Consecration of the Church of Saint Sophrony the Athonite
Join us for the solemn and joyful event of the Consecration of the newly built Chapel dedicated to Saint Sophrony the Athonite, founder of the Monastery of Saint John the Baptist in Essex. This historic service will be celebrated in the presence of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain.
Σᾶς προσκαλοῦμε νὰ παρακολουθήσετε τὴν πανηγυρικὴ καὶ εὐφρόσυνη τελετὴ τῶν Ἐγκαινίων τοῦ νεόδμητου Ναοῦ τῆς Μονῆς, ἀφιερωμένου στὸν Ἅγιο Σωφρόνιο τὸν Ἀθωνίτη, τὸν κτίτορα τῆς Ἱερᾶς Σταυροπηγιακῆς Μονῆς Τιμίου Προδρόμου, Ἔσσεξ Ἀγγλίας. Ἡ ἱερὴ αὐτὴ ἀκολουθία θὰ τελεσθεῖ παρουσίᾳ τοῦ Παναγιωτάτου Οἰκουμενικοῦ Πατριάρχου κυρίου κ. Βαρθολομαίου. Θὰ προΐσταται ὁ Σεβασμιώτατος Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Θυατείρων καὶ Μεγάλης Βρετανίας κύριος κ. Νικήτας.
- General Information for Sunday 22 June, 2025
7:40 – Arrival of His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain and his entourage at the drive of St Sophrony’s Church.
8:00 – Beginning of Matins.
~9:30 – Procession with the Holy Relics from Sophrony’s Church to the Chapel of St Silouan and back, led by the Archbishop, Clergy, Choir, and the Community, bringing the Holy Relics to be placed in the Holy Altar. Please kindly follow the directions given by our volunteers.
Upon returning to the Church, a Procession around the Church will take place, accompanied by hymns, prayers, and readings.
The Consecration service will then continue inside the Church with the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.
~14:00 – A formal lunch for His All-Holiness, His Eminence and their entourage will be served in the new Refectory at Hylands.
A buffet lunch will be offered to all the faithful in the three marquees behind the old Refectory.
~15:15 – Coffee for His All-Holiness, His Eminence and their entourage will be offered in the old Refectory, next to the Bookshop.
~16:00 – Departure of His All-Holiness, His Eminence, and their entourage.
A bell will ring to invite everyone to gather at the drive in front of the Old Rectory for a communal farewell.Additional Practical Information
Parking
A designated team will be available to assist with parking. Please kindly follow their instructions upon arrival.
Arrival of His Eminence
We kindly ask that all guests arrive by 7:35 a.m. if possible. Please gather near St Sophrony’s Chapel so that we may receive His Eminence together in the Church.Matins & Divine Liturgy
Due to safety and space limitations, not all attendees can be accommodated inside St Sophrony’s Church.Two marquees with large screens and speakers will be set up so everyone can prayerfully follow the Service. There will be plenty of chairs for those who need them.
One marquee will be in Hylands, opposite the glasshouse.
The second smaller marquee will be located in the small car park.
At the appropriate moment, the Priests of our Monastery will bring three Holy Chalices to the marquees so that all those who are prepared, having confessed and received the blessing of their spiritual Father, may receive Holy Communion.
Please follow their directions and approach reverently in the order we are accustomed to.Antidoron will be available in the marquees for those who have received Holy Communion.
St Sophrony’s Church
Will be opened again for veneration from 16:30.#Crypt
The crypt will be open during the day.Food & Buffet
A buffet lunch will be served in the two marquees behind the old Refectory.You are welcome to bring your own food if you wish. Bags may be left on the tables located at the far end of the marquee where the Liturgy will be followed. Lunch and hot drinks can also be enjoyed there after the Service.ToiletsTemporary toilet facilities will be available at the following locations:*New car park
*Large car park
*Area next to the Hylands marquee
Please note that until the departure of His All-Holiness, the toilets next to the Bookshop, outside the Old Rectory, and in the vestibule of the Hylands Refectory will be reserved for our official guests and will not be accessible to the general public.This day marks a historic and spiritual milestone for our Community, and we give thanks to God for allowing us to share it with all of you. While we have done our utmost to prepare everything for this blessed gathering, we humbly ask your forbearance for any shortcomings or oversights. Given the large number of faithful expected, we kindly request your patience and cooperation in following the guidance of our brethren and volunteers to ensure the day proceeds with joy, prayerfully and peacefully.
Vespers Service 21 June, 2025 starting at 16:30 UK time
- Outline of the Vespers
Entrance of the Archbishop into the nave
When the Archbishop blesses, the choir chants:
Choir: Εἰς πολλὰ ἔτη, ΔέσποταPriest: Blessed is our God always, now, and for ever: world without end.
Choir: Amen.The Archbishop shall say: O come let us worship God our King. O come let us worship and bow down before Christ our King and our God. O come let us worship and bow down before the very Christ our King and our God.
The Archbishop shall read the Introductory Psalm (103): Bless the Lord O my soul…
Choir: Anoixandaria ‘Thou openest thine hand…’
GREAT LITANY:
Priest: For unto Thee belong… Choir: Amen.
‘Blessed is the man…’ (Psalms 1, 2 and 3)
SHORT LITANY:
Priest: For Thine is the might…
Choir: Amen.
And straightway the choir shall sing:
LORD, I CRY UNTO THEE (10 stichera)
Resurrection
Consecration
Saint Sophrony
Saints of Mount Athos
Glory: Saint Sophrony
Now: DogmatikonENTRANCE:
Deacon: Wisdom! Stand steadfast.
Priests: O tender Light…The Archbishop shall chant with the priests:
THE PROKEIMENON OF THE DAY
The Lord reigneth, He is clothed with majesty.READINGS (Consecration)
The First Book of Kings 8:22-23, 27-30.
The Book of Ezekiel 43:27; 44:1-4.
The Book of Proverbs 3:19-34.LITANY OF FERVENT SUPPLICATION
Priest: For Thou O God art gracious and full of compassion…
Choir: Amen.The Archbishop shall read:
‘Vouchsafe O Lord to keep us this eventide without sin…’AND THE LITANY:
Priest: Peace unto all.
Choir: And unto thy spirit.
Deacon: Let us bow down our heads before the Lord.
Choir: To thee O Lord.Priest: Blessed and glorious be the might…
Choir: Amen.THE APOSTICHA:
Resurrection
Consecration
Glory: Saint Sophrony
Now: ConsecrationThe Archbishop shall read:
‘Lord now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace…’Reader: Εἰς πολλὰ ἔτη, Δέσποτα:
O holy God… (x3)
Glory… Now…
Most Holy Trinity…
Kyrie eleison x3
Glory … Now…
Our Father…Priest: For Thine is the Kingdom…
Choir: Amen.TROPARIA
Resurrection
Glory: Saint Sophrony
Now: ConsecrationDISMISSAL
Deacon: Wisdom!
Choir: Give the blessing.
Priest: Blessed is our God…
Choir: Amen.The Archbishop shall say: Stablish O God the holy Orthodox Faith of all faithful Christians and this holy monastery for evermore.
Priest: Most Holy Mother of God save us.
Choir: More honourable than the Cherubim and past compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who inviolate didst bear God the Word, very Mother of God, thee we magnify.
Priest: Glory be unto thee, O Christ our God and our hope, glory be unto thee.
Choir: Glory be unto the Father and unto the Son and unto the Holy Ghost; now and for ever, world without end. Amen.Kyrie eleison (x3)
Master give the blessing.And the Dismissal is made.
Divine Liturgy 22 June, 2025 starting at 07:00 UK time
- Outline of Matins
Reader: Introductory prayers
Royal PsalmsThe Archbishop shall read the Six Psalms.
Choir: GOD IS THE LORD
Resurrection
Glory: Saint Sophrony
Now: ConsecrationSessional Hymns after the First Kathisma: Resurrection
Sessional Hymns after the Second Kathisma: ConsecrationFIRST POLYELEOS:
‘Ye servants of the Lord’SECOND POLYELEOS:
Of the Ascetics: ‘I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry’EVLOGITARIA
ANAVATHMOI
‘The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.’THE PROKEIMENON
ORDER OF THE EOTHINON OF THE GOSPEL
‘We have seen the Resurrection of Christ’Reader: PSALM 50 (51)
Choir: Glory: ‘By the prayers of Thy Saint Sophrony, O Thou Who art merciful, blot out the multitude of our iniquities.’
Now: ‘By the prayers of the Mother of God, O Thou Who art merciful, blot out the multitude of our iniquities.’
‘Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.’
‘Jesus having risen from the tomb…’Priest: O God, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance
Readers: CANONS (4 Canons)
Resurrection
Consecration
Saint SophronyHoly Fathers of Mount Athos (2nd Sunday after Pentecost).
Katavasia ῎Ανοιξω τό στόμα μου…
The Magnificat
NINTH ODEChoir: Holy is the Lord our God…
EXAPOSTILARIONS
Resurrection
ConsecrationLAUDS
The Archbishop shall read the Two Prayers of the Consecration.
Choir: ‘Τον Δεσπότην’ An ancient melody in Tone 7.
The Archbishop shall bless the congregation.
Choir: ‘The Prophets, from above…’APOSTICHA OF THE LAUDS
Resurrection
Consecration
Glory: 2nd Eothinon
Now: ‘Most Blessed art thou…’
GREAT DOXOLOGYTHE DIVINE LITURGY OF THE CONSECRATION
- First Stasis (Α’ Στάσις)
During the Doxology, the choir, concelebrating clergy, the Archbishop, the monastic brotherhood, and the faithful process again to the Church of St. Silouan.
There, the Service of the Transfer of the Holy Relics is performed and then all return again in litany to the new Catholicon (main church). There, three Litanies are performed with readings (Heb. 2:11-18; Matt. 16:13-19; Heb. 9:1-7; Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28).
‘Lift up the gates…’ is sung as the Hierarch traces the sign of the cross with the Holy Relics on the church door, then enters as the choir sings ‘As the firmament above’.
The Relics are placed on the Holy Altar, and Holy Myrrh is poured upon them three times, while the Hierarch proclaims:
‘Eternal be the memory of the founders of this Holy House’,
to which the chanters respond: ‘Eternal be their memory.’
Then follows the sealing: The Reliquary is closed. The names are placed in the ‘Plant’ of the Holy Table. The Reliquary is placed inside. Marble dust is added. Then the wax-mastic is poured in, while the choir chants Psalms 144 (145) and 22 (23).- Second Stasis (Β’ Στάσις)
The Archbishop reads two prayers and then is vested with a linen shroud (Savanon) to allow time for the wax-mastic to cool.
- Third Stasis (Γ’ Στάσις)
Everyone kneels. The Archbishop reads a prayer. The Archbishop blesses four bars of soap, placing them in the form of a cross on the Holy Altar. A basin of warm water is brought; the Archbishop blesses it and pours water on the Altar, saying: ‘In the Name of the Father…’
While Psalm 83 (84) is sung the Altar is washed with the soaps, then rinsed using clean sponges. The sponges are washed in a separate basin of clean water. The Archbishop concludes with: ‘Glory be to our God forever’- Fourth Stasis (Δ’ Στάσις)
The Archbishop takes a container of rosewater, sprinkles the Altar three times in a circular motion, while chanting ‘Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop…’
He then says ‘Blessed is God…’ and takes the vessel of Holy Myrrh.
The Deacon intones ‘Let us attend’, and the Archbishop chants ‘Alleluia’ three times.
As Psalm 132 (133) is chanted, he pours Holy Myrrh in the form of a cross at the centre of the Altar, then anoints the whole Altar with it.
At the end of Psalm 132, ‘Glory to the Father…’ is said, and the Antimensia are blessed.
The fabric icons of the Four Evangelists are glued with wax-mastic to the four corners of the Altar.- Fifth Stasis (Ε’ Στάσις)
Psalm 131 (132) is chanted
While it is chanted, the Altar is vested beginning with the Katasarkion (linen base vestment).
Then Psalm 92 (93) is read. At the end, the Archbishop says:
‘Glory to You, Holy Trinity, our God…’
Then, he places the Antimensia one by one on the Altar.
He censes the Altar, the clergy, and the whole church, while Psalm 25 (26) is read
Holding a reed dipped in Holy Myrrh, the Archbishop inscribes the Christogram (ICXC) on the four walls of the church.- Sixth Stasis (Στ’ Στάσις)
At the conclusion of the Doxology, the Divine Liturgy begins with:
‘Blessed is the Kingdom…’, proclaimed by the Archbishop.
Then follows the Small Litany, The Archbishop reads the proper prayers. Then the readings (Heb. 3:1-3; John 10:22-31)
The Archbishop comes to the Royal Doors with a lit oil lamp, saying: ‘Glory to the Holy and Almighty…’,
and lights the lamp.
The Doxology begins, with the first verse chanted three times in Tone One.Then the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom follows.