Sunday was a historic day for the Greek Orthodox community of Cambridge. It is historic for two reasons. George Pippas is the 811th mayor in Cambridge . This year we have the first UK Cypriot to be the mayor of the City and the first time for a mayor to attend a Greek Orthodox service in Cambridge.
The Mayor George Pippas and the Mayoress (Anastasia Pippas) were honoured to have Archbisop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain, the Cyprus High commissioner Evripides Evriviades, the Greek Ambassador Mr Tsiras, The Cambridge MP Mr Daniel Zeighner, the leader of the Council Cllr Lewis Herbert, Many City Councillors, University professors and Mr Marios Minaides the chair of the Greek Orthodox communities of Great Britain . We also had the teachers parents and children from our local Greek school. The children said a few things about the “trees ierarxes”
Everyone was invited to the community hall where we they all had lunch together donated by the Mayor and Mayoress of Cambridge.
What is the Chevin service ?
Richard Chevin burgess and baker, by his will dated the 20th of June this year [1589], devised to the mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses, and their successors for ever, the house he then dwelt in (formerly Clement Hostel) (upon condition that they paid 40s. a year to his sister Mary Scott, for her life, and to the poor of the town 5s. yearly, and after his sister’s death 6s. Yearly). And he willed that the mayor and three of the ancient aldermen should see this money given to the poor people having most need, twice in the year, viz. the Sunday before St. Michael’s day, and the Sunday before Candlemas day; and that the mayor should appoint one honest man to preach in the church where the mayor inhabited, and to be done at one o’clock afternoon, and to have for his pains, 3s. 4d.
The money has run out, so there is no distribution to the poor and no payment to the preacher. It is however the Sunday before Candlemas day, it is the church where the mayor is inhabited, but it is not one o’clock in the afternoon.