Deacon Christine Saccali’s speech to the gathering at Apostoli

APOSTOLI   2/02/19

Thank you.

Ambassador, Bishop, Metropolitan Gavriel, long standing friends and colleagues here in Athens.

As I look around the room it is indeed a great blessing to see you all here gathered for this event to celebrate all the worthy projects, partnerships and relationships that have been forged in Athens throughout the past few years since August 2015 when we here in Greece found ourselves suddenly thrown into the centre of a huge wave of migrating and displaced people washing up on our island shores before arriving in the port of Pireaus and moving on into this city’s squares.

There have been many comings and goings since then – not as many legally entitled beneficiaries moving on to their destinations as quickly as we would like, poor conditions for those who stay and the trickle who leave always being replaced by others on the move.

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Hon. Treasurer Mr Maurice Ashford – RIP

It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death on Wednesday 16th January, of our Honorary Treasurer Mr Maurice Ashford.

His funeral took place at St Paul’s on Wednesday 23rd January and our Senior Chaplain Revd. Canon Leonard Doolan officiated. Read his tribute below.

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Anglican Story A series of sessions to explore who we are what we believe and how that affects what we do, as Christians in the Anglican tradition.

January – June 2019

Introduction

Our Christian faith doesn’t stand still.

Life’s journey – the places and people, joys and sorrows we have known; they all have an influence on the shape of our faith today.

And there is always more to ask, learn and discover.

Anglican Story is a series of sessions designed to help us explore who we are, what we believe and how that affects what we do, as Christians in the Anglican tradition.

Each session will begin with a Bible reading and introductory talk on a particular theme from Fr James, followed by a time of discussion and exploration of the issues it raises for each of us.

No question will be out of bounds and we will hopefully discover some answers from, and with, each other.

We will end each session with a period of quiet reflection to consider all we have shared.

No matter for how long or short a time you have been aware of your faith, why not take this opportunity for refreshment and enrichment in the company of fellow pilgrims on the way?

Schedule

Sessions will last approx. 1.5 hours and will be held twice monthly on Wednesdays, once a month at the Swedish Centre (following on from Community Connect, at approx. 12.30pm) and the alternate week in St Paul’s Church, immediately after the midweek service (approx.10.45am).

The dates, venues and topics for each session are outlined below. [Key: SwC = Swedish Centre; StP = St Paul’s Church]

Although the sessions will be most valuable for those who are able to attend the whole course, the individual sessions will also be ‘standalone’ and it will be possible to dip in and out if you’re unable to make every one. 

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Athens and Kifissia Community Connect cut their Vassilopitta

On the 2nd Wednesday of January 2019, Community Connect Athens met for the first time in 2019 to wish everyone a Happy New Year and to cut the Vassilopitta.

There were warm sausage rolls and other cakes to munch on with our coffee prior to the cutting of the Vassilopitta.  Fr James said a short prayer and blessed the cake and the children blew out the candle!

For those of you who live outside Greece, the Vassilopitta is a large cake in which the bakers have placed a “gold” coin.  When the cake is cut, whoever gets the coin in their slice of cake is purported to have Good Luck all year round!

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January/February Liturgy at St Paul’s

January/February Liturgy at St. Paul’s Athens                                                               

Jan 6^th      10.15hrs  Epiphany Sunday

                  18.00hrs  Swedish Mass

Jan 13^th    10.15hrs   Baptism of Christ (Theophania)

Jan 20th   10.15hrs  3^rd Sunday of Epiphany

                   18.30hrs   Choral Evensong

Jan  27th   10.00hrs   Liturgy for the Conversion of St. Paul

                                      (Patronal Festival)

Feb 3^rd       10.15hrs  Liturgy for Presentation of Christ at the Temple

                   (Baptism and Confirmation with +Lord Bishop of Europe)

Feb 10^th     10.15hrs  4^th Sunday before Lent

                    18.00hrs  Swedish Mass

Feb 17^th      10.15hrs  3^rd before Lent

                     18.30hrs  Choral Evensong

Feb 24^th    10.15am 2^nd before Lent

Every Wednesday in January – Liturgy at 10.00am

Every Sunday at 10.15am (except 13^th) – Sunday School

21st Choral Evensong at St Paul’s Anglican Church

XXIst Choral Evensong at St. Paul’s Anglican Church on Sunday, December 23rd, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Filellinon 27, 10557 Syntagma.

Collegium & Cappella Sancti Pauli conducted by Iason Marmaras

Minister: The Reverend Canon Leonard Doolan

free admission, discretionary donation

The Renaissance Choral Evensong services at St Paul’s are organised by the Schola Cantorum Sancti Pauli, the Athens Centre for Early Music, and St Paul’s Anglican Church.

The choir Cappella Sancti Pauli, under the direction of Iason Marmaras, sing a series of Choral Evensong services that aim to revive the musical and liturgical practice at Cathedrals and Chapels during the Renaissance, but also the experience that musicians had of this music at those times, looking at the music as a functional part of the liturgy, rather than as a building-block for concerts.

More information at:    www.scholacantorum.gr