Europe Blog (1)

Bishop’s Advent Appeal -Ras Morbat Eye Clinic, Yemen

Ras Morbat Eye Clinic I wonder how many people you know that wear glasses or contact lenses. Perhaps, like me, you need them yourself. Eye care – from the basics of having our sight tested to increasingly complex surgeries – is something we are fortunate to be able to take for granted in Europe.

We have also been able to enjoy decades of the absence of war. My 2024 Advent Appeal is to raise funds for the Ras Morbat Eye Clinic in Yemen, a country experiencing, in the words of UNICEF, ‘one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises that is robbing children of their future’. The war in Ukraine and the escalating conflict in the Middle East dominate the news and we continue to pray for peace in both regions. Meanwhile, the crisis in Yemen is overlooked although its effects are no less pernicious on those caught up in it. While active conflict has decreased somewhat since April 2022, the situation remains fragile, with food shortages and malnutrition being significant issues.

Young boy eye test

Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the world. The public health sector is stretched beyond capacity and in most places has to focus on urgent survival needs, which means general eye care is marginalised. Yet eye care is much needed: Yemen’s harsh sunlight contributes to vision problems in children and especially older people, with the onset of glaucoma and cataract often happening at younger ages than in Europe. For many years the Ras Morbat Eye Clinic has been welcoming and offering heavily subsidised eye care to the poor, refugees, and displaced people. Because the clinic serves all, it has been a good example of compassion and care for people in need regardless of religious or tribal identities. This matters in a country where tribal identity has been a major source of conflict.

Young girl eye testThe work of the clinic is supported and enabled by our neighbour, the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, in partnership with the Ministry of Health in Aden. I recently participated in the consecration of their new bishop, +Sean Semple, and while I was there my attention was drawn to the work of the clinic. Supporting Ras Morbat not only helps many marginalised people in Yemen, it also strengthens the ties between our dioceses.

My hope and prayer is that we can raise enough money to support all the running costs of the clinic for a three month period. This requires about 15.000€.

To donate to the Advent Appeal please see the notes below.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

+Robert Gibraltar in Europe

How you can donate to the Bishop in Europe’s Advent Appeal 2024:

Via your Chaplaincy Treasurer to Nick Wraight in the Diocesan Office

By cheque:

“Advent Appeal 2024”

Diocese in Europe Board of Finance

14, Tufton St

London SW1P 3QZ

By bank transfer:

Account number: 40317039

Sort code: 20-06-13

IBAN: GB16 BUKB 2006 1340 3170 39

Swift / BIC: BUKBGB2

On the Diocese in Europe Just Giving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/diocese-ineurope

Diocese in Europe Logo (1)

Fr Benjamin Blog

We welcome our new Chaplain – Fr Benjamin Drury

After a ten month vacancy and two wonderful locums, Fr. Terry Hemming and Fr. Marcus Ronchetti, we are delighted to announce the arrival in June of our permanent senior chaplain Fr. Benjamin Drury.

Father Benjamin grew up in Richmond, Yorkshire, and spent most summers in Greece in his Godparents’ village. His father was a political Geographer specialising in the Balkans and Cyprus, his mother medieval latin paleography – both at Durham University.  At Worcester College, Oxford he read Ancient and Modern History, and then an M.Phil in Byzantine Studies; focusing on Armenian History , Byzantine Art History, and a Psalter Manuscript from the 11th century. He explored his vocation initially at his College Chapel then continued exploring his vocation as Pastoral Assistant of St Michael’s and St Paul’s, Brighton. Ben was two years Pilgrimage Course Assistant at St George’s College and Cathedral, in East Jerusalem before returning to Oxford to read Theology at St Stephen’s House. His final year was on exchange at the Venerable English College in Rome. Fr Benjamin’s Curacy was in Oxford Diocese, first in Stony Stratford then in New Hinksey near the city centre. Since 2019 Ben has been Priest in Charge of St Luke’s Prittlewell and in addition this last year of St Mary’s Benfleet. He is a Priest Associate of the Holy House of Our Lady of Walsingham and a brother of the Society of the Holy Cross (SSC). He enjoys discovering new places on foot, and exploring ruins.

 

We look forward to giving him a warm St Paul’s Welcome when he arrives in June.

Scola Cantorum Blog

Scola Cantorum Evensong

Schola Cantorum Sancti Pauli
PRESS RELEASE
Renaissance Vespers
Sunday, April 21 @ 6:00 pm
at the Anglican Church of Saint Paul (Fillellinon 27, Syntagma)
A Choral Evening Service according to the Anglican prayer book (Book of Common Prayer) of 1549, with music from the first centenary of the Anglican Church.
Cappella Sancti Pauli sings under the direction of Jason Marmaras. Consisting of Music from William Byrd, Thomas Tallis, Thomas Tomkins and IM.
The Renaissance Vespers have been organised since 2016 by the Schola Cantorum Sancti Pauli, in collaboration with the church of Saint Paul. They last about 45 minutes and they consist largely of polyphonic singing, which surrounds readings of texts by the priest and members of the congregation, as well as improvisations in the ecclesiastical organ of the church. Vespers are held entirely in English, while Greek translations of the texts are distributed.
Schola Cantorum Sancti Pauli is the School of Renaissance Polyphony in Athens. Their activity consists in equal parts of courses in renaissance theory and practice (on temporary hiatus), rehearsals, Vespers in the Anglican Church, and
concerts in Greece and abroad.
Free Entry • Optional Contribution
Scola Cantorum Blog

Scola Cantorum Evensong

Schola Cantorum Sancti Pauli
PRESS RELEASE
Renaissance Vespers
Sunday, March 31 @ 6:00 pm
at the Anglican Church of Saint Paul (Fillellinon 27, Syntagma)
A Choral Evening Service according to the Anglican prayer book (Book of Common Prayer) of 1549, with music from the first centenary of the Anglican Church.
Cappella Sancti Pauli sings under the direction of Jason Marmaras. Consisting of Music from William Byrd, Thomas Tallis, Thomas Tomkins and IM.
The Renaissance Vespers have been organised since 2016 by the Schola Cantorum Sancti Pauli, in collaboration with the church of Saint Paul. They last about 45 minutes and they consist largely of polyphonic singing, which surrounds readings of texts by the priest and members of the congregation, as well as improvisations in the ecclesiastical organ of the church. Vespers are held entirely in English, while Greek translations of the texts are distributed.
Schola Cantorum Sancti Pauli is the School of Renaissance Polyphony in Athens. Their activity consists in equal parts of courses in renaissance theory and practice (on temporary hiatus), rehearsals, Vespers in the Anglican Church, and
concerts in Greece and abroad.
Free Entry • Optional Contribution
Easter Cross jpg

Easter Services at St Paul’s

ST PAUL’S ANGLICAN CHURCH, FILELLINON 27 & AMALIAS

(SYNTAGMA METRO)

 

Programme of Liturgy for Holy Week and Easter 2024

 

 

Wednesday 27th March

 

Holy Wednesday Liturgy 10.00 hrs
Thursday 28th March

 

Maundy Thursday Liturgy 19.30 hrs
Friday 29th March

 

Good Friday Liturgy 14.00 hrs
Saturday 30th March (remember to turn your clocks 1 hour forward before going to bed)

 

Easter Vigil Liturgy 20.00 hrs
Sunday 31st March (everyone welcome to Easter Breakfast after the service)

Sunday 31st March

Easter Sunday Liturgy

 

Choral Evensong

10.00 hrs

 

18.00 hrs