From Diocese of Sourozh

Community of Saints Peter and Paul in Swindon welcomed Bishop Elisey of Bogorodsk

23rd December 2007

Sunday December 23rd on the feast of St Iosaf of Belgorod and two weeks before the Nativity of Our Lord the Community of SS Peter and Paul in Swindon, in existence for over forty years, welcomed with joy Bishop Elisey of Bogorodsk . The bishop was carefully driven on this frosty, foggy day by Deacon Dimitry from the Cathedral to the modest chapel of St. Aldhelm, which the Anglican diocese offers us freely every fourth Sunday of the month, to celebrate the Divine Liturgy.

The service in Slavonic and English ended with Bishop Elisey’s sermon on the Gospel reading about healing of the ten lepers, emphasising the giving thanks, but he also stated that we celebrate the Liturgy by coming together as a community, we come together to share, to praise and to give thanks. We too each bear our cross, but if we carry this cross with faith and trust in God’s mercy He helps us. Yes we must love God and if we do we surely must love our fellow man and help our neighbour as Christ taught us. The Bishop gave the final blessing and passed us the blessing of His Holiness Alexis Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

After the Liturgy a lenten tea was served in the hall with home made cabbage pies and cakes. It was then that Bishop Elisey met the community face to face, which before he only knew from words of Father Maxim or as names on paper.

Many Years were sung to Bishop Elisei and voices resounded asking him to visit Swindon again as soon as he is able to.

This was a joyful lenten occasion in preparation for the feast of the Nativity of Christ in two weeks time.