Divine Liturgy followed by Vespers including the three kneeling prayers

• First Prayer: Addresses God the Father, asking for the acceptance of the faithful's prayers, purification from sins, and the protection of a guardian angel.

• Second Prayer: Focuses on requesting the guidance of the Holy Spirit, teaching believers how to pray and what to ask for, and forgiving transgressions.

• Third Prayer: Intercedes for all people, including those who have passed away, praying for the repose of the souls of the departed in the "land of the living".

followed by fellowship in Church Hall until approximately 4 pm

Confession between 10 - 11:30

8th Sunday (Holy Pentecost):The Descent of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-52; 8:12)

Holy Communion: All baptised and chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves are lovingly invited to receive Holy Communion on this holy night. If you plan to receive, please aim to fast from midnight onwards. Please note non-Orthodox Christian are not permitted to receive Holy Communion but are welcome to receive Antidoron at the end of the service.

Vespers for Pentecost followed by mutiple baptism

Divine Liturgy

followed by fellowship in Church Hall until approximately 4 pm

7th Sunday (Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council):High Priestly Prayer (John 17:1-13)

Holy Communion: All baptised and chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves are lovingly invited to receive Holy Communion on this holy night. If you plan to receive, please aim to fast from midnight onwards. Please note non-Orthodox Christian are not permitted to receive Holy Communion but are welcome to receive Antidoron at the end of the service.

Vigil (Vespers/Matins and Divine Liturgy for the feast of Ascension

Memory of Sts Constantine and Helena

Divine Liturgy

followed by fellowship in Church Hall until approximately 4 pm

Confession between 10 - 11:30

6th Sunday (Sunday of the Blind Man):Healing of the Man Born Blind (John 9:1-38)

2020‍ ‍  2021‍ ‍ 2022‍   ‍2023‍ ‍ 2024‍ ‍ 2025

Holy Communion: All baptised and chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves are lovingly invited to receive Holy Communion on this holy night. If you plan to receive, please aim to fast from midnight onwards. Please note non-Orthodox Christian are not permitted to receive Holy Communion but are welcome to receive Antidoron at the end of the service.

Divine Liturgy

followed by fellowship in Church Hall until approximately 4 pm

Confession between 10 - 11:30

5th Sunday (Sunday of the Samaritan Woman):The Woman at the Well (John 4:5-42)

2020‍ ‍ 2021‍ ‍ 2022‍ ‍2023‍ ‍2024‍ ‍ 2025

Holy Communion: All baptised and chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves are lovingly invited to receive Holy Communion. If you plan to receive, please aim to fast from midnight onwards. Please note non-Orthodox Christian are not permitted to receive Holy Communion but are welcome to receive Antidoron at the end of the service.

No service in Newcastle. Divine Liturgy in Berwick,‍ ‍St Lady and St Cuthbert. 64 Ravensdowne, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1DQ

4th Sunday (Sunday of the Paralytic):Healing at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-15)

Holy Communion: All baptised and chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves are lovingly invited to receive Holy Communion on this holy night. If you plan to receive, please aim to fast from midnight onwards. Please note non-Orthodox Christian are not permitted to receive Holy Communion but are welcome to receive Antidoron at the end of the service.

Divine Liturgy

followed by fellowship in Church Hall until approximately 4 pm

Holy Communion: All baptised and chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves are lovingly invited to receive Holy Communion on this holy night. If you plan to receive, please aim to fast from midnight onwards. Please note non-Orthodox Christian are not permitted to receive Holy Communion but are welcome to receive Antidoron at the end of the service.

Vespers followed by Matins followed by Divine Liturgy.

Divine Liturgy to start between 7:30 and 8 pm

2nd Sunday (Thomas Sunday): The Doubting of Thomas (John 20:19-31).

• Theme: The blessing of those who have "not seen and yet believe."

Archdiocesan Sunday Bulletins for this Sunday reading (Please click on year links)

2020‍ ‍2021‍ ‍2022‍ ‍2023‍ ‍2024‍ ‍2025

Followed by fellowship in Church Hall

Holy Communion: All baptised and chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves are lovingly invited to receive Holy Communion on this holy night. If you plan to receive, please aim to fast from midnight onwards. Please note non-Orthodox Christian are not permitted to receive Holy Communion but are welcome to receive Antidoron at the end of the service.

Hymns for St Thomas Sunday

Troparion (Tone 7) 

From the sealed tomb, You did shine forth, O Life!

Through closed doors You did come to Your disciples, O Christ God!

Renew in us, through them, an upright spirit,

By the greatness of Your mercy, O Resurrection of all!

Kontakion (Tone 8) 

Thomas touched Your life-giving side with an eager hand, O Christ God,

When You did come to Your apostles through closed doors.

He cried out with all: You are my Lord and my God!

Vigil Vespers/Matins followed by Divine Liturgy

Divine Liturgy to start around 7:30 pm - if you want to take holy communion please fast from 2 pm

The Feast of the Life-Giving Spring

The Feast of the Life-Giving Spring (or Life-Giving Font of the Mother of God) is a significant Orthodox Christian celebration observed annually on Bright Friday (the Friday following Pascha). It honours the Theotokos (Virgin Mary) and commemorates a historic, miracle-working holy well located just outside the ancient walls of Constantinople.

Origins and Miracles

The feast centres on two primary historical accounts of the spring's discovery and the subsequent building of a church on the site:

• Emperor Leo I: According to tradition, the future Byzantine Emperor Leo I was guided by the miraculous voice of the Theotokos to a hidden spring in an overgrown grove. After using the muddy water to restore a blind man's sight, he fulfilled a prophecy by becoming Emperor and built a magnificent church so the site could be properly worshipped.

• Emperor Justinian: A second prominent account notes that Emperor Justinian discovered a chapel with the miraculous well while hunting. Recognising it as a source of miracles, he built a grand sanctuary around it using materials left over from the construction of the Hagia Sophia.

The Icon and Traditions

• Iconography: The traditional icon of the Life-Giving Spring depicts the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child seated above a basin. "Living water" flows from them into a larger, cross-shaped marble font below. Variations of the icon often feature angels, the Emperor, the Patriarch, and individuals experiencing miraculous healings from the water.

• Liturgical Celebration: The feast is celebrated with beautiful Paschal hymns and frequently includes a Lesser Blessing of Waters following the Divine Liturgy. It carries forward an ancient tradition of sanctifying natural springs in honour of the Holy Mother.

Apolytikion (Tone 3)

As a life-giving fount, thou didst conceive the Dew that is transcendent in essence,

O Virgin Maid, and thou hast welled forth for our sakes the nectar of joy eternal,

which doth pour forth from thy fount with the water that springeth up

unto everlasting life in unending and mighty streams;

wherein, taking delight, we all cry out:

Rejoice, O thou Spring of life for all men.

Kontakion (Plagal of Tone 4)

O Lady graced by God,

you reward me by letting gush forth, beyond reason,

the ever-flowing waters of your grace from your perpetual Spring.

I entreat you, who bore the Logos, in a manner beyond comprehension,

to refresh me in your grace that I may cry out,

“Hail redemptive waters.”