Annual D & D

On Sunday 10^th November 2013 our Community organised its annual D & D. It was a well attended event and had taken place at our Community Centre, behind our Church.

The guests of the D & D were: The Metropolitan Bishop George of Paphos, the Rt. Hon Bob Blackman MP for Harrow East with his wife, the Rt. Hon. Barry Gardiner MP for Brent North with his wife, the Mayor of Brent Councillor Bobby Thomas, the Deputy Mayor of Harrow Councillor Camilla Bath and the Great Benefactor of our Church Mr. Panicos Erodotou.

The President of our Community Mr. Pandelis Demosthenous thanked everyone for their contributions in constructing our new Church, and reminded that a big part of Cyprus is still under Turkish occupation.

The Mayor of Brent and the Deputy Mayor of Harrow congratulated the Community on its successes and they both emphasised the importance of preserving our ethnic culture and the mother language.

The two Members of Parliament spoke with complimentary words about the Community and expressed the view that Turkey should not be allowed to enter the European Union unless it withdraws its troops from the occupied area of Cyprus.

His Eminence Bishop George thanked all members of the Community for the warm welcome he received and in regard to the Cyprus issue he said that Turkey should not just be kept out of the European Union, but the Great Nations should force it to withdraw both its troops as well as the 1.000.000 settlers living in the occupied area.

The event was quite successful. The people enjoyed nice food and nice Greek music, played by George Gregoriou and Nicos Savvides. 

1st Anniversary of the Consecration

On Sunday 10^th November 2013 we celebrated the 1^st Anniversary of our new Church’s Consecration.

It was a very nice opportunity for many people to gather together and offer a special prayer for our new Church and for our Community as a whole.

The Episcopal Divine Liturgy was presided over by the Metropolitan Bishop George of Paphos (Church of Cyprus). Fr Melchisedek (from the Monastery of Essex), Fr. Aemilianos (from the Holy Mountain), as well as the Parish Priest Fr. Anastasios assisted the Bishop.

At the end of the Holy Service the President of our Community Mr. Pantelis Demosthenous had offered, on behalf of the Church and Community Council, commemorative plagues to various people who have contributed greatly towards our Church and Community by both personal service and financial offerings. These are:

-         Mr. Yiannakis Yianna, President of the Community, between 1979-2005 and Trustee of the Community.

-         Mr. Miltiades Papadakis, Secretary of the Community, between 1975-1997and Trustee of the Community.

-         Mr. George Stylianou, Treasurer of the Community, between 1989-1995 and Trustee of the Community.

-         Mrs. Eva Christou, President of “St. Agatha” Ladies Sisterhood, between 1992-2011.

Our annual Community pilgrimage

Once a year, usually during the half term of October, our Community organises its annual pilgrimage.

This year (28^th October - 2^nd November) we visited Southern Greece and we had the chance to venerate relics of important Saints in various monasteries, convents and parish churches.

We also visited some places of interest from a cultural point of view, especially in Patra and Zakynthos.

Our group was a mixed one, with 41 people, comprising of young and older members, as well as friends of our Community.

All people enjoyed the pilgrimage and look forward to the one to be organised next year 2014.

St. Panteleimon Day

On Saturday 27^th July our Community celebrated St. Panteleimon Day.

His Eminence Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira & Great Britain had presided over the Archiepiscopal Divine Liturgy!

Many many people were gathered in our Church to honour our main Patron Saint Panteleimon, the Great Martyr and Healer.

The relics of St. Panteleimon were offered to the congregation for veneration.

At the end of the Holy Service the President of our Community Mr. Pantelis Demosthenous offered to His Eminence an honorary plaque, for his 25 years of Service as Archbishop in this daughter Church of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

After the Church Service all people were invited to share in food and drink at our Community Hall.

St. Panteleimon Eve

On the Eve of Saint Panteleimon (26^th July) we always have in our Church a Great and Festal Vespers.

This year His Grace Bishop Chrysostomos of Kyanea had presided over it.

Many pilgrims, from our Community and from other places of London as well, had come in order to honour the Festival of this Great Martyr and Healer.

At Vespers we had the newly painted Patronal Icon of both our Patron Saints, Panteleimon & Paraskevi, at the centre of the Church.

Many loafs of bread were offered by the people and were blessed by His Grace.

Then we had the traditional procession around the Church, with the Patronal Icon leading the way.

After the Service our Community Committees had offered hospitality at our Community Hall for all pilgrims.

Annual Community Festival

It is customary in our Community to organise an open Community Festival, with BBQ, traditional foods, sweets, drinks and Greek music, on a Sunday in July, close to the Festive Days of our two Patron Saints, Panteleimon & Paraskevi.

That Festival was organised this year on 21st July, only a few days before the Feasts of our Saints.

In the morning we had a Church Service and then we moved to our Community premises and stayed there for a few hours, with many hundreds of both members and friends of our Community.

Church Committee members, as well as Ladies of our Ladies Sisterhood, had worked very hard in order to prepare all things needed for the Festival.

Parents and children of our Hellenic College were also there, having their own activities.

It was a nice and sunny day and the celebration went very well, with all people being joyful and happy. 

Our Patronal Festival