Romanian Orthodox Church, Bristol, Sunday of Orthodoxy, 1 March
2026
Firstly, I would like
to thank Father Ioan for hosting this evening and for your warm welcome, and
that of your parish. I would also like
to thank Father Anastasios for organising this important annual event in the calendar
of our local parishes, this Pan-Orthodox vespers.
Today, on
the first Sunday of Great Lent, the Sunday of Orthodoxy, we commemorate the
restoration of icons to their proper place in the 9th Century, known
as the Triumph of Orthodoxy. This followed the second phase of the iconoclast
(literally, icon smashing) controversy.
Most importantly in the
affirmation of icons, they are a witness to the Incarnation. As Saint John of Damascus says:
When God is
seen in the flesh conversing with men, I make an image of God whom I see. I do
not worship matter; I worship the Creator of matter who became matter for my
sake.[i] The Kontakion of
today’s feast affirms the Incarnation:
The
uncircumscribed Word of the Father became circumscribed, taking flesh from
thee, O Mother of God[ii] but also expresses how we live our faith:
This
salvation we confess in deed and word, and we depict in
the holy icons.[iii] In our Orthodox
worship, what we see and what we hear is one, it affirms the same faith. Most importantly, it is also to be lived
out in thought, word and deed.
Our worship is an icon
of the Kingdom of Heaven, as affirmed in the opening blessing of the Divine
Liturgy: Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
What kind of Kingdom is
this?
Christ, when asked by
Pilate if he was King of the Jews, responded:
My kingdom
is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight.[iv]
Christ’s Kingdom is not
of this world. As in the time of Christ, so today, it can be a temptation
to fight for our earthly kingdoms with their desire for domination and earthly
power, rather than to recognise our true homeland, the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Triumph of
Orthodoxy, is not in earthly battles, our victory is in the Cross of Christ: a
weapon of peace and unconquerable ensign of victory.[v] Following the opening
blessing of the Divine Liturgy we pray: in peace. In peace, let us pray to the
Lord. We are to pray in
peace. We are to be at peace
within ourselves, at peace with all people as far as it depends on us, at peace
with the created world.
We then pray: for
the peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls. This is the same
peace, Christ’s peace, the peace which is Christ, who is our salvation.
It is only having
prayed for inner peace, the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding[vi],
that we pray the very bold prayer: for the peace of the whole world,
the welfare of the Holy Churches of God and the union of all. The peace in our own hearts is starting
point, as Saint Seraphim of Sarov famously said: acquire a peaceful spirit,
and then thousands of others around you will be saved.[vii]
Before we confess our
faith, in the words of the Nicene Creed, the priest blesses us: Peace be
with you all. This is the blessing of Christ, who is our peace. We then pray: Let us love one another. Our
faith comes alive through mutual love: that with one mind we may confess
Father Son and Holy Spirit, one in essence and undivided. We are created in the image of God. As
icons of God, we are created to love one another in the image of God the
Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
And we come to the
Eucharistic meal, to share in the common cup: In the fear of God, with
faith and love.
This is our witness to
the world, which Christ prays for all believers: That they all may be one,
as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be
one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.[viii] As we begin the
Liturgy, so we conclude: in peace. Having received the Holy
Gifts, having seen the true light, having received the Heavenly Spirit,
having found the true faith, we go forth in peace. We are to
be peace, to be icons of Christ, to be the Body of Christ in this world.
In the context of this
Pan-Orthodox gathering, it is surely important to mention and pray for our
brothers and sisters who are caught up in the war in Ukraine, both Ukrainians
and Russians. Justifying or supporting this
war is incompatible with the Gospel, it is incompatible with the Triumph of
Orthodoxy we celebrate today.
Remembering our brothers and sisters who are suffering as a result of
the war, let us pray not merely for a cessation of hostilities, but for a
genuine, just, and lasting peace.
Peace be with you all!
The Rev’d
Oeconomos
Fr. Richard Penwell
Priest-in-Charge
of the Bath
Orthodox Parish
of Saint
John of Kronstadt
Note: The video
with the whole Vespers is here
[i] On the
Divine Images – 1,16 – Saint John of Damascus[ii] Lenten
Triodion: P.306[iii] Lenten
Triodion: P.306[iv] John 18:36[v] Festal
Menaion: P.148[vi] Philippians
4:7[vii] The Inner
Kingdom P.133 – Metropolitan Kallistos Ware[viii] John 17:21
