BISHOP OF CORFU: MR. NEKTARIOS: IT’S A TRAGIC IRONY FOR THE AUTHORITIES TO NOT ALLOW PEOPLE WORSHIP THEIR SAINT
On the morning of Sunday, December 6, 2020, His Eminence the Bishop of Corfu, Paxos and the Diapontian Islands, Mr. Nektarios, did the Divine Liturgy at the celebrating Church of Saint Nikolaos de Vecchi in the old town of Corfu. The divine service was performed behind closed doors, due to the decision of the state to keep the churches closed to the people of God. In fact, outside the temple there was a police force that prevented anyone who wanted to approach.
The divine liturgy was broadcast on the radio from the station of the Holy Metropolis “AGIOS SPYRIDON 91.1” and on the internet.
Speaking to the listeners and spectators, the Metropolitan of Corfu stressed, among other things, the following: “The Glorification psalm of the feast of the Saint invites everyone to come together and celebrate the memory of Saint Nicholas. In fact, the hymn first invites the lords to come and celebrate.
And it is a tragic irony in our times, in which the rulers can not stand the sight of faith, the sight of the face of God and not only do not meet, but close the temples to the people of God. They themselves do not want to worship God and at the same time hinder those they want! Nevertheless, the Church continues to celebrate. And Saint Nicholas was the good shepherd. He accepted sinners and helped them find the way to forgiveness.
He accepted the poor and gave them spiritual treasures. He comforted those in distress. Accompany those who traveled by sea. And we beg him today to run to get his persecuted flock out of difficulties and sorrows. So there is a great need to pray to Agios Nikolaos. Given the disease. But its exploitation by those who find the opportunity to drive God’s people away from the Church and to let dark, demonic strategies dominate humanity is also painful. But just as St. Nicholas was imprisoned for the love of Christ in the years of the last persecutions, but he did not bow down because he possessed the science of theology, the theory of God in his heart, so today, with the trust in our Saints and the Church evil will not dominate our hearts. But contemporaries, whether inside or outside the Church, sometimes criticize the words of its pastors.
When the Church asks everyone to see on the basis of the divine dimension and perspective and sickness and poverty, it accepts contempt and disrepute. But those who want to put up with God, the Saints and the faith are kicking towards the centers. When St. Nicholas disturbed the emperor with his stance at the First Ecumenical Council against Areios, the emperor punished him by imprisoning him and depriving him of the insignia of his episcopal office. But the Virgin Mary came to the prison and returned them to the Saint. And the emperor fell at the feet of the Saint, acknowledging his mistake. I wish there were rulers and rulers today who could admit mistakes against God and the Church.
But as long as hardheartedness and selfishness remain in both the flock and the rulers of the people, the hardhearted will remain far from the grace of God and the living faith. The example of Saint Nikolaos is still alive today! Spiritually the lessons he gives us through faith. Let us not be afraid. ” At the end of the divine service, Mr. Nektarios performed the established eulogy for the Navy, despite the forced absence of the naval authorities of the place.
