Blog News

21/10/2021 In Blog News

Notes on the 374th Council Meeting held on 3rd July, 2021

Continuing our intention to be an Open Church, please follow the link to the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 3rd July 2021.

The delay is due to the fact that they have to be signed off by Fr Leonard at the following meeting before they can be published. The minutes for the September meeting will be published shortly.

Please click here for fuller details of the council meeting on 3rd July 2021

21/10/2021 In Blog News

Service for St Paul’s Harvest Festival at the Kokotos Winery – 24th October 2021

Opening hymn:

We plough the fields, and scatter
the good seed on the land,
but it is fed and watered
by God’s almighty hand:
he sends the snow in winter,
the warmth to swell the grain,
the breezes, and the sunshine,
and soft, refreshing rain.

Refrain:
All good gifts around us
are sent from heaven above;
then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord,
for all his love.

2 He only is the maker
of all things near and far;
he paints the wayside flower,
he lights the evening star;
the winds and waves obey him,
by him the birds are fed;
much more to us, his children,
he gives our daily bread. [Refrain]

3 We thank thee then, O Father,
for all things bright and good,
the seed-time and the harvest,
our life, our health, our food.
Accept the gifts we offer
for all thy love imparts,
and, what thou most desirest,
our humble, thankful hearts. [Refrain]

Priest: Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

All: and also with you.

The priest welcomes everyone to the liturgy. The deacon then leads the Confession

Deacon: God’s whole creation groans. We confess our sin in penitence and faith.

Deacon: Consider the birds of the air; they do not sow or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Lord have mercy.

All: Lord have mercy

Deacon: Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they do not toil or spin, yet even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Christ have mercy.

All: Christ have mercy

Deacon: How little faith we have. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Lord have mercy.

All: Christ have mercy.

The priest then pronounces the words of Absolution.

18/10/2021 In Blog News

Pet Service and Blessing

Following the morning liturgy on Sunday 3^rd October, the day before the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, a service of thanks for pets and all our fellow creatures was held at St. Paul’s, with Father Leonard (Senior Anglican Priest in Greece) and Father Bjorn (Pastor to the Swedish community, accompanied by his guitar) presiding. Hymns were ‘Morning has Broken’, ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ and ‘All Creatures of our God and King’. A Swedish song, ‘Only one who is walking Close the Ground can see the Wonders of God’, was sung by Father Bjorn and a member of his congregation. Prayers, Homily and Readings focused on our relationship with nature and all living creatures and the affection and psychological support given by pets, especially during times of stress and even more during Covid lockdowns. Father Leonard spoke of our hope that the November United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow would lead to more international action to fight this rapidly-increasing phenomenon affecting not only us but all life on earth – a catastrophic legacy for our children and future generations.

First to arrive were Hector, who brought along Lynn, and Piglet, accompanied by Sandra. Others soon followed, amongst them a small French bulldog recovering from surgery and a little charmer equipped with a set of wheels, who scurried around meeting and greeting. The joy of all at this unexpected get-together was a delight to see.

A note: We remember, of course, Greek singer Cat Steven’s rendering of ‘Morning has Broken’, which became an international hit. It began life as a Christian hymn published in 1931, written by Eleanor Farjeon, who was inspired by the village of Alfriston in Sussex and set to a traditional Gaelic tune, ‘Bunessan’. Since then it has been a firm favourite for children’s services and takes many of us back to our school days.

Jean Mertzanakis

18/10/2021 In Blog News

Friends’ Annual Service 2021

” … and it was very good.”

These words from Genesis (1:31) are the inspiration for the 2021 Annual Service of the Friends of the Diocese in Europe, which will take place on Monday 25 October at 1100 hours (BST) or 1200 hours (CET). At a time when we are yearning for the worst effects of the global Pandemic to pass, this service celebrates God’s Creation, and why our Faith is a constant source of hope for us. The service will be streamed live from the Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Brussels. The celebrant will be the Rt Revd Dr Robert Innes, Bishop in Europe and among others taking part will be the Archdeacon of Gibraltar, and of Italy and Malta; the Diocesan Environment Officer; and members of the Friends’ Committee. Please join us using the following link:

Join Zoom Meeting

ID: 875 6569 2427

Pass Code: 443591

An Order of Service will be available to be downloaded from the Friends’ News web page (https://europe.anglican.org/friends-of-the-diocese/friends-of-the-diocese-news) in due course but will also be on screen during the service.

15/10/2021 In Blog News

Service for the 20th Sunday after Trinity – 17th October 2021

St Paul’s Athens

Fr. Bjorn will lead the worship and Nelly Paraskevopoulou will preach. Virginia Stevens is the Assistant. Fr. Leonard and Deacon Chris are at the Archdeaconry Synod, being held this year in Corfu.

Opening Hymn: 343 Bright the vision

Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

Priest: The Lord be with you

All: and also with you

The presiding priest welcomes the congregation and invites the assistant to lead us into a short time of silence and stillness

Assistant: Your raise the dead to life in the spirit.

Kyrie eleison All: Kyrie eleison

Assistant: You bring pardon and peace to the broken in spirit.

Christe eleison All: Christe eleison

Assistant: You make one by your Spirit the torn and divided.

Kyrie eleison All: Kyrie eleison

Priest: Almighty God, who forgives all those who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal, through Jesus Christ our Lord . Amen.

Gloria: (Sung) Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God, the glory of God the Father. Amen, Amen.

Collect: Let us pray (Collect of the Day)

God our light and our salvation: illuminate our lives, that we may see your goodness in the land of the living, and looking on your beauty may be changed into the likeness of Jesus Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

06/10/2021 In Blog News

Service for the 19th Sunday after Trinity – 10th October 2021

St Paul’s Athens

Fr. Leonard will preside and preach. The assistant is Angelos Palioudakis.

Opening Hymn: 391 King of glory, king of peace

Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

Priest: The Lord be with you

All: and also with you

The presiding priest welcomes the congregation and invites the assistant to lead us into a short time of silence and stillness

Assistant: Your raise the dead to life in the spirit.

Kyrie eleison All: Kyrie eleison

Assistant: You bring pardon and peace to the broken in spirit.

Christe eleison All: Christe eleison

Assistant: You make one by your Spirit the torn and divided.

Kyrie eleison All: Kyrie eleison

Collect: Let us pray (Collect of the Day)

Faithful Lord, whose steadfast love never ceases and whose mercies never come to an end: grant us the grace to trust you and to receive the gifts of your love, new every morning, in Jesus Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

01/10/2021 In Blog News

Service for the 18th Sunday after Trinity – 3rd October 2021

St Paul’s Athens

Fr. Leonard will lead the worship and preach. Deacon Christine is the deacon. Before our worship begins the organ will play.

Opening Hymn: 368 Guide me, O thou great Redeemer

Priest: Blessed be the kingdom of God.

All: Now and for ever.

Priest: The Lord be with you

All: and also with you

The deacon invites us into a short time of silence and stillness

Deacon: Your raise the dead to life in the spirit.

Kyrie eleison All: Kyrie eleison

Deacon: You bring pardon and peace to the broken in spirit.

Christe eleison All: Christe eleison

Deacon: You make one by your Spirit the torn and divided.

Kyrie eleison All: Kyrie eleison

Gloria: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God, the glory of God the Father. Amen, amen.

27/09/2021 In Blog News

From Athens to LA!

On Saturday September 18^th around 70 guests attended a ’Greek Time’ evening at All Saints’ Church, Long Ashton, in the county of Somerset, England. The Rev. James Harris who, with his family, spent a year with us in Athens from 2018 to 2019 , hosted this live and Zoom fundraising event on our behalf.

Accompanied by tiropita, spanakopita, kourabiedes and Assyrtiko wine, the evening was based on two very different memories, those of the Rev. Ernest Byles, an Army Chaplain posted to Athens in 1944 to re-open the Anglican Church in the newly-liberated city and those of Father James who, 74 years later, joined us with his family at this same church and offered invaluable help as Greece suffered the impact of a global economic crisis and became the epicenter of the European migrant crisis, work that continues today. Both priests then found themselves living and serving in the same area of Somerset –one, retired but assisting at All Saints, Long Ashton and the other being installed as Rector in 2020. Two priests – two churches – one story linking the years.

The evening raised a much-appreciated sum of more than £1,000 and we hope that one day we may able to welcome Father James and some of our Long Ashton friends to Athens and thank them in person.