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Archpriest Michael Harper Reposes in the Lord on the Feast of the Theophany
Funeral Details: Thursday 14th January, 12 noon Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral of St. George, 1A Redhill Street, London NW1 4BG
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It is with great sadness yet hope in Christ that we must inform you that Fr. Michael died peacefully today, the Feast of the Theophany, with his dear wife Jeanne at his side.
Please pray for the repose of his soul and the comforting of all those (including us) who mourn. Memory Eternal!
Archpriest Michael Harper retires as Dean
After nearly 15 years of devoted service to the Lord and His Church in the Patriarchate of Antioch, the Dean for the United Kingdom and Ireland, the Very Reverend Archpriest Michael Harper ended his service as Dean on 12th December, His Eminence Metropolitan John accepting his retirement on that day. Fr. Michael has recently experienced a period of poor health and we all now pray that he will recover his former strength and enjoy a well earned rest with his dear wife Kh. Jeanne who has supported him with much love and prayer over many years.
A message from His Eminence Metropolitan John was read at a meeting in Cambridge between Fr. Michael and a large section of the London congregation who had come up to see him. This is an extract from that message. (Metropolitan John was unavoidably detained at a meeting in Geneva that day).
"A long time ago, in the year 1995, I met you when you started your journey of 'Coming Home', and I saw in you the man of love and divine zeal. You came to visit the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Damascus and Beirut to learn about the faith and tradition.
Since that time, in you I have known a faithful, God-loving and God-reliant man ... your effort and your pastoral work in the Antiochian Orthodox Church and in the Deanery will always be a witness to your hearty love for God and His Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom and Ireland which is growing day by day."
The message went on to declare an intention to appoint the Revd. Fr. Gregory Hallam as Dean in Fr. Michael's place.
Ordination of Christopher Neill to the
Diaconate
Paris. 5th December 2009
Metropolitan John
ordains Christopher
Metropolitan John with
Fr. Deacon Christopher and his son, Duncan
I have been asked to report on my ordination to the
diaconate which took place at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St.
Stephen in Paris on 5th December.
My son, Duncan, attended together with two friends who came with
us. I am told that it was a splendid hierarchical Liturgy but my
recollection is patchy; I spent a lot of it standing with a towel over
my head!
My son and I arrived early and found a locked church, so we waited.
I then rang Sayedna John to check
the time, and soon afterwards we were let in; lights were lit and we
were greeted by members of the congregation intrigued to meet this
candidate for high office. There is nothing odd about a Syrian
Metropolitan ordaining an Englishman in a Greek Cathedral in Paris! Such
is the Orthodox Church.
I lit candles for myself, my late wife Jackie, my son and the people I
am to serve with and amongst.
Sayedna arrived, beaming at me, and clearly understood my nerves.
He literally held my hand soothingly. Then I was in the altar and he
explained what was to happen. After months of facing this event it was
happening, it was up there with marriage, the birth of my son.... far
bigger than graduation or a new job.
Various people appeared, vested and resolved themselves into priests,
hieromonks, a deacon and servers. I was greeted welcomed, encouraged and
then stood quietly inside the south deacons' door until being led out to
the throne, and eased to my knees. It seems that I was taken rather than
escorted. I was under the archbishops omophorion and being prayed over.
Then I vividly recall holding a bowl and pouring water over
his hands and then I was “parked” in front of the icon of Christ at the
iconostasis with a towel over my head.
I had been advised to pray hard at this point and did so. I was
aware I was tired, my legs trembled like that of a tired horse on
parade. At one point I lost my grip and nearly dropped the silver
bowl. I was also aware of being very "in the moment" and of
feeling very like a small boy, my 8 year old self. Perhaps the real me
as coming out? I was delighted to be a sub-deacon; could I
just leave now?
Meanwhile my stole, tied round my waist was slipping loose and I was
seriously concerned it would come off. I
think it was Fr. Gregory who retied it for me when he came to brief me
about the Great Entrance procession. I processed at the end,
realising that I was in a full church and I heard the sub-deacon
Christopher commemorated, before being parked again, this time in front
of the Mother of God icon.
So I stand, towel still over my head before being taken through the
royal doors. I am lead around, kiss here, here, here, and here as I am
lead round the Holy Table. The archbishop sits to one side of it, a
magnificent figure in vestments and mitre so as not to turn his back on
the sanctified gifts. I kiss his
hand as directed and I am relieved that this personification of church
authority at its most ancient is also the gentle man I respect and love.
The process is repeated again and again then I am kneeing, hands either
side of my bowed head, clutching the altar table itself. I didn’t quite
cry. I had been tearful for
days by now; this was beyond that. The
scariest part of the service comes now. I hear the archbishop's words
that God is ordaining me by his hand. God physically present and close
by is ordaining me to a sacred ministry.
Then the lovely man is sorting out my orarion over my shoulders.
The word “AXIOS!” is heard. The response includes firmly and
emphatically my son's voice from the front rows of the congregation.
In Arabic and English too I am told I am worthy.
I receive Holy Communion, and this time, the first in my new rank, it is
taken as separate elements. After the Communion of the people I am led
out to do offer a short litany, now serving as a deacon for real. I pass
over Sayedna's sermon except to say his greetings to us all in Britain
and Fr. Michael were especially warm and emphatic.
It then took a priest and a server to loosen my sticharion, I
think a loop got twisted round a button ... but then it is over. I
emerge in anteri and rasson and find I am taken seriously as a
clergyman. On my early visits to the Holy Mountain (Mount Athos) I found
priest monks daunting until I knew better.
Now I am addressed as a friend and a colleague. A cup of
excellent Syrian coffee and more congratulations.
I hear myself addressed as Father for the first time (by a man
called George).
Well my nerves did not fail me. I went through with it. My only regret
is that my late wife Jackie was not there to share the joy. The
host congregation were pleased to see an Englishman ordained.
After all that, has it changed me? The short answer is no; I am simply
more myself now. The longer answer is yes; very profoundly but I am
still a “work in progress.” Please be patient with me!
With my love and prayers
The very new Deacon Christopher.
Annual Deanery Conference 2009
His Eminence Metropolitan John (left centre)
and His Eminence Metropolitan Saba (right centre)
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| Subdiaconal Ordinations | Full Group Photograph |
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The Annual British and Irish Deanery Conference met at Whirlow Grange Conference Centre near Sheffield from 13th to the 15th of July, presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan John of the Antiochian Archdiocese of Western and Central Europe with honoured guests, His Eminence Metropolitan Saba of the Archdiocese of Bosra Hauran, Jabal Al Arab and all the Golan and Father Parthenios Allati, all of whom delivered lectures on the Conference theme:- "Liturgical Celebrations."
With the many different cultures, languages and traditions represented both within the Archdiocese and the Deanery itself it has become especially necessary for liturgical practice to reflect certain basic common features of the Antiochian patrimony whilst providing also for a necessary diversity particular to the situation and needs of each part and place.
The three conference speakers covered these issues admirably with both learning and pastoral sensitivity to the holy offering of the people of God. The Deanery thought itself richly blessed to have in its bishop an archpastor with true insight and experienced guidance in these matters. In Metropolitan Saba we had a man of God who had similar gifts of understanding acquired in leading the renaissance of his own Archdiocese during the last 10 years of his residency in Sweida. The learning of Fr. Parthenios complemented the richness of this lectureship team beautifully.
In the worship of these three days, Sayedna John ordained three men to the subdiaconate; Cowey Barbour, Christopher Parsons (both serving in London) and John Hickey (Dublin). He also tonsured Maximos Murray as a Reader (Belfast).
The wisdom, holy love and joy of these three days for a number of Deanery members to meet with our Metropolitan over an extended period was a real blessing; the first, God willing, we are sure, of many more to come.
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