On the Practice of Fasting

It would be hard to consider developing an Orthodox spirituality rooted in the practice of the Church throughout the ages without introducing the practice of fasting. It was Jesus Christ Himself who said, ‘When you fast...’, not ‘If you fast...’.

In the West the concept of self-denial sits ill at ease with the dominant philosophy of ‘do what you want’. But the results are all around us in growing levels of obesity among young and old, and an increasing preoccupation with our personal appearance, and the satisfaction of self.

100 Words on the Daily Gospel in Coptic Lent - 6th March

If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.

In Matthew 19:16-30 our Lord makes it clear that there is no following after him without letting go of the things of this world. The rich young man had many things and they turned out to be more important to him than the treasure in heaven which was offered. It is not enough to commit ourselves to the season of fasting if we are not also giving up those other things which stand in the way of a perfect obedience and commitment to Christ. Where there are needs are we meeting them? Now is surely the time to test whether what we have is more important than perfection in Christ.

Prayerfully consider making an offering to God to support Orthodox Missionary work in the UK. Without your kind and generous support it will be impossible to meet the needs of the increasing numbers of those wishing to learn about our Orthodox Faith. We need your support now.  

Orthodox Mission in the UK - 5th March

It has been almost a couple of weeks since I last updated this account of the Orthodox missionary ministry I am fortunate to be engaged in here in the UK. I have celebrated the monthly Saturday morning Liturgy at the Orthodox Mission of St Andrew in Windsor. In the small community there I am assisted at the altar by an Egyptian man who is a Subdeacon. Our Liturgy is that of St James, rather than the usual Coptic use of St Basil, and he has done well to grow in confidence in serving in the liturgical celebration of the British Orthodox Church. After the Feast of Pascha a British man in the community will be made a Reader by our bishop, Metropolitan Seraphim, and will bring his own committed service to the Liturgy.

100 Words on the Daily Gospel in Coptic Lent - 5th March

Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"

In Matthew 15:32-38 our Lord is on the mountain side with the Apostles and a great crowd of hungry people are with him. What could be done? Our Lord could have worked a miracle himself but he invites the disciples to share with him in his service to the people. He asks them to provide what they have, and offering it to Christ they find that the little provision they have is enough for all, multiplied by the grace and power of God. He asks us still to offer what we have, and he will use it to his glory and for the salvation of souls.

Prayerfully consider making an offering to God to support Orthodox Missionary work in the UK

100 Words on the Daily Gospel in Coptic Lent - 4th March

One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.

In Mark 10:17-27 our Lord instructs us that the Christian way is not one of material reward in this life but one of self-denial and self-sacrifice. We must not treat our possessions as if they have any eternal value. Indeed it is in abandoning our reliance on material goods and making use of that which we have been given for the benefit of others that we store up an eternal reward. This life of the cross, of self-denial, is not imposed on us, but we must choose it for ourselves. There is no other way of following Christ, who has already borne the weight of the cross for each of us.

Prayerfully consider making an offering to God to support Orthodox Missionary work in the UK

100 Words on the Daily Gospel in Coptic Lent - 3rd March

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart

In Luke 18:1-8 our Lord calls us to always pray and not lose heart. We lose heart when we expect God to answer our prayers immediately and in the way we have in mind. When we persevere in our prayer we are confessing our faith in God as the only means of our salvation and the provision of all that we need. There is no-one else for us to turn to, and so we turn to God and offer unceasing prayer, often with tears and in confusion. The prayer of the blind man becomes our constant friend – Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.

Prayerfully consider making an offering to God to support Orthodox Missionary work in the UK

Homily for the First Sunday of Lent

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. Matt 6:19 



This morning I would like us to consider the passage we have just heard from the Gospel of St Matthew. It seems to me that it is a passage which is full of opposites and full of choices. Indeed we are used to having to make choices in our lives. Where will we live? What job will we apply for? What subjects will we study at school or university? Who will we marry? What will we call our children? All of these can have a substantial and lasting effect on our lives. But we make smaller choices each day of our lives. What will we wear? What will be cook for tea tonight? What TV programme will we watch? Our lives are filled with choices. Some we take without thinking. Others overwhelm us with anxiety and uncertainty for days and weeks.