Welcome to Saint Aidan's Orthodox Mission!

We are a community of Orthodox Christians dedicated to proclaiming and living the Orthodox faith in the East Kootenay region. Feel free to explore our web site. Contact information is in the sidebar.

Orthodoxy Sunday Services

No Vespers this week, as Father Andrew is moving into his new Cranbrook house Saturday afternoon.

Please come for Liturgy on Sunday (first Sunday of Lent) and we will serve an early Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers after lunch on Sunday so feel free to bring your 
favourite Icon, or choose one from the Church as we process and 
celebrate the restoration of the veneration of the Icons established in 843, with all of the Orthodox Churches, as we have all faithfully done 
every year since 843! Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow...love in Christ...
Fr Andrew

Forgiveness Sunday

We will have our Typika service from 10:30am to 11:30am, then go downstairs for a potluck lunch (Cheesefare Sunday - no meat, but last day of cheese and eggs.) At 12:30pm, we will go back upstairs for a short Typika Vespers service, the changing of the cloths, and the Forgiveness prostrations. Remember to wear something prostration - friendly.

Excerpts from the February Newsletter

2015 Lenten and Paschal Cycle

Zacchaeus Sunday – Jan. 25. Begins the Three Weeks of Pre Lent

Publican and Pharisee – Feb. 1

Prodigal Son – Feb. 8

Meatfare – Feb. 15. Last day to eat meat, if Fasting.

Cheesefare – Feb. 22. Last day to eat eggs or dairy products, if Fasting. Also, Forgiveness Sunday.

Begin Great Lent – Feb. 23

Palm Sunday – April 5. The beginning of Holy Week. Also the date of Western Easter this year

Pascha – April 12

SAINT OF THE MONTH

St Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn

February 27

Our holy Father Raphael was born in Syria in 1860 to pious Orthodox parents, Michael Hawaweeny and his second wife Mariam, the daughter of a priest of Damascus. From his youth, Saint Raphael’s greatest joy was to serve the Church. When he came to America, he found his people scattered abroad, and he called them to unity. He never neglected his flock, but traveled throughout America, Canada, and Mexico in search of them so that he might care for them. He kept them from straying into strange pastures, and he protected them from spiritual harm. During twenty years of faithful ministry he nurtured them and helped them to grow.  In 1915 he fell ill, on February 27 he rested from his labors. Find out more at:

http://oca.org/

Others, A story by Anastasia Bartlett (a member of our parish)

Once upon a time, there was an old man. He was a widower who lived and worked in a few rooms below street level. He was reaching the end of his life and deeply regretted never having seen God though he had always faithfully attended church.

                One night, he had a vision. He saw an image of Christ and heard the words, “Prepare, for today I will visit you”.

                The old man awoke full of wonder and immediately set about cleaning his rooms. He heated up some soup from the day before, found some small cakes and put the kettle on to boil for tea. As the light dawned, through his window, he could see the feet of the watchman making his rounds. He went to his door.

                “Come in, come in and warm yourself, it has been a cold night and I have breakfast and tea ready.”

                The watchman nodded, “It has been bitingly cold. Your warm room and tea is the highlight of my day.” As the watchman entered, he noticed the signs of cleaning, “It looks as though you are expecting someone.”

                “I am,” the old man replied.

                “Well then I won't overstay my welcome.”

                “Not at all, stay for as long as you want,” and the old man served breakfast while the two conversed comfortably until the watchman returned to his rounds.

                The old man puttered around cleaning up after breakfast and set the kettle to boil for a fresh pot of tea. As the day progressed, others visited the store.

                Each time, as the old man saw feet approaching, he anticipated the arrival of his Lord, but it was just a regular customer, occasionally impatient to conclude their business, one angry at the world but most were friendly. Each time, the old man welcomed the visitor warmly, hiding his disappointment, while offering them tea and what few cakes he had.

                As the day drew to a close, the old man sighed heavily because his Lord had not arrived. He climbed the stairs to the street to take one last look before locking up for the night. In the growing darkness, he saw a young woman clutching a baby huddled against the building.

                “Young women,”  the old man said, “Are you waiting for someone?”

                “I'm waiting for the bus to take me to my husband on the other side of town.”

                “I'm afraid the last bus has already gone for the night. Why don't you come in where it is warm.” The old man helped the woman into his rooms, served her tea and the last of the cakes and listened to her story. She had just come from the country and was supposed to joining her husband. But since she had missed the bus and had no way to contact him she didn't know what to do.

                 As she finished talking, the old man saw the watchman pass and ran to the door to ask him to come in. After hearing the young woman's plight, the watchman contacted a friend who was willing to drive the young woman to her destination for the price of gas. The old man gave the driver the little money he had and the young woman left wearing his departed wife's winter coat and her baby wrapped tightly in warm blanket.

                After she had gone, the old man locked the door, his heart heavy since his special visitor had not come. He cleaned up and went to bed. As he was drifting off to sleep, he heard voice say, “Thank-you for your hospitality today.”

                Confused, the old man replied,“But, Lord, but I don't understand, you never came.”

                “I was with you all day. I am your friend, the watchman. I am your customers and visitors, even the angry ones, all of whom you treated with respect and kindness. I am the young wife and her child. I am every person you encounter every day. How you treat them is how you treat me. If you love them, then you love me.”

                The old man smiled and fell asleep, joyfully anticipating all his Lord's visits the next day.

Great Lent

The original purpose of the pre-Pascha fast (now known as Great Lent) was the fasting of catechumens who were being prepared for baptism and entry into the Church. However, it quickly became a time for those who were already Christian to prepare for the feast of the Resurrection of Christ. It is the living symbol of man's entire life which is to be fulfilled in his own resurrection from the dead with Christ. It is a time of renewed devotion: of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It is a time of repentance, a real renewal of minds, hearts and deeds in conformity with Christ and his teachings. It is the time, most of all, of return to the great commandments of loving God and neighbors.   http://orthodoxwiki.org/Great_Lent

"What sacrifices we make, let them be sacrifices that transform us. They are not ends in and of themselves. They are the tools by which we can become a little closer to God’s image, a little closer to Christ’s life." St. John Chrysostom. 

The goal of fasting is simple. We fast so that we may better love, know, reveal, and enjoy God.  . . . . The affirmation at the heart of fasting is not a secret that emerges only when all fasting is over. Rather, it permeates the whole range of the activities of fasting.  . . . . We need affirmation in fasting because we cannot live without joy. Jesus bade us to anoint our heads when we fast. Surely He didn’t intend for us to only seem to be happy. He meant for us to actually be happy, to be anointed with joy . . . “But what if my fasting is not joyful? Asking me to enjoy my fast is absurd, since I can’t in my present state enjoy God by a simple act of the will. And if I could, then perhaps I would not need to fast at all.” I hear this questioning voice in myself, and the Scripture answers with the word “hope.” Hope is the joyful expectation of the promises of God. We can experience this joyful expectation anywhere, including while we fast. Excerpts from an article by Richard McCombs (This article originally appeared in AGAIN Vol. 28 No.1, Spring 2006.)

http://community.beliefnet.com/go/thread/view/44071/22355853/Fasting_for_Lent

St.Aidan Orthodox Church

Father Andrew and Matushka Sonia Applegate

201-7th Avenue South.

Cranbrook, BC. V1C 2J6

Tel. (250) 489-8006 (church)

Tel. (403)554-0193 (Fr. Andrew)

Tel. (403)217-9151 (Fr. at home)

Tel. (250)421-6013 (Admin – Ellen)

Fr. Philip Erikson  587-433-4270

Bishop Irenee  613-233-7780

Regular Services Again

Father Andrew and Matushka Sonia are moving to Cranbrook on February 27th in order to serve Liturgy every Sunday, instead of driving down from Calgary every 3 weeks. We are planning a full Holy Week of services as well. A thank you to both of them, and to Bishop Irenee, for making this possible. We are so pleased to have them here with us on a permanent basis!

December News

Sub-Deacon Paul, Father Andrew, Altar Server Max, Bishop Irenee, Dean Phillip, Deacon Kevin

Our Liturgy with Bishop Irenee was one of the most resplendent services our little church has witnessed. The special evening Liturgy service was very beautiful, and full of excitement with all of our additional visitors from Calgary, and the States. The Bishop raised up Sub-Deacon and a Reader while he was here. We were able to spend some time after services talking with Bishop Irenee - we learned a lot.

One of the things that we learned is that we (the Cranbrook church) are dear to the hearts of many Canadian orthodox. Their support of our church is phenomenal, and the latest of their gifts to us? A priest in residence! Father Andrew and Matushka Sonia are moving to Cranbrook, hopefully in the spring, to live here and provide regular services. This is wonderful news!! There will be more in the January newsletter, if not before, on this wonderful development,

Thank you to the Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut Orthodox Church, Bishop Irenee, and many others, for your support!

Excerpts from the December Newsletter:

CHURCH SERVICES

Dec 6 – Vespers. 6:30pm. Soup Supper to follow.

Dec 7 – Hours. 10:10am. Liturgy. 10:30am. Potluck Lunch to follow.

Dec 8 – Special Liturgy with Bishop Irenee and Father Andrew. 6:30pm. Soup Supper to follow. *Fasting from Lunchtime for the Eucharist.

Dec 9 – Vespers with Bishop Irenee and Father Andrew. 6:30pm. Soup Supper to follow with Bishop Irenee.

Dec 10 – Breakfast with Bishop Irenee. 9am.

Dec 14 – Typika service. 10:30am. Potluck Lunch to follow.

Dec 20 - Vespers. 6:30pm. Soup Supper to follow.

Dec 21  - Hours. 10:10am. Liturgy. 10:30am. Potluck Lunch to follow.

Dec 28 - Typika service. 10:30am. Potluck Lunch to follow.

*Added: Christmas services to be decided ASAP.

*Added: Father Andrew and Matushka Sonia will be spending Theophany week in Cranbrook (January 5-11) and blessing houses. Please let Father Andrew know when you would like him to come to your house. 

CHURCH SCHOOL SCHEDULE

Children have a variety of activities to play with both inside and outside. These activities are available both during church, if your kids need a break, and after church. Please have adult supervision.

*Added: At the AGM on November 30, it was decided to start a regular Sunday School program again, as we have some young children attending. This will start in January, and will include stories, memory verses, virtues, monthly family activities, and annual celebrations. The full schedule will be posted at the end of December on the curch school page.

READINGS (posted on the website at http://www.saintaidan.ca/)

Dec. 7 – St Nicholas Story

Dec. 14 – St Aidan Story: Celtic Knot, Part 2

Dec. 21 – St. Aidan Story: Troubled Waters

Dec. 28 – St. Aidan Story: Aidan’s Death

St. Andrew the First Called - Nov. 30                                                                      Fr. Andrew                                

Nov. 30 is the saint’s day for my dear Patron saint, Andrew the First called. When I was about to be ordained a Deacon, Bishop Irénée asked who my patron saint was, and as he hadn’t run into any St. Brent’s, he suggested that St. Andrew was a very good choice. St. Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist, and when John the Baptist pointed Jesus out as being the Son of God, Andrew immediately left John and followed after Jesus. He went and brought his brother Peter telling him that “We have found the Messiah – the Christ!” So it is fair to say that even before Peter’s memorable confession that “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” his brother Andrew the 1^st called Apostle had been enlightened to understand this all-consuming truth and revealed it to his older brother Peter!

St. Andrew made four major missionary journeys and travelled extensively, preaching the kingdom of God and establishing the Church. He is the Patron saint of Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Scotland and even Barbados. He is the patron saint of the ecumenical patriarchy in Constantinople as St. Andrew installed St. Stachys who was one of the 70 as the first bishop of Constantinople (Byzantium) in 36 AD. St. Andrew travelled all through what is today Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Poland, Ukraine (including Kiev), and much of Russia, including what is now Moscow and Lake Ladoga where Valaam Monastery was later established. He travelled through parts of India and Pakistan and spent time in Ethiopia and Eastern Africa. It is possible he also travelled through the Scandinavian lands and through from there to Scotland. In the later years of his life St. Andrew spent 20 years living in a cave in his favourite place around Dervent in Southern Romania which has been a place of pilgrimage ever since.

He was crucified towards the end of the first century in Patras Greece on an X shaped cross, as he protested he was not worthy to be crucified on the same type of cross as his Lord Jesus Christ. St. Andrew is noted for his great humility. Although he is the first-called Apostle of Christ, he never goes first, and when we see him speaking with his Lord Jesus Christ in the gospels, he is always asking for someone else’s sake. He brings his older brother Peter to Jesus; when Philip comes to Andrew asking him about taking some Greek worshipers to see Jesus, he brought them to Jesus; he approaches Jesus about feeding the multitude with the 5 loaves and two fish. Always it is for others that St. Andrew approaches his Lord. There are many miracles associated with St. Andrew’s missionary trips, and many books written about this most eminent Apostle. Through the prayers of St. Andrew the 1^st. called Lord Jesus Christ have mercy upon us and save us!

Reading from December 14

St Aidan Story

Celtic Knot, Part 2

Aidan gave thanks for the growth in the vocation of women to the religious life. It did seem to be a good way for royal women to have a position of their own. Hild, at thirty-three, decided to become a nun. Here truly was a jewel for the church. She was deeply committed to the way taught from Lindisfarne. She had thought of going to France, to the sisters at Chelles, to be a nun. It was as well that she had mentioned it to Aidan. He persuaded her that the church here needed people like her. If all the talent was going to the continent, how could the church here grow? Women’s communities, and mixed communities, needed people who were used to leadership, and who had been Christians for a good while. Hild had all the qualities needed, and more. Hild listened to Aidan and decided to stay. She went to establish a new monastery on the north side of the Wear. Within a year she had moved on to Hartlepool to replace the first nun in Northumbria, Heiu. Heiu was going further south to Tadcaster. All over Bernicia and Deira new communities were springing up. The land was being won for Christ.  . .

St. Hilda icon with her Abbess staff in her right hand and her Abbey in her left hand. By Nic Pappas

Aidan looked at the pattern (of the Celtic knotwork) and thought of how vibrant it was with movement and colour. He glanced at the written words on the opposite page, ‘Jesus est’. Once again everything vibrated, this time with sound. He could hear in his memory the brothers in prayer on the road. So often they started with ‘Jesus is’.  . . It is so important that each of us makes this discovery, that ‘Jesus is’. Aidan could hear it as clearly as if the brothers were with him. After he heard each statement Aidan again traced the pattern, rising with the words, and saying to the Christ after each statement ‘Have mercy upon us’:

‘Jesus Christ’

‘Jesus, Son of God’

‘Jesus, Saviour’

‘Jesus, Lord’

‘Jesus, Redeemer’

‘Jesus, Brother’

‘Jesus, Bread of Life’

‘Jesus, Light of the world’

‘Jesus, Door of the sheep’

‘Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life’

‘Jesus, the true Vine’

‘Jesus, the Way’

‘Jesus, the Truth’

‘Jesus, the Life’

‘Jesus, crucified’

‘Jesus, dead’

‘Jesus, buried’

‘Jesus, risen’

‘Jesus, ascended’

‘Jesus, King of kings’

‘Jesus, Lord of lords’

‘Jesus, the same today’

‘Jesus yesterday’

‘Jesus for ever’

‘Jesus before the foundation of the world’

‘Jesus here and now with us’

‘Jesus in eternity’

His own ‘Lord, Have mercy’ helped him travel past all the parts of the pattern that were going under. How like life, all these ups and downs, this weaving in and out. A peace was descending on Aidan, the sort of peace he felt each time he returned to Lindisfarne. There was a feeling of homecoming, of having been here before. Then he realized that he had followed the pattern around, and was back where he started. Yet, it was not the same, he had changed in his travels. As he looked upon the complex pattern, he knew that life was even more intricate than the Celtic design. He also saw that the pattern was endless, a symbol of eternity. For all its complexity, its ups and downs, this life is eternal. This is the gospel message, this is what helps us to rise. Aidan prayed that the island would be the place of his resurrection. He hoped that when he died he would be allowed to bless his brothers as Columba had blessed the community on Iona. He even wondered if one of the local horses might weep for him.

He was suddenly aware of the roaring of the sea and the piping of the oyster-catchers. He thanked God that he had been made so rich in people, that his life was so vibrant and colorful.

This extract is taken from 'Flame of the Heart' by David Adam and is reproduced by kind permission of SPCK. You can find the book here:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flame-Heart-St-Aidan-Today/dp/0281050333.

November 23 Reading

St. Aidan Story: The Celtic Knot, Part 1

Aidan was slowly tracing a pattern of Celtic knot work, and thinking leisurely of what had been. So many lives and cultures had crossed and inter-related. There was no Scot, Pict or Celt, no Angle or Saxon; all were one in Christ. Christ had broken down the barriers that divided them. In Christ the nation was becoming more united. Even this artwork was deeply influenced by the exchange of cultures. The illumination of the Gospels coming out of the scriptorium was a blend of Celtic and Anglican or Saxon. They had greatly enriched each other. The movement from hostility to hospitality was enriching all. . .

Design influenced by illustration in the Lindisfarne Gospels 
from  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_knot

Aidan traced a few of the ups and downs of the knot work pattern. How like life it was, full of ups and downs, ins and outs, light and darkness. The pattern rose and fell, was open then went under and was hidden, again reflecting the openness and the hidden in our lives. ‘That Christ may walk with us in the dark places and give us His light’ – Aidan’s heart ached with the love he had for these people. . . 

As his fingers rose on the pattern, he thought of all the good things that had happened.  . . More and more people were committing themselves to the religious life. More and more were seeing it as a heroic way to serve God. It was not an escape from the world but a deeper immersion into it. New communities were having to be built, new places of learning and new churches. . .

Aidan’s finger followed the pattern where it dipped under. He remembered that there was still much tyranny and violence, too many people still lived by the sword. . . The yellow plague was also ravaging parts of the kingdom, . . . in some areas whole villages were being wiped out. . .

Aidan’s hand had wandered on to the next dip in the pattern. The queen was insisting on keeping a chaplain from Kent and on keeping the continental reckoning of Easter. This could make things difficult at the palace. It would be absurd to keep two Easters, or for the king to have Easter and the queen to still be in Lent. . . They would obviously have to have a Synod to resolve these matters. . .  

This extract is taken from 'Flame of the Heart' by David Adam and is reproduced by kind permission of SPCK. You can find the book here:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flame-Heart-St-Aidan-Today/dp/0281050333.

AGM

Our Annual General Meeting will be held at the church after Liturgy and Lunch on November 30. Activities for the children will be provided in a separate area.

Also, we will be volunteering for the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle on Dec. 6th from 10 - 2. Please sign up for a shift during that time. Thank you.

November 16 Reading

The Presentation of the Theotokos

St Aidan's celebrated their first annual Tea Party today, honoring the women and girls of our parish in memory of the child Mary who was presented to the Temple at age three.

Because of the cold, -15 (!!) we processed around the interior of the church while singing, carrying candles and lanterns, and the icon.

The women and girls were then served tea, juice, fruit and cookies. And since we had room at the table, the men and boys then joined us. Sometimes it is advantageous to belong to a small parish, lol.

Many thanks to Ellen for helping with the table setting and food. 

 

November 9 Reading

St Aidan Story: Chad

Aidan remembered the day when four boys had been brought to Lindisfarne. They were four brothers from one family, all in steps and stairs, blond-headed ad fair-skinned, like so many of the Angles. Yet he never quite thought of them as angelic, they were real lads, forever in the rough and tumble of life. Still, from the start they had been keen to learn and anxious to serve. They all had good English names: Cedd, Cynebil, Caelin, and Chad. Their parents were rightly proud of them. Aidan recited their names in the order of their age. Cedd was the oldest and Chad the youngest. They were all young men of promise, though the oldest and the youngest had the most potential.

Aidan’s thoughts turned especially to Chad. He was the most scholarly. To get more teaching he had been sent to Ireland. There he had met quite a few of the famous teachers and learned much from them. The irish monks were extremely generous in being willing to share all they had with any visiting scholars. They would lend them books as well as feed and board them for free. The irish monks were still very necessary and important to the growth of the church and for its scholarship. These lads would go far; who knew, one day one or two of them might become bishops in the church. Aidan knew how important it was for mission to be local. If the church is to grow, its leaders must come from within its own community. Leadership must rise up from within, or the teaching will never truly take root. For any mission in depth it must be from the people of that area, reflecting the same ideas and values. Mission must always aim to grow locally. Such young lives full of promise and wanting to be shaped – what a wonderful gift. They would certainly have an effect on the people around them.

Chad seemed to imitate Aidan more than anyone. More than any of the others, he refused to ride a horse if he could walk. ‘You must keep your feet on the ground, and not place yourself above people’, he would say, in a voice that was a good imitation of Aidan’s.  . . .He, like Aidan, walked for mile upon mile, talking to all whom he met on the way.

Drawing from The Little Lives of the Saints

Told by Percy Dearmer

Illustrated by Charles Robinson.

London: Wells Gardner, Darton & Co., 1904.

Chad was always concerned for travellers, especially if a storm arose.  . . . On the nearby Farne Islands many ships came to grief.  At the first sign of a strong wind, Chad would utter a prayer for travellers. If the wind increased, he would stop whatever he was doing and pray for the whole human race. He was deeply concerned that, if possible, none should come to harm. When a mighty storm arose and there was thunder, Chad would go into the church and pray in cross-vigil. With arms outstretched, he prayed that all would be delivered from destruction, from sin, from death, and from judgement. He would seek to pray as long as the storm raged. Often he came out of such prayers exhausted. If anyone made a comment, he would say, ‘Learn to pray until the tears come. Remember what the Savior suffered for us, and for our salvation.’

This extract is taken from 'Flame of the Heart' by David Adam and is reproduced by kind permission of SPCK. You can find the book here:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flame-Heart-St-Aidan-Today/dp/0281050333.

To learn more about Chad and his brothers, start here: http://orthodoxwiki.org/Chad_of_Lichfield

November Newsletter

From our Newsletter:

CHURCH SERVICES

November 2 – Typika service. 10:30am.
Potluck lunch to follow.
November 8 – Vespers. 6pm. Potluck
Soup Supper to follow.
November 9 - Hours. 10:10am. Liturgy
10:30am. Potluck lunch to follow.
November 16 – Typika service. 10:30am.
Tea Party and Potluck lunch to follow.
November 23 – Typika service. 10:30am.
Potluck lunch to follow.
November 29 – Vespers. 6pm. Potluck
Soup Supper to follow.
November 30 - Hours. 10:10am. Liturgy
10:30am. Potluck lunch to follow.

CHURCH SCHOOL

 Children have a variety of activities
to play with both inside and outside.
These activities are available both
during church, if your kids need a
break, and after church. Please have
adult supervision.

Readings (posted on the website):
http://www.saintaidan.ca

November 2 – St. Aidan story: Oswin
and the Horse
November 9 – St. Aidan story: Chad
November 16 – Entrance of the
Theotokos story (Nov 21, Feast #3 of
the Year)
November 23 - St. Aidan story: Celtic
Knot, part 1
November 30 - St. Aidan story: Celtic
Knot, part 2.

SAINT OF THE MONTH

St Columbanus - Nov 23

Columbanus was born into a noble family in
West Leinster, Ireland, circa 543. He received
a classical education at Clonard, the great
mother-school founded by St. Finian, where
he discovered the three-fold division of
prayer, manual labor and study of the
scriptures that mark the boundaries of a
monk's existence. He learned habits of
sanctity and scholarship that would stay with
him for the rest of his life. He went to live
under the abbot St. Comgall at the monastery
of Bangor on the coast of Down. At about the
age of forty he set sail with twelve
companions (one was St Gall) to preach the
gospel, and sometime around the year 585
they crossed over to France. Columbanus built
3 monasteries, staying in France as Abbot of
Luxeuil for more than twenty years. Eventually
King Theoderic drove Columbanus into exile,
where he settled in Italy, dying in 615. It was
in the wilderness that his typically Celtic love
of nature is shown, and animals are involved
in several of his principal miracles.
from
http://orthodoxpathway.blogspot.ca/2011/08
/british-saints-columbanus.html

VISIT FROM BISHOP IRENEE!!

Dec. 8 Monday evening at 6:30 pm - Divine Liturgy at St. Aidan with Bishop Irénée  

Dec. 9 Tuesday morning at 10:30 am - Divine Liturgy for the feast day of theconception of the Theotokos at Bonners Ferry Holy Myrrhbearers Church with Bishop  Irénée and Fr. Gregory Horton - all invited

  Dec. 9 Tuesday Evening at 6:30 pm - Daily Vespers at St. Aidan's and then meet theBishop Q and A session  

Dec. 10 Wed. Morning at Denny's in Cranbrook breakfast with Bishop Irénée at 9:00 amfor all who want to join us before he returns to Calgary.

The Entry of the Most Holy Mother of God into the 

Temple

Commemorated on November 21

The parents of the Virgin Mary, Sts Joachim and Anna, praying for an end to 

their childlessness, vowed that if a child were born to them, they would 

dedicate it to the service of God. When the Most Holy Virgin reached the 

age of three, the holy parents decided to fulfill their vow. There the High 

Priest and several priests met the handmaiden of God. Then the High Priest, 

through inspiration from above, led the Most Holy Virgin into the Holy of 

Holies, where only the High Priest entered once a year to offer a purifying 

sacrifice of blood. Therefore, all those present in the Temple were 

astonished at this most unusual occurrence. After entrusting their child to 

the Heavenly Father, Joachim and Anna returned home. The All-Holy Virgin 

remained in the quarters for virgins near the Temple. She grew up in a 

community of pious virgins, diligently read the Holy Scripture, occupied 

Herself with handicrafts, prayed constantly, and grew in love for God. 

From http://oca.org/

November 16 – First Annual Tea Party

celebrating the Presentation of the Theotokos (Nov. 21)

Around the world, girls will carry candle lanterns and icons in a 

procession in memory of the girls who processed before the precious 

Mary at age three, as she made her way to the temple, to become the 

living Holy of Holies, the one human chosen to fully and physically 

contain God within her.

We will hold our procession on Nov 16, after the Typika service, due to 

our wide-spread geographical constraints. Afterwards, the girls are 

served tea and dainties. In our case, the girls and women will be 

served by the boys and men. This will be followed by our traditional 

potluck lunch. Anyone with fancy teacups to share, pretty flowers to 

donate, and special tea party foods to serve – please let Rebecca 

know. Thank you!! More info to follow. 

November 8:

The Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Bodiless Powers  from Fr. Andrew

Very early in Church history (before the 1st Ecumenical Council in 325) the Church established the feastday on Nov. 8 for the 

celebration of Archangel Michael and the Bodiless Powers. The Church also dedicates every Monday during the year for the 

veneration and consideration of the holy angels. Tradition tells us that the month of November was chosen for the feast, as it 

was the 9th month after the start of the New Year (which was March in those days), and that this represented the 9 ranks of 

angels. These ranks were well accepted by the Church even by then. Tradition says they were explained by St. Dionysius the 

Aeropagite who received the revelation directly from the Apostle Paul his teacher, and were catalogued in “The Celestial 

Hierarchy” written by a later man known as pseudo Dionysius the Aeropagite who wrote in the 5th or 6th century. Many of the 

early Church fathers such as St. Gregory the Dialogist, St. Gregory the Theologian, St. John Chrysostom, St Ignatius, St. Basil, St. 

John of Damascus and many others wrote of the 9 ranks and the purposes of God’s messengers and our great protectors the 

angels. The angles are always with us and a part of the Church created by God when He created “all things visible and invisible.” 

All throughout both the Old Testament and the New Testament there are many stories of angels interacting and fulfilling their 

roles as “messengers” and helpers sent from God to mankind for our protection, illumination and salvation.

At liturgy, during the little entrance, as the Priest waits before the Holy Doors for the completion of the 3rd antiphon (Blessed 

are…) he quietly prays the entrance prayer “O Master, Lord our God, who appointed in heaven orders and hosts of angels and 

archangels for the service of Your glory: Grant that with our entrance there may be an entrance of holy angels, serving with us 

and glorifying Your goodness…” With the angles, the priest then enters through the Holy Door into the altar to continue the 

Liturgy. We worship God with a Church filled with angelic host every Sunday!

The ranks of angels are broken into 3 groups (hierarchs) each containing three angelic orders. The first hierarch and those 

closest to God are: the Seraphim, the Cherubim, and the Thrones. These angels are always in God’s direct presence and are filled 

with God’s fiery love, wisdom and righteous judgement. Realizing this causes us to be filled with awe as we contemplate the 

position of our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, as we often sing: 

“It is truly meet (proper) to bless you O Theotokos, 

Ever blessed and most pure and the Mother of our God. 

More honourable than the Cherubim 

and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim…”

In the middle rank of angels (2nd Hierarchy) are the Dominions, the Virtues, and the Powers. They send down the grace of God to 

mankind teaching and helping us to control our passions, resist temptations and evil thoughts, strengthening us in patience and 

sending power to work miracles and helping us in choosing to follow the Spirit of God and to overcome the devil. The third rank, 

and those angels closest to men are: Principalities, Archangels and Angels. These are the angels that we usually encounter 

throughout the scriptures and who are in close contact with mankind. They order the universe and rise up leaders for us for the 

glory of God. Every city and country and Church has their own angel protector. They are messengers of good news and enlighten 

us with knowledge of the mysteries of the faith and of God’s will, which they receive from the higher orders of angels for our 

benefit. The lowest order of the 9 ranks, the “Angels” serve as our guardian angels. 

God has appointed the Archangel Michael to lead and rule over all of the orders of angels. It is the great Archangel Michael who 

led the heavenly hosts to defeat Satan and his fallen angel cohorts – the demons, when they chose to rebel against God. The 

Archangel Michael cried out to his fellow angels "Let us attend! Let us stand aright before our Creator and not ponder that which 

is displeasing unto God!" The angels were created before the world was created “When the stars were made, all My angels 

praised me with a loud voice” Job 38:7

All the various ranks of the Angels are in complete harmony, with all constantly giving glory to God for all things. The Church 

teaches that every Christian receives their own personal guardian angel at their baptism, and Psalm 33(34): 7 tells us that all that 

all that fear God receive a guardian angel. This faithful companion loves and cares for us, protecting us from the attacks of the 

evil one, and helping us in our earthly journey to grow ever closer to Christ. St. Basil writing in the 4th century said “The guardian 

angel will not retreat from us unless we drive him away by our evil deeds. As smoke drives bees away, and stench the doves, 

even so our stinking sin drives away from us the angel that protects our life.” 

May we always pray and be grateful for our guardian angel, that faithful companion and protector of our souls, and not give 

cause for him to grieve over us; and may he be our faithful companion and defender and protector at the end of our journey 

here on earth and be able to successfully bring us into the heavenly realm and the kingdom of God.

Prayer to our Guardian Angel:

O angel of God, my holy guardian, given to me from heaven, enlighten me this day, and save me from all evil. Instruct me in 

doing good deeds, and set me on the path of salvation. Amen.

O angel of Christ, holy guardian and protector of my soul and body, forgive me everything wherein I have offended you every day 

of my life, and protect me from all influence and temptation of the Evil One. May I never again anger God by my sins. Pray for me 

to the Lord, that He may make me worthy of the grace of the All-Holy Trinity, and of the blessed Mother of God, and of all the 

saints. Amen.

November 2nd Reading

St Aidan Story: Oswin and the Horse

Some time after the death of Oswald, Aidan was at the palace of King Oswin who succeeded him in Deira. Oswin was truly a noble king . . . known for his generosity in giving to the rich and poor alike. He was also respected for his humility, which was a characteristic often missing in the royal court. Oswin gave Aidan a very fine horse. The king felt that it was not right that Aidan should walk such great distances. . .  It was costly in time  . .  [and] was beneath the dignity of a bishop to be walking like a peasant. . .

Aidan did not see it this way. . . ‘If you are to meet people you need to have your feet on the ground.’ This was something Aidan was always instilling into his students. . . ‘Remember that you are here to serve them and not to lord it over them.’ . . . Simplicity of prayer and simplicity of life helped Aidan and his followers to reach out throughout the kingdom. Wherever any priest or monk visited, he was made welcome. Whilst on the road people would run up to the brothers and seek a blessing.  . . People gathered by streams to be baptised and to sing praises to God. They gathered in cottages and bothies to hear with joy the word of God and to pray. The sick were tended and prayed for, the oppressed were brought relief. Whatever the need, Aidan and his  men sought to meet it. More and more people recognised that these men lived as they taught, their lives were their teaching. They continued to give away any riches they received and to minister to the poor. . .

However, to please the king he agreed to take a horse. Yes, it would be quicker and he would arrive at his destination earlier. There were indeed great advantages in being able to travel quickly. Oswin himself took Aidan to the stables and selected one of the finest horses. . . . Aidan was grateful . . . yet, the minute he left Oswin’s palace Aidan was uncomfortable.  . . . As he passed people at the palace gate some bowed in deference to him. He already felt that he was high above them. There was a little group of peasants going in the same direction, but . . . he could hardly walk with them and lead his horse.  . . . Once into the forest, robbers would be very interested in all his wealth . . . he would not be able to stop, the saddle alone was worth a small farm. A sadness crept into his heart; he was already allowing himself to become possessed, to be separated from people by material things and by position. Being on horseback is a very exalted position.

But God had already solved his dilemma. . . down the road in front of him was a beggar. . . Again all sorts of thoughts passed through Aidan’s mind. What if this was a trick and the man wanted to rob him? ‘Life is not just; here I am with all these riches and here is a man with nothing. How can I ignore him? To ride past him is to ride past the Christ. “As much as you did it to the least of these you did it to me.” What was happening to him? Already his heart was hardening. . . . Was he going to allow himself to become hardened to the needs of others? . . . What if he met him on judgement day and he said, ‘I was hungry, but you did not feed me, I was thirsty and you did not give me drink, I was naked and you did not clothe me, I needed friendship and you ignored me’?

St Aidan gives his horse to a beggar 
drawing from The Little Lives of the Saints Told by Percy Dearmer Illustrated by Charles Robinson. London: Wells Gardner, Darton & Co., 1904.

The beggar was startled as this important person suddenly reined in his fine horse.  . .  The man was amazed when the rider got off his horse. He expected this great man to spea in the language of the Angles but he spoke in his own language, the language of the common people.  . . . [Aidan gave the horse and saddle to the beggar to sell, and to make a new life with the money he would receive.]

 Aidan’s journey would now take longer, but he would meet more people.  He would sleep easy at nights for he would not need to worry about the horse, he had nothing a robber would want. His only worry was what he would say to Oswin the next time he went to the palace.

As it happened it was not long before he returned to Oswin’s court. He could see by the king’s looks that he knew what Aidan had done with the horse. . . .the king was hurt by the slight that had been put on his friendship and generosity, though he knew in his heart that if a man is truly given a gift, he is then free to do what he will with it. The time for them to dine was approaching when the king said, ‘Aidan, what did you mean by giving away the horse that I gave you for very own? I have been told that you gave it to a beggar. That horse was fit for a king, not for some vagabond. I could have found you an old nag if you wanted to give it away to the first person you met.’ Aidan’s quick reply stunned the hall to silence: ‘What do you think, O King? Is the son of a mare worth more in your eyes than a son of God?’ No one dared to speak; even the king was silent.

As the king went into the hall everyone followed, awaiting the reaction. Aidan took his seat.  . . . It looked for awhile as if [Oswin] would not come to the table. His loyal thanes stood by him. He seemed lost in thought. Suddenly he loosed his sword and gave it to a thane who was near. The king knelt at Aidan’s feet and asked forgiveness. ‘Never again will I mention this, or pass judgement on how much of your money you are giving to the ‘sons of God’.’  

Aidan trated al alike as his brothers. He loved all as children of God. He did not fear the mighty or see himself above the lowliest. He instilled into the brethren that we meet God in the other. We cannot love either God OR our neighbour. We love both or neither. 


This extract is taken from 'Flame of the Heart' by David Adam and is reproduced by kind permission of SPCK. You can find the book here:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flame-Heart-St-Aidan-Today/dp/0281050333.

October 26 Reading

St Aidan Story: King Oswald's Death

It saddened [Aidan] that the summer months were often the most violent. Summer is a time when troops can move more easily and so there were more raids and more battles. Oswald had decided to drive Penda [a powerful king who fought the Northumbrians for decades] back from his southern borders and if possible to conquer him once and for all. . .

The next weeks were anxious ones; there was no news of the troops. The last that was heard was that they had gone further west and were deep into Penda’s kingdom. Then more news came. Oswald had been victorious and had forced Penda to retreat into Wales. Oswald was camping after his triumph and was soon to come north. Soon the king would be home. That was the last of the good news. At home they were hopeful but they knew that winning a battle was not winning the war.

Meanwhile, Penda had persuaded the Welsh that Oswald would threaten them next. He amassed a new and powerful army from the Welsh of the borders. Oswald, still resting after his victory, was almost caught unawares. Wisdom would have counselled him to flee and fight another day. But Oswald had defeated larger armies before, and he could do so again. It was not in the nature of the Anglo-Saxon kings to flee from the battlefield. Oswald had lived heroically and if necessary would die a hero.  . .

The last Pagan English King. The Great King Penda of Mercia kills another English King. The White Dragon of the English flies over Penda. Artist: Mark Taylor

The battle was one of great fury, and many good men lost their lives. It soon became apparent that it was going against Oswald and his warriors. One after another of the men around Oswald were cut down. Soon there was only a small band protecting their king. They surrounded him and made a human shield to defend him. These were mighty warriors. But they were being felled one by one. Oswald knew he would soon die for the cause he had lived for, the kingdom of Northumbria and the kingdom of God. Shields clashed, swords vibrated loudly. The foes were closing in fast, Oswald knew he was about to be slain. Amidst the clanging of metal, he uttered his final prayer to God as a great sword struck his head. He prayed for his men in their last battle, ‘God have mercy on their souls.’ It was the 5^th of August in the year 642. Oswald had reigned for 9 years and helped to maintain a fragile peace. Now, at thirty-eight years old, he was sent to his Maker.

This extract is taken from 'Flame of the Heart' by David Adam and is reproduced by kind permission of SPCK. You can find the book here:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flame-Heart-St-Aidan-Today/dp/0281050333.

October 19 Reading

St Aidan Story: Castle Lessons

Some of these Angles did not want to lose their old ways and their old traditions. More than once he had been reminded that the name Oswald meant ‘Woden’s ruler’, and that the king was said to be descended from the god Woden. Aidan tried to tell them that they were all sons and daughters of God; not only did the king come from God, we all come from God. Everyone is important, for all are children of God.

In this openness and interchange, one of the thanes [nobles] told Aidan of an old tradition concerning Wode. It said of him: I hung on a wind-blown tree for nine nights and days, I was pierced by a spear and given to Woden, myself given to myself. Aidan could hardly believe what he heard, it sounded so much like the crucifixion. He talked long of the Christ who died on the tree, of the three-day burial and the mighty resurrection. Aidan told how this Christ was a mighty warrior, how he also was pierced with a spear, how he triumphed over the evil one and conquered the great enemy, death.

At the mention of defeating death, the thanes wanted to hear more, and so did others who were in the hall at the time. . . Aidan thrilled at their desire for learning and their openness to the gospel. . .

‘We are not afraid to lay down our lives for our king’, the warriors boasted, ‘This is the highest honour, to die for him we serve.’ Aidan was moved by the simple heroics of these men. He told them how he too served a King and was willing to die for Him. He told of how many disciples had laid down their lives for this King. Christ the King asks for our loyalty and obedience. Aidan told of how his group from Iona called themselves ‘soldiers of Christ’. He told how they had pledged themselves to withdraw from ordinary life and live on camp, ever ready to go out on mission. The measure of his men’s obedience was ‘even unto death’. They would go on a moment’s notice on long journeys across savage country. They braved wild animals and fierce people, all for the love of God, They would continue until the kingdoms of the world became the kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of God.

. . . Aidan continued to tell how his King had laid down his own life for us. Just as Oswald’s men expected their leader to die fighting, so the Christ had died for all peoples. If he had so chosen he could have escaped, but for love he gave his life for all. In dying, he won a kingdom for his followers. So Christians have a definite purpose for living, to serve Christ and to live to the glory of God in doing His will. They also have a definite reward. Soldiers on earth can only be rewarded if the king is the victor. Christ has won the victory, and the reward is that we are given the kingdom of heaven. Life is eternal, man is free, for Christ has won the victory.

This extract is taken from 'Flame of the Heart' by David Adam and is reproduced by kind permission of SPCK. You can find the book here:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flame-Heart-St-Aidan-Today/dp/0281050333.