Patrick Comerford
This week began with the Third Sunday after Trinity (Trinity III, 16 June 2024). Before today begins (20 June 2024), I am taking some quiet time this morning to give thanks, for reflection, prayer and reading in these ways:
1, today’s Gospel reading;
2, a reflection on the icons in the new iconostasis or icon stand in the Greek Orthodox Church in Stony Stratford.
3, a prayer from the USPG prayer diary;
4, the Collects and Post-Communion prayer of the day.
Matthew 6: 7-15 (NRSVUE):
[Jesus said:] 7 “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “Pray, then, in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be revered as holy.
10 May your kingdom come.
May your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
14 “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
The Stony Stratford iconostasis 5: Saint Stylianos:
Over the last few weeks, I have been watching the building and installation of the new iconostasis or icon screen in the Greek Orthodox Church in Stony Stratford. In my prayer diary over these weeks, I am reflecting on this new iconostasis, and the theological meaning and liturgical significance of its icons and decorations.
The lower, first tier of a traditional iconostasis is sometimes called Sovereign. On the right side of the Royal Doors or Beautiful Gates facing the people is an icon of Christ, often as the Pantokrator, representing his second coming, and on the left is an icon of the Theotokos (the Virgin Mary), symbolising the incarnation. It is another way of saying all things take place between Christ’s first coming and his second coming.
Other icons on this tier usually include depictions of the patron saint or feast day of the church, Saint John the Baptist, one or more of the Four Evangelists, and so on.
The six icons on the lower, first tier of the iconostasis in Stony Stratford depict Christ to the right of the Royal Doors or Beautiful Gates, as seen from the nave of the church, and the Theotokos or Virgin Mary to the left. All six icons depict (from left to right): the Dormition, Saint Stylianos, the Theotokos, Christ Pantocrator, Saint John the Baptist and Saint Ambrosios.
The Greek Orthodox Church in Stony Stratford is dedicated to Saint Ambrosis (Ambrose) and Saint Sylianos. The icon of Saint Stylianos, the second icon in the first tier in new iconostasis in Stony Stratford, is on the ‘Deacon’s Door,’ between the icons of the Dormition and of the Theotokos or Virgin Mary.
Saint Stylianos (Στυλιανός) is the protector of babies and children, especially orphansand popular with pregnant mothers too. His feast is on 26 November. Saint Stylianos is known as a protector of children. He is depicted in iconography holding a swaddled infant in his arms, including the icon in the iconostasis and other icons in the church in Stony Stratford.
Saint Stylianos of Paphlagonia, as he is named on the icons in Stony Stratford, is also known as Saint Stylianos the Hermit. He was born in Adrianopolis sometime in the fifth century. He distributed his inheritance among the poor and left the city to live in a monastery. There, his devotion and asceticism provoked jealousy on the part of other monks, and so he left the monastery to live as a hermit in a cave in the wilderness, where he spent his time in prayer and fasting.
In the peace of the desert, Saint Stylianos had time to observe creation and meditate upon it, and he saw the Creator in all things. His holiness was evident to the people of the surrounding area, who came to listen to his teaching or to be cured through his prayers. He often left his hermitage to make pastoral visits to neighbouring villages.
Saint Stylianos was also known for his love of children and he is celebrated for his gift of healing children by his prayers. Parents would travel great distances seeking a cure for their children. He also had the reputation of a wonder-worker because his prayers seemed to help childless couples have a child.
Today’s Prayers (Thursday 20 June 2024):
The theme this week in ‘Pray With the World Church,’ the Prayer Diary of the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel), is ‘Windrush Day.’ This theme was introduced on Sunday with reflections by the Right Revd Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Bishop of Croydon.
The USPG Prayer Diary today (Thursday 20 June 2024, World Refugee Day) invites us to pray:
We pray for all who have been forced to leave their homes to make long journeys to safety. We pray for all who spend all they have and risk their lives to flee. May we listen to their stories and respond with love and kindness.
The Collect:
Almighty God,
you have broken the tyranny of sin
and have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts
whereby we call you Father:
give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service,
that we and all creation may be brought
to the glorious liberty of the children of God;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Post Communion Prayer:
O God, whose beauty is beyond our imagining
and whose power we cannot comprehend:
show us your glory as far as we can grasp it,
and shield us from knowing more than we can bear
until we may look upon you without fear;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Additional Collect:
God our saviour,
look on this wounded world
in pity and in power;
hold us fast to your promises of peace
won for us by your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Saturday’s introduction to the Stony Stratford iconostasis
Yesterday’s reflection
Continued tomorrow
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition copyright © 2021, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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