THE P RTAL
April 2015
Bishop Alan Hopes
Page 21
Conclusion
Bishop Alan Hopes, Bishop of East Anglia, was the
Principal Celebrant and Preacher at our mass in the
Chapel of Reconciliation. After a light lunch, Fr George
Joy of the Indian Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
addressed us on “The Concept of Mother Mary in the
Indian Orthodox Church”.
Thinking back over the pilgrimage, what stands out?
The address about Our Lady in Japan for one thing.
The fact that a mainly non-Christian country had its
main Christian city obliterated by the atom bomb in
1945 by a Christian west. The fact that the military
who actually did the deed where mainly Catholic.
It appears that Japanese Christians see this as the
The Raising of Evening Incense was served by Fr Christians offering the sacrifice for the sins of the war.
Peter Farrington, of the British Orthodox Church. The whole address was very powerful, prayerful, and
What a joy to join with Orthodox Christians in their instructive. Thank you Fr Philip Corbett.
Evening Office; quite a
different approach to both
worship and prayer.
the Akathist
Hymn
Back in the village, Fr
Mark Woodruff gave a
meditative address at
Benediction, and H. E.
Kallistos led us in the
Akathist Hymn. The
day
concluded
with
Question Time with a
panel representing various
Christian traditions.
Day Four
Any Questions. Archpriest Ivan Moody, Sister Marie Farrell, Metropolitan
The morning started with Kallistos, Bishop Jonathan Goodall, Revd Mark Rowlands, Fr Phillip Swingler
Catholic Mass in the Barn
Chapel, and after breakfast we trooped to the Anglican
Strangely, the Methodist Holy Communion Service
Parish Church for a Scripture meditation given by The was a real treat, especially to realise that these
Revd Phillip Swingler of the Diocese of Northampton Methodists were deeply schooled in sacramental
on Galatians 4 - “Born of a Woman”. Some of us were theology.
able to sneak out a see the eclipse - another treat!
Also F