
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 PASCHA IN TONE FIVE
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death; and upon those in the tombs bestowing life (thrice)
APOLYTIKION OF THE ASCENSION IN TONE FOUR
Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, and gladdened Thy Disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit, making them confident through the blessing that Thou art the Son of God, and Deliverer of the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPv88j6P-fk
KONTAKION OF THE ASCENSION IN TONE SIX
When Thou didst fulfill Thy dispensation for our sakes, uniting the terrestrials with the celestials, Thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, inseparable in space, but constant without separation, and crying unto Thy beloved, I am with you, and no one shall be against you.
Epistle and Gospel Readings:
*The Epistle and Gospel of the Sunday that begins the current liturgical week
- Epistle: Acts 16:16-34
- Gospel: John 9:1-38
*The Epistle and Gospel for the Feast of Ascension of our Lord
- Epistle: Acts 26:1, 12-20
- Gospel: Luke 24:36-53
The Sunday and daily Scripture readings may be read online via the Archdiocesan website: https://www.antiochian-orthodox.com/calendar
A Pastoral Word: Healing and Wisdom
Last Sunday, known as Sunday of the Blind Man, the Church commemorated the healing of the man born blind (John 9:1-38). The Gospel reading, in recounting this story for us, reveals two very different kinds of blindness.
After the man receives his sight, the Pharisees begin questioning him repeatedly. They ask how he was healed, who healed him, and whether Christ could truly be from God. They analyse, debate, and investigate every detail.
The man himself, however, speaks with remarkable simplicity. He does not claim to understand everything. He cannot answer all their arguments. He does not enter complicated discussions. He simply says: “One thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
And gradually, as the Gospel unfolds, we see something beautiful happening. The man who had once been physically blind slowly comes to spiritual sight, while the Pharisees, who know the Scriptures and consider themselves wise, remain spiritually blind. Their minds are full of questions, but their hearts remain closed.
The blind man is different. His faith is simple, humble, and open. He obeys Christ without demanding explanations first. He washes in the pool of Siloam as he was told, and through this humble obedience both his eyes and his soul begin to open.
At the end of the Gospel, after all the questioning and accusations, Christ comes again to the man and asks him: “Do you believe in the Son of God?” And the man answers with beautiful simplicity: “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” In other words: “Show me.” And when Christ reveals Himself, the man simply says: “Lord, I believe,” and worships Him.
There is something deeply important in this for all of us to learn. The man does not begin with perfect understanding. He begins with trust, humility, and openness to Christ. Healing comes first. Encounter comes first. Faith grows gradually, and understanding follows.
Very often we approach faith in the opposite way. We think every question must first be answered before we can trust God. We want certainty about everything. We want faith to pass through the approval of our intellect before it can enter the heart.
Yet the Gospel shows another path.
This applies both to those already in the Church and to those only beginning to inquire about the faith. Christianity does not begin simply with explanations or arguments. It begins with meeting Christ — in prayer, in worship, in repentance, and in the quiet opening of the heart.
Of course, the Church has answers, and understanding matters. But earthly wisdom alone cannot give spiritual sight. Knowledge without humility can easily become another form of blindness.
The blind man sees clearly not because he understands everything, but because he is humble enough to receive what Christ gives him.
May God grant us this same simplicity of faith, humility of heart, and the courage to say with the blind man: “Lord, I believe.”
News and Announcements
- NO faith & fellowship Meeting this Wednesday, 20th of May – There will be no Faith & Fellowship meeting this Wednesday, 20th of May, due to the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Ascension being served at the Cathedral on Wednesday evening. Our meetings will resume next Wednesday, 27th of May, at 7:00 PM.
Those who wish may follow the live broadcast of the Ascension service from the Cathedral parish on Wednesday at 7:00 PM here: https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgeOrthodoxAntiochianOfLondon - Enrolment into online Catechesis Group – Over the last months, a few new inquirers have joined our community, and we are now beginning our next online Catechesis Group. The group is intended for those who wish to learn about the Orthodox Christian faith in a structured way, with the intention of being received into the Church upon completion of the course.
The group will begin in early June, following the Feast of Pentecost.
If you would like to join, please contact Fr Dmitry by Friday, 29th of May, by email or text message (WhatsApp also available): fr.dmitry@saintignatiusbelfast.org or +44 7479 630020
Once I have the list of participants, I will add everyone to a group chat, and we hope to hold our first session the following week.
You can read a two-page summary with the general information and structure of the course here: https://saintignatiusbelfast.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/SaintIgnatiusChurchDocuments/EXajoI_JwEpLvW9Gf5YYphQBHTSM8ZgfMxfdIW6HbvCcpQ?e=7FJZhe - Young Adult Ministry (YAM) Belfast – Looking for volunteers to join the YAM Committee. Following the recent conversation between Adib Ferzli and the youth of our parish about establishing Young Adult Ministry (YAM) at our parish, we are now looking for a few young adults to help form the YAM Belfast Committee.
YAM is a place of encounter, learning and fellowship for young adults seeking to live their faith within the Church. Its aim is to help young adults grow together in Christ through prayer, talks, discussions, social gatherings, and service activities. The general age range for YAM is 18-35 years old. Minor diversions both below and above that range are fine as far as participation is beneficial for those in question.
We are seeking volunteers willing to help plan activities, prepare programmes, coordinate events, and assist with the organisation of the ministry. Skills in areas such as social media, poster design, administration, or finances are appreciated, but most importantly we are looking for enthusiasm, willingness to learn, and a desire to help build a strong Orthodox Christian fellowship for young adults in our parish.
If you are interested in helping, please contact Fr Dmitry by Friday, 29th of May, by email or text message (WhatsApp also 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
