Celebrating with our Brothers and Sisters of the Orthodox Church

By Sr Susan Richert :

The middle Saturday of May was a special day for the Eritrean and Ethiopian Orthodox Church. On this day they gathered to celebrate the Nativity of Mary  in St. Augustine’s Church in Nottingham. Their community organised the celebration by decorating the Church for the start at  6 am.; they ended at 6 pm!

Sr Philomena and Diane (Parish Administrator) were privileged to have been invited to attend this Ethiopian Orthodox Mass, representing the Parish of the Holy Family, Nottingham.

A Bishop and five priests together with people from all over the country celebrated with lots of singing and dancing... The local people were happy to see the congregation who were beautifully  dressed in their white and colourful  clothes.

As we represented the parish we were given special thanks with the congregation being asked to stand and clap us for five minutes. It was good to be part of such a happy festival!

They, and we, look forward to joining together again next year.