Today was also the three-month memorial of Fr Alexander Haig Jr, the son of Fr Alexander and Khouria Hilary, which we served at the end of the Liturgy. May his memory be eternal.

After the Liturgy, the parish gathered for a meal in Fr Alexander's honour.

His illness had been short, starting with what turned out to be a stroke at the end of May while serving as archdiocesan retreat chaplain, and culminating in a highly aggressive brain tumour, which finally resulted in further seizures and death. As was typical of Fr Alexander, he bore his suffering with Christian patience and acceptance to the last. The loss of such a young and gifted priest, a dear son, brother, father, friend and concelebrant is a terrible blow, and the pain we feel in bereavement is a testament to the reality of our love; a reminder that we live in real communion with our dear ones: their loss, as does the communion which precedes it, changes us permanently. The outpouring of love and praise across the Orthodox community in these islands, for this good and faithful servant of Christ, speaks to his many qualities as a presbyter and a man, his fatherly love, diligence, intelligence, common sense, and good humour. He was faithful, obedient and loyal to our bishop, self-giving, conscientious and scrupulous in his priestly duties and always managed to see the positives in difficulties. He was very kind and helpful to me when I was first ordained deacon and subsequently priest, giving me much helpful advice and encouragement. His simple and direct teaching of the Gospel, that Christ has by his death, burial and resurrection, defeated death, our ancient enemy, and opened thereby a path for all humanity, in thanksgiving and repentance, to follow Him into eternal life: 'that life of blessedness, which is with Thee O thou Who lovest mankind', is a timely corrective in this era of distraction, of often bad tempered, uncharitable apologetics and culture war. Our prayer is for his blessed repose and for his widow Khouria Mihaela and young son Alexander, for his parents, our own dear Archpriest Alexander and Khouria Hilary and for his sisters Caroline, her family, and for Margaret. We pray also for the mission parish of Twelve Apostles in Eastleigh which he founded and shepherded with such energy and devotion. O our ever memorable brother, who art worthy of blessedness, may thy memory be eternal! Dear Father, we will miss you!

After a few hours of sleep, we were all up in time for Orthros at 4:00am followed by the Divine Liturgy. The next day our party split into two groups with five travelling to Simonopetra Monastery and five to Iveron Monastery. Our two groups reunited for our last stay on the southern tip of the peninsula at St Anna’s Skete. Before arriving at St Anna’s, we spent a little while at nearby St Paul’s, and were very blessed to venerate their many holy relics (including part of the skull of St Pantaleimon) and I was able to enter the holy altar where St Sophrony (Sakharov) was ordained as priest. Thanks to God, and The Panagia we all returned home safely to England on Sunday 12 October. I feel that I learned a great deal from this sometimes quite challenging visit. Having fervently prayed before I travelled to be granted some insight into my own spiritual condition, and the work of my priesthood, The Most Holy Theotokos, who so graciously admitted us all to her garden, saw fit in her kindness and mercy to answer my prayer. Pray for me that I will act faithfully and with courage on what I have learned and one day become worthy of her great favour. Fr Mark.

After the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday Morning, Sayedna again preached on the importance of self sacrifice, of giving ourselves to Christ and to each other by fully entering into the life of His Holy Church, with our time, talents and resources. He acknowledged Father Alexander’s great faith and diligence over the long years of his ministry, saying to him: ‘well done, good and faithful servant’ (Matthew 25:23). In a short service before the dismissal, Sayedna made Fr Alexander an Archpriest, presenting him with a cross and then declared his status as henceforth retired. Following this he announced that Fr Mark Shillaker will succeed him with immediate effect as parish priest. Father Mark acknowledged the great faith and trust bestowed upon him by Sayedna, Father Alexander and the parish, and thanked Father Alexander for the love he has shown him and for the teaching and wisdom he has imparted to him over the last few years, first as a deacon and later as priest. Father Mark went on to say that he and his Khouria Paula will inherit a great legacy of labour, devotion and love. It is a testament to Father Alexander and Khouria Hilary’s faithfulness and the love and respect in which they are held by so many folk, that our large St Martin’s church was absolutely full of people during the service, many of whom have known Fr Alexander and his family and the parish from the early days in the late 1990s. After the liturgy a feast was held in the hall at nearby Castle Methodist Church (good friends of the parish). The food was excellent, having been generously provided by many of the faithful. After prayers, speeches and further presentations, Sayedna took his leave. Heartfelt thanks to Saydena for his love and leadership and to Margaret Haig, who also joined us, for her help with the singing and chanting. It was a happy and somewhat poignant day, reminding us all to work diligently towards the building of God’s Kingdom in our own hearts and thereby in the world, while we yet have strength and life.