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NEWS DESK
The capital's 500,000 Greek, Russian, Romanian, Ethiopian, Armenian Orthodox Christians are all celebrating Good Friday mass today in the capitals Orthodox cathedrals and churches.
The leader of the Greek Orthodox Church in Great Britain Archbishop Gregorios has embraced online technology this year with a Youtube Easter message to Londoners and its 500,000 Orthodox Christians. To view the video click on our video section.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson also sent his Easter wishes to London's Orthodox Christians by saying last night to the London Daily News:
"I would like to join the celebrations in soul, heart and spirit with the large Greek Orthodox community who celebrates Easter this week and wishes them all KALO PASCHA (HAPPY EASTER) and KALH ANASTASH ( HAPPY EASTER SUNDAY)".
His Eminence Archbishop Gregorios in his Easter encyclical said: "Christians are once more celebrating the great and wondrous events which took place in the holy city of Jerusalem, “the things that happened during these days”
"These days call us and teach us to entrust ourselves and our families, our problems, struggles and cares to the Risen Christ. Do not forget that not only joy, but also death, pain and many trials and tribulations are always around the corner. Therefore we must always have within us and upon us the armour and weapons of faith – our spiritual and practical relationship with the Risen Christ and His Church. This means a living and stable remembrance and continuation of the eternal presence of the love of our Lord Jesus Christ to all people who are downcast by the great economic crisis and uncertainty of both leaders and nations throughout the world. As conscientious, living members of the Orthodox Church and members of the Body of the Risen Christ, we are called to go to church with our families and to celebrate, to worship the Passion of Christ, to receive His precious Body and most holy Blood for the forgiveness of sins, that we may participate in the joy of the Resurrection. Only then will we be able to truly rejoice and become true followers and witnesses of the everlasting tradition which feeds and nourishes, upholds and sanctifies the world, and which has held together the establishment of the Church until today."
Several of the capitals parishes at Easter experience "Easter celeb visits" like the parish of St Cosmas and St Damian in Gospel Oak, which is within a mile of Hampstead attracting George Michael and his family. St Sophia one of several Byzantine cathedrals in the capital attracts shipping tycoons and the defunct Greek Royal family along with the members of the “Greek elite” in London.
If you have Greek friends the normal greeting is CHRIST HAS ARISEN or "CHRISTOS ANESTI", which normally will be greeted “ALITHOS ANETSI” or “CHRIST HAS ARISEN INDEED” and a Flaouna (a Greek hot cross bun) or red boiled egg.
Good Friday mass start at 7pm in most parishes in London and Easter Saturday mass or (kalos logos) begins at 10pm
For your nearest parish contact the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website:
http://www.thyateira.org.uk/ PHOTO CREDIT: HIS EMINENCE ARCHBISHOP GREGORIOS OF THYATEIRA AND GREAT BRITAIN (LONDON DAILY NEWS)
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