For updates on the holy pilgrimage to Iona and Mull, see the 'Iona and Mull 2012' page!
Friends of Orthodoxy on Iona
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The next Pilgrimage for 2012 shall, God willing, take place on Iona and Mull from July 30 to August 5. Please see the tab above on the left hand side for more information. From the Secretary, Bruce Columba:
With great regret, Metropolitan Kallistos and I have decided that FOI's Brittany pilgrimage should be postponed by exactly a year (in other words, until July 2012, God willing) because of my personal circumstances. Preparations for this pilgrimage got off to an excellent start, and we were very much looking forward to enjoying the hospitality of the Abbey of Saint Guenole at Landevennec on the coast of Finistere. However my circumstances changed on November 4, when my father Wallace was hit by a truck and suffered serious injuries. He has been in hospital ever since, and despite recovering miraculously from several close brushes with death, he remains gravely ill. Because my mother June is bed-ridden and I am Wallace's only able-bodied primary relative, I have in recent months had to spend the majority of my time in Northern Ireland looking after him. Only with difficulty have I managed to continue doing some work for my employers, and there is virtually no time for spare-time activities. It is impossible to predict how long this state of affairs will continue. We hope you will understand the reasons for the postponement and keep us in your prayers. This message comes with warm greetings to all friends and supporters of FOI across the world. It remains my hope and prayer that 2011 can be another successful and fulfilling year for FOI, and in particular that our pilgrimage to Brittany – scheduled for July 10 to 17 – can be an important and joyful event for our association. There have strong expressions of interest in the pilgrimage from many old and new friends, so there should be no problem with gathering up the necessary numbers. Metropolitan Kallistos has told me that he is very much looking forward to going to Brittany. However I must also tell you that preparations for the pilgrimage have been complicated by some painful personal circumstances. On November 4 – shortly before I was due to make my third reconnaissance trip to Brittany – my father Wallace Clark was knocked down by a lorry while crossing the road and suffered multiple fractures. He has remained in hospital ever since, and I have had to devote the majority of my time since then to caring for him as well has my house-bound mother June Elisabeth Clark. Wallace was making quite a good recovery until December 23 when he suffered a big relapse; he has been on breathing support, and in a critical condition ever since then. I have had to put most of my personal commitments on hold while this family crisis continues. Painful as this situation is, I do not believe it need prevent the Brittany preparations going ahead. It may be necessary, of course, to delegate certain tasks to others during the period when I am preoccupied with family affairs. I am very grateful to Kenneth Scott Parker for the support he is already providing. In the meantime, all I can do is ask the Friends of Orthodoxy of Iona for their prayerful support, and to pray for my parents. CBC January 15 Reader Ignatios Bacon would like to remind everyone that there are still spaces available at the Iona Orthodox Centre this Autumn and that this is the last opportunity in 2010 to join with other Orthodox in a Pilgrimage to Iona. Also that our website is www.iona-orthodox-retreats.org.uk Anyone interested should write immediately to ionaorthodox AT gmail.com.
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