Icons in Stratford
The Blessing of new Icons for the Churches in Stratford-upon-Avon, with inspiring talks by the Abbot Primate and Dr Rowan Williams.
Fr Alex’s New Icons Blessed in Stratford-upon-Avon
Two newly commissioned icons painted by Fr Alex Echeandía Loro OSB, the Prior of our dependent monastery at Lurín in Peru, were at the heart of a special celebration in Stratford-upon-Avon on Thursday 3 September, the Feast of St Gregory the Great.
The icons, depicting St Benedict and St Gregory the Great, were commissioned for the Catholic parish of St Gregory the Great. Their completion provided the inspiration for a day bringing together the Catholic and Anglican communities of Stratford for prayer, reflection and celebration.
The celebration also embraced the Anglican parish of Holy Trinity (the parish church in which William Shakespeare is buried), which marked the creation of a new icon of Christ Pantocrator by the Revd Susan Mobberley, an iconographer responsible for a number of works in the Stratford area.
The talks took place in Stratford Town Hall and were followed by an ecumenical service in the historic Guild Chapel.
The occasion had two distinguished speakers.
Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder OSB, head of the worldwide Benedictine Confederation, spoke about St Benedict and the remarkable missionary contribution of Benedictine monks throughout the history of the Church.
Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, reflected on St Gregory the Great, particularly his influential Pastoral Rule (Regula Pastoralis) and its enduring wisdom for those entrusted with the care of others.
The talks took place in Stratford Town Hall and were followed by an ecumenical service in the historic Guild Chapel. Both the talks can be heard in the first video below, as well as the conversation with the iconographers. The second video is of the Evening Prayer and Blessing of the Icons. A monastic choir sang the psalms for the feast of St Gregory the Great, while the choir of Holy Trinity Church sang the second part of the service. Dr Rowan Williams and Abbot Paul Gunter blessed the Icons.
For Belmont, the occasion was a particular joy. Fr Alex entered Belmont in 1989 and served the community in a variety of roles before being appointed Prior of our monastery in Lurín, south of Lima. His work as an iconographer is another expression of the monastic tradition in which prayer, beauty and craftsmanship belong together. These new icons of St Benedict and St Gregory will now continue that tradition, inviting those who see them not simply to admire works of art, but to look through them towards the mystery of God.
Talks, Conversations, Prayer and Blessing:
Abbot Jeremias, Dr Rowan Williams, Revd Susan Mobberley and Fr Alex. (Part 1)
The Ecumenical Service and Blessing of Icons (Part 2)
