2010
The Lord greatly blessed our 2009 venture, and this together with the positive welcome received from the other Iona Christian Communities, has encouraged us to again establish in 2010 a temporary Orthodox presence upon Iona.
The Iona Orthodox Centre will once more be based at Clachanach; a spacious and comfortable house with simple accommodation, within five minutes walk of both the Abbey and St. Oran’s Chapel. Clachanach is privately owned by an island family and will be rented by Iona Orthodox Retreats for just 4 weeks in 2010, from Great Wednesday, 31st March to 28th April, 2010.
AN INVITATION. If you are an Orthodox, or are sympathetic to Orthodoxy, and would like to stay at the (temporary) Iona Orthodox Centre, for the purpose of making your own Pilgrimage or personal Retreat, write to iona-orthodox-retreats@googlemail.com stating the period for which you would like to be invited.
Please write a.s.a.p. as accommodation is limited to a maximum of 11 guests at any one time.
WORSHIP. The Orthodox Centre offers the opportunity of daily worship: Orthodox Mattins and Vespers in the 11th century St. Oran’s Chapel, also midday Prayers in the Prayer Room at Clachanach. When a priest is present, Divine Liturgy is also served in St. Oran’s.
There is also a full daily programme of ecumenical worship at the Abbey, and daily services in both the Episcopalian Bishop’s House and at the R.C. Prayer House, Cnoc a Chalmain. Guests from the Orthodox Centre are welcome at any of these services.
The Abbey also conducts a mid-week all-day tour of Iona.
LIFE-STYLE. The life-style of the Orthodox Centre is simple, as befits pilgrims; breakfast and an evening meal are provided, but guests will make their own lunch arrangements (there are a number of places which provide lunches). All guests are asked to share in simple house chores.
FINANCE. There is no set charge for staying at the Orthodox Centre; please make a donation as the Lord moves you. If you are able to make your donation before you come that is especially helpful as on 31st March we must pay advance rent for the Centre - £3,300.
Short-term loans from well-wishers (say, for one month), would also help us to bridge the gap between the £300 at present in the bank and the extra £3,000 needed by 31st March.
If you are moved to support the Iona Orthodox Centre, please make your cheque payable to Iona Orthodox Retreats, and E-mail us at iona-orthodox-retreats@googlemail.com for the address to which to mail it so that we can acknowledge your gift or loan.
Alternatively, if you wish to make an anonymous gift, please pay this into Bank of Scotland, Iona Orthodox Retreats A/c 00204769, Sort Code 80-06-84.
View from Clachanach
as in Heaven, so also on Iona”.
Your prayers are especially asked that we can find a priest wishing to come to Iona for Pascha. Finding a priest free at this solemn and sacred season is not easy, but if it is God’s holy will, by your prayers it will come about.
ECUMENISM ON IONA. Last September we developed excellent relationships with Iona’s existing Christian Communities and Churches. Before we left the island I was told that the Iona Inter-denominational Prayer Group were praying for us, that we may be able to establish a permanent Orthodox House on the Isle of Iona. This entirely unsolicited loving act is indeed most heart-warming. A permanent Orthodox Centre on this sacred Island, which in the past has played such an important role in the Christian evangelisation of Britain, would obviously be a great blessing to Orthodoxy world-wide.
FINANCE. There is no set charge for staying at the Orthodox Centre; please make a donation as the Lord moves you. If you are able to make your donation before you come that is especially helpful as on 31st March we must pay advance rent for the Centre - £3,300.
Short-term loans from well-wishers (say, for one month), would also help us to bridge the gap between the £300 at present in the bank and the extra £3,000 needed by 31st March.
If you are moved to support the Iona Orthodox Centre, please make your cheque payable to Iona Orthodox Retreats, and E-mail us at iona-orthodox-retreats@googlemail.com for the address to which to mail it so that we can acknowledge your gift or loan.
Alternatively, if you wish to make an anonymous gift, please pay this into Bank of Scotland, Iona Orthodox Retreats A/c 00204769, Sort Code 80-06-84.
View from Clachanach
YOUR PART: PRAYERS. Please support the Iona Orthodox Centre with your prayers. Any gift you may wish to send will be greatly appreciated (no gift is too small) - but it is your prayers above all that are needful. Pray that the Lord’s Will may be done on Iona and especially at the Centre:
“Our Father in Heaven, Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done,as in Heaven, so also on Iona”.
Your prayers are especially asked that we can find a priest wishing to come to Iona for Pascha. Finding a priest free at this solemn and sacred season is not easy, but if it is God’s holy will, by your prayers it will come about.
ECUMENISM ON IONA. Last September we developed excellent relationships with Iona’s existing Christian Communities and Churches. Before we left the island I was told that the Iona Inter-denominational Prayer Group were praying for us, that we may be able to establish a permanent Orthodox House on the Isle of Iona. This entirely unsolicited loving act is indeed most heart-warming. A permanent Orthodox Centre on this sacred Island, which in the past has played such an important role in the Christian evangelisation of Britain, would obviously be a great blessing to Orthodoxy world-wide.
GLORY TO GOD