There
have been great celebrations in the Greek Orthodox community this
month as they move into their own place of worship in Gloucestershire
for the first time.
 |
| Iconography
is an ancient tradition |
For
the past fifteen years the Greek Orthodox community had been sharing
a church building with St. Luke's in Cheltenham.
But the growing Greek community in the county meant that the time
had come to find a permanent home and that was found on the site
of St. Peter's at Bentham near Cheltenham.
The
new church is to be named after St. John Chrysostom, one of the
popular saints in the Greek Orthodox Church who was born in Antioch
in AD347 and died at Commana in Pontus in 407.
Chrysostomos,
which means 'golden-mouthed', inherited his name on account of
his eloquence and confirms the view of many that he was the greatest
preacher ever heard in a Christian pulpit.
Community
profile:
The Greek Orthodox church has communities around the country,
with 22 in London and two in Birmingham. The largest is in Paddington.
In
all the Greek Orthodox community has over 350,000 members in the
UK. Unlike Roman Catholics and most Protestants who use the Gregorian
Calendar, the members of the Greek Orthodox Church rely on the
Julian Calendar, and for them the holiday celebrating the birth
of Jesus falls during the first or second week of January.
This
year the Greek Orthodox Church will celebrate the holiday on the
6th of January.
Important
dates in the Greek Orthodox calendar:
January 6: Epiphany - commemorating the first manifestation
of Jesus to the Gentiles.
January 7: Russian Orthodox Christmas.
April 11: Easter Day/Pascha - celebrating the resurrection
of Jesus from the dead.
May 21: Ascension Day - commemorating Jesus' ascension
to heaven.
May 23: Pentecost - commemorating the followers of Jesus
receiving the Holy Spirit.
November 30: Advent - Christians prepare for the coming
of Jesus.
December 25: Christmas Day - commemorating the birth of
Jesus (January 7 on the Eastern calendar).
By
Richard Atkins
If
you would like to comment on this or any other issue of faith
or morality then please contact us at gloucestershire@bbc.co.uk
