Community of the
Archangel Gabriel

Dear all, On Sunday 20th September we will celebrate Divine Liturgy at 10am (at Charlotte Street) - please join us! On Sunday we commemorate Holy Martyr and Confessor Michael and his councilor, Theodore, Wonderworkers of Chernigov. The Holy Right-believing Prince Michael of Chernigov, the son of Vsevolod Olgovich Chermny (+ 1212), was born in 1179 (or 1195). From his childhood Prince Michael was known for his piety and meekness. His health was very poor, but in 1186, trusting in God's mercy, he asked for the holy prayers of Saint Niketas the Stylite of Pereyaslavl (May 24), who was renowned as a fervent intercessor with the Lord. After receiving a wooden staff from the holy ascetic, Michael was healed right away. In 1223 Prince Michael participated in a council of Russian princes at Kiev, debating whether to help the Polovetsians against the approaching Mongolian Tatar hordes. Upon the death of his uncle, Mstislav of Chernigov at the Battle at the Kalka River in 1223, Saint Michael became the Prince of Chernigov. In 1225 he was invited to become the Prince of Novgorod. By his sense of justice, compassion, and firmness he won the love and respect of Novgorod's citizens. This was particularly important for the Novgorodians, since Michael's accession as Prince signified the reconciliation of Novgorod with the city of Vladimir’s Holy Great Prince George Vsevolodovich (+ February 4, 1238), whose wife was the Holy Martyr Agatha (+ February 4, 1238), Prince Michael's sister. Saint Michael did not remain as Prince at Novgorod, and soon he returned to his native Chernigov. To the requests of the Novgorodians that he remain their Prince he replied that Chernigov and Novgorod ought to become kindred lands, and their inhabitants like brothers, and he would forge bonds of friendship for these cities. To read more about the life of Holy Martyr and Confessor Michael and his councilor, Theodore, Wonderworkers of Chernigov, please visit: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/09/20/102678-holy-martyr-and-confessor-michael-and-his-councilor-theodore-won

Dear all, On Saturday 19th September we will celebrate Divine Liturgy at 10am (at Kelvin West Parish Church) - please join us! On Saturday we commemorate Saint Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury. Saint Theodore was the eighth Archbishop of Canterbury (668-690), and one of England’s great saints. He was a Greek from Tarsus, the home of Saint Paul. He was a highly-educated monk living in Rome who was quickly advanced through all the clerical ranks and consecrated as Archbishop of Canterbury at the age of sixty-five. Saint Adrian (January 9), an African who was the abbot of a monastery near Naples, was sent to assist Saint Theodore. Saint Theodore arrived in Kent in 669, when he was almost seventy. In spite of his age, he was quite energetic, traveling throughout England founding churches and consecrating bishops to fill those Sees which were left vacant by an outbreak of plague. He also created new Sees and established a school in Canterbury where Greek was taught. In Northumbria, Saint Theodore settled a dispute involving episcopal succession. Saint Wilfrid (October 12) had been elected Bishop of Lindisfarne (the See was later transferred to York), and he traveled to Gaul to be consecrated by a Roman bishop, because he would not accept consecration from a Celtic bishop. In the meantime, Saint Chad, or Ceadda (March 2), had been elected and uncanonically consecrated because Wilfrid remained in Gaul for three years. Although Saint Theodore deposed Saint Chad, he recognized his worthiness to be a bishop. He regularized the consecration, then sent Saint Chad to be Bishop of Mercia. Saint Wilfred was restored to his See. Saint Theodore summoned a council of the entire English Church at Hertford in 672. Not only was this the first church council in England, it was the first assembly of any kind attended by representatives from all over the country. In 679 he convened another synod at Hatfield to maintain the purity of Orthodox doctrine and to condemn the heresy of Monothelitism. To read more about the life of Saint Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury, please visit: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/09/19/102671-saint-theodore-of-tarsus-archbishop-of-canterbury

Dear all, Our schedule for this coming week is: Tuesday 15th September: no service today, as there is an open day welcoming event for new students at Kelvin West Parish Church! Thursday 17th September: Hours at 10am at Kelvin West Parish Church. Friday 18th September: Vespers and Jesus Prayer at 5:30pm at Kelvin West Parish Church, followed by evening prayers on zoom at 8pm. Saturday 19th September: Divine Liturgy at 10am at Kelvin West Parish Church. Sunday 20th September: Divine Liturgy at 10am at Charlotte Street, and then later at 8pm there will be evening prayers on zoom! We can't wait to see you!

On Thursday 17th September we will celebrate Divine Liturgy at 10am (at Kelvin West Parish Church) for the feast of Martyr Sophia and her three daughters at Rome - we cant wait to see you! The Holy Martyrs Saint Sophia and her Daughters Faith, Hope and Love were born in Italy. Their mother was a pious Christian widow who named her daughters for the three Christian virtues. Faith was twelve, Hope was ten, and Love was nine. Saint Sophia raised them in the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. Saint Sophia and her daughters did not hide their faith in Christ, but openly confessed it before everyone. An official named Antiochus denounced them to the emperor Hadrian (117-138), who ordered that they be brought to Rome. Realizing that they would be taken before the emperor, the holy virgins prayed fervently to the Lord Jesus Christ, asking that He give them the strength not to fear torture and death. When the holy virgins and their mother came before the emperor, everyone present was amazed at their composure. They looked as though they had been brought to some happy festival, rather than to torture. Summoning each of the sisters in turn, Hadrian urged them to offer sacrifice to the goddess Artemis. The young girls remained unyielding. To read more about the life of Martyr Sophia and her three daughters at Rome, please visit: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/09/17/102638-martyr-sophia-and-her-three-daughters-at-rome