From September 12th to 14th, the parish of the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross in Morecambe welcomed His Eminence, Metropolitan Silouan. The visit culminated in the celebration of the parish feast on September 14th. While the Divine services remained at the heart of the visit, parishioners had various opportunities over the course of three days to engage with His Eminence in informal settings, including shared meals and both private and group conversations. Sayedna also had the chance to explore the holy and historic sites of the Lancaster-Morecambe area.
A Warm Welcome
Metropolitan Silouan arrived in Morecambe on Thursday evening and was warmly welcomed by Father Jonathan, the parish priest. That evening, he joined a group of parishioners for a welcome dinner at the home of one of the parish families, setting the tone for the personal and familial spirit that characterized his entire visit.
A Journey into History and Tradition
On Friday, Sayedna’s day began with a visit to the remnants of St. Patrick’s chapel in Heysham, an ancient site where, according to Holy Tradition, a Christian parish and burial site existed from the pre-schismatic Saxon period. A small monastic community of Celtic hermits is also believed to have lived there. The visit was a profound reminder of the deep Orthodox Christian roots in the area. Later, His Eminence toured the historic Lancaster Castle, which remains under the ownership of the British monarchy. In the afternoon, His Eminence enjoyed lunch with another parish family before preparing for the evening service at the church.
Festal Great Vespers and Parish Council
Friday evening marked the celebration of the Festal Great Vespers. In his homily, Metropolitan Silouan spoke movingly about the vital role of Holy Communion in our spiritual lives. He reminded the faithful of the importance of proper preparation for the Sacrament, emphasising repentance, peace with loved ones, and prayer. He urged the congregation to approach the Eucharist with humility, reverence, and focus, cautioning against treating the Divine Liturgy as merely a social gathering.
After Vespers, His Eminence chaired a Parish Council Meeting, a significant moment in the ongoing organisational restructuring of the parish. With his blessing and following canonical practice, the parish has formed a standing Parish Council to assist Father Jonathan in the governance of the community. Sayedna outlined clear goals for the council, emphasizing that the future of the parish is a collaborative effort involving the Bishop, the priest, the council members, and the entire congregation.
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
On Saturday, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross, His Eminence presided over the Festal Divine Liturgy, a beautiful and joyous service followed by a solemn Procession of the Holy Cross.
In his Feast Day homily, Sayedna reflected on the Cross as the ultimate symbol of perseverance. He reminded the faithful that, just as our Lord bore His Cross for our salvation, each of us is called to bear our own crosses in life. "God will never give us a cross too heavy for us to bear," His Eminence assured, urging all to have faith and endurance as they carry their burdens in life.
The service was followed by a fasting but tasty parish lunch and informal conversations with His Eminence, after which he departed for London.
Here is a link to an album of pictures from Sayedna's visit:
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