April 1991. Sibiu, Transylvania, Romania. Everything is grey: the streets, the cars, the clothes, the faces. The demise of the Ceaușescus still very much in the air. We are standing outside the cathedral in Sibiu, a miniature of the great Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, and Bishop Serafim bursts in like a ray of sunshine… tall and charismatic, speaking the most elegant French, with a twinkle in his eye and a shimmering black cassock, and flowing silver hair (when it isn’t tucked inside his Klobuk or Orthodox Bishop’s hat) – all the charm and intrigue of a young Albus Dumbledore. Hugely welcoming and hospitable to this group of students from Mirfield spending our first Easter in Romania.
+Serafim came subsequently to visit us all in the UK. I fondly remember that Saturday morning: sitting in my little flat at the Elephant and Castle (the one with all the cockroaches) and talking about the Church. “Wherever the Bishop is, that’s where the Church is,” he told me. “So at present the Church is right here in your sitting room.” A very Orthodox way of expressing a truth we in the Church of England also believe: the Church is focused on the local bishop. That’s why we are divided into dioceses (Exeter in our case) over which the bishop presides, and in any diocese all the clergy are licensed by the bishop. Each diocese is autonomous and self-sufficient. It’s not always the most efficient way of running the church, with different dioceses constantly re-inventing the wheel in all sorts of practical matters, but its roots lie deep in history, and we haven’t seen fit to change things, presumably because of the personal and relational nature of this model. The Church is not a corporate structure, but rather a missionary group of people who gather together round their Bishop – exactly as those first disciples gathered round Jesus.
After our conversation, Bishop Serafim was travelling north, so I offered to drive him to King’s Cross Station. The traffic was dreadful: the Euston Road at a standstill. I was becoming increasingly agitated. “What are you worrying for?” he asked. I thought it was obvious: “You might miss your train.” He smiled across at me: “And how is worrying about it going to improve the situation?”
His question has stayed with me. It hasn’t stopped me worrying – worry must be a reflex reaction – but whenever I get worried I now try to ask myself +Serafim’s question: “How is worrying about it going to improve the situation?” Since so often it has precisely the opposite effect. Ironically, worrying takes away the cool head which is just what we need in challenging times. While I was fretting on the way to the station, I was much more likely to hit the stationary car in front – wiping out any chance of catching his train. But my newfound calm paid dividends, and in fact I delivered +Serafim to the train with over a minute to spare. As the martial arts master Bruce Lee tells us: “Calm is a super power – one of the best lessons you can learn in life.”
It was nearly ten years after our car conversation that the ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ posters started appearing in every shop window – and also on virtually every apron, beer mat and t-shirt sold during the noughties. This slogan was coined in the summer of 1939 by Britain’s wartime propaganda department, the Ministry of Information – a Ministry no longer needed, I assume, since the invention of social media. Posters were created to be circulated in the event of war breaking out – but they were never issued, and the two and a half million printed copies were pulped and recycled in 1940 to help the British government deal with a serious paper shortage. Apparently just a few originals survived, but one was discovered in a bookshop in Northumberland in 2000, and that discovery is single-handedly responsible for all the beer mugs and tote bags, tea towels and mouse mats that have been distributed as Secret Santa Gifts ever since.
The ubiquitousness of the message does not mean it has necessarily impinged on our consciousness. But every one of us might usefully take it to heart. Either that, or +Serafim’s question. Or maybe the best of both worlds: how about every time we see the ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ slogan, we also ask ourselves “How’s worrying about it going to improve the situation?” As we all know, worrying probably won’t help very much, but getting our worries under control certainly will.
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From the Archives…
Chirographs
At Easter 1278, Master John de Esse (or Huse), the Archdeacon of Cornwall, granted a house in Cathedral Close to the Dean & Chapter. The rent was 20 shillings, and it was on condition that the Dean & Chapter would mark the anniversary of his death with prayers (known as an obit). He died in Wells in 1305, where he had been Dean since 1302.
One copy of the document was originally made for the Archdeacon, and one for the Dean & Chapter. Unusually, both parts have survived in the Cathedral Archives. Three different techniques have been used to make sure there was no doubt as to their authenticity: at the bottom of each document there are traces of where seals were once attached, the top edge is cut in a jagged pattern, and a word has been written through the cut area. Documents like this are called chirographs (from the Greek χειρό-γραϕον: chiro = hand, graph = written). The duplicated text was written on the same piece of parchment with a word (usually chirograph) written across the page and then cut in half with a unique wavy edge (an indenture). The idea was that if necessary the two pieces could be put next to each other and matched precisely.
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NEWS
Beautiful Nativity Scene in Cathedral Chapel
As Exeter Cathedral prepares for the festive season, Christmas trees have been put up around the Cathedral including in the Chapel of St Andrew and St Catherine featuring a nativity scene.
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NEWS
Local Children Sell Handmade Gifts for School
This week pupils from a local school have been selling a range of Christmas gifts, decorations and handmade cards and wrapping paper at the Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market.
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NEWS
‘Scientists in Congregations’ Environmental Session
This morning students from a local school took part in an environmental session as part of Scientists in Congregations to learn about climate change and its devastating impact on communities in the Solomon Islands. The session was arranged in conjunction with Exeter Cathedral and Melanesian Mission UK (MMUK) and was led by MMUK Care for Creation Officer, Maria Schlenker.
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WHAT’S ON
Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market
Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market is on Cathedral Green until 18 December. You’ll discover something for everyone, with over a hundred twinkling festive chalets, local gifts and produce, themed bars, global street food, seasonal entertainment and free entry into Exeter Cathedral. Photo by Emma Solley.
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WHAT’S ON
Christmas with the Cathedral Choir
Exeter Cathedral’s renowned choir returns for the most popular Christmas carol concerts of the year, a highlight of the festive season. The adults and Choristers will be directed by Timothy Noon (Director of Music), and accompanied on the mighty Cathedral Organ by James Anderson-Besant (Assistant Director of Music).
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WHAT'S ON
Library & Archives In Focus: Christmas with the Exeter Book
Visit Exeter Cathedral on Friday 9 December between 11am-1pm to see the wonderful 10th Century Exeter Book and discover Anglo-Saxon Advent poetry that tells the story of Christ’s birth.
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WHAT'S ON
National Trust Christmas Concert
The musicians of Exeter School will be performing together at Exeter Cathedral on Tuesday 6 December in support of the National Trust providing a joyful start to the festive period.
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WHAT'S ON
The Exeter Nativity – A Journey to Life!
The Exeter Nativity returns to Exeter Cathedral on Sunday 18 December featuring Harry and George, the llamas who dress up as very convincing if slightly diminutive camels. This is a re-telling of the Christmas story for children, adults and the young at heart of any age.
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WHAT'S ON
Carols in the Cathedral with Exeter Philharmonic Choir
Enjoy a festive performance from Exeter Philharmonic Choir on 13 and 14 December featuring internationally renowned soprano Amy Carson. The concerts will include traditional carols, popular tunes and some jazzy versions.
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SERVICES
Advent and Christmas at Exeter Cathedral
Join us for our Advent and Christmas Services at Exeter Cathedral including Lunchtime Carols on 19, 21 and 23 December.
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REFLECTION
Advent Thoughts
By the Reverend Phil Wales
Odd though it may seem, last Sunday you may have been wished a happy new year. If so, it wouldn’t have been a mistake but certainly would have given you pause for thought. Advent, which began on Sunday, marks the start of the Church’s year. Advent (from the Latin, adventus, meaning ‘a coming or arrival’) is a season of waiting, or preparing, to celebrate Christ’s birth.
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INFORMATION
Live-Streamed Services
Our 10am Choral Eucharist will not be livestreamed on Sunday 4 December.
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THE A-Z
Q: Quatrefoils
Four-lobed QUATREFOILS usually with round lobes like petals are a common gothic design. This overall pattern of pointed quatrefoils is formed by cross-banding on the 14th-century Great West Doors.
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