Archdiocesan Council
April 7-9, we hosted the Archdiocesan Council here at our parish. Krista and I hosted Fr. John Jillions from Annunciation Cathedral in Ottawa in our home, and it was great to get to know him a little, and to get some advice from him on some educational options back in Britain - particularly the potential with Tyndale House in Cambridge.
At the Liturgy on Sunday, St. Herman's parish presented an icon to Deacon Gregory Scratch, in loving memory of his Father, Igumen John, who had been priest here in the late 90s. It was so rich and good to finally meet Deacon Greg, as I remember first seeing him as an unassailibly cool sideburned hipster back at St. Herman's in Langley ten or so years ago.
Myself, Krista, Glenn Friesen, and Dr. Richard Schneider study the icon. Fr. Vladimir painted this icon of St. John the Forerunner on one of the panels prepared by Heiko Schlieper. There are many layers of meaning behind this. For one, Igumen John's monastic patron was St. John the Baptist, and the fortieth day memorial of his death took place on one of the feasts of the Forerunner. Secondly, it was Fr. John Scratch who chrismated Heiko back in 1983. And it was Heiko who gave Fr. Vladimir his first instructions in iconography. And now this icon goes back to the Scratch family.
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." - Luke 6.38
At the Liturgy on Sunday, St. Herman's parish presented an icon to Deacon Gregory Scratch, in loving memory of his Father, Igumen John, who had been priest here in the late 90s. It was so rich and good to finally meet Deacon Greg, as I remember first seeing him as an unassailibly cool sideburned hipster back at St. Herman's in Langley ten or so years ago.
Myself, Krista, Glenn Friesen, and Dr. Richard Schneider study the icon. Fr. Vladimir painted this icon of St. John the Forerunner on one of the panels prepared by Heiko Schlieper. There are many layers of meaning behind this. For one, Igumen John's monastic patron was St. John the Baptist, and the fortieth day memorial of his death took place on one of the feasts of the Forerunner. Secondly, it was Fr. John Scratch who chrismated Heiko back in 1983. And it was Heiko who gave Fr. Vladimir his first instructions in iconography. And now this icon goes back to the Scratch family."Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." - Luke 6.38
posted by Matthew Francis at Monday, April 17, 2006
6 Comments:
Thanks for sharing that Matthew.
We wish you a blessed Holy Week.
Ramona et the family
What a blessing, thank you for sharing the photos.
Fr. John Jillions
what a great name.
a ka-jillion dollars!
(is what his last name reminds me of...)
I know! It's awesome.
Thank you Matthew, for this post! It is so touching to hear about the icon being passed along and being so intertwined with the life of Fr John Scratch. I dearly love that man, whom I have never met, and have felt his presence so strongly since he departed. What a truly beautiful man of God, whose devotion to Him and to His Church cultivated a garden of Love all around him.
Our Deacon Kevin wept when Fr John passed away, although he too had barely known Fr John. He said that he had been there when Fr John walked into the cathedral, and immediately people swarmed around him to confess their sins...his very presence brought people to repentance. Glory to God for His Holy Ones on the earth!
Amen, Mira.
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