Bishop of Corfu, Mr. Nektarios: “Today many people are annoyed with faith in Christ”
During the atmosphere of the most glorious week, in which the Orthodox Christians experience the light of our Lord’s Resurrections, the local Church of Serres and Nigriti celebrated the holy memory of Saint Nikitas the Hierormartyr, who died in Serres, in 1808 and he blesses and protects the city of Serres.
The martyrical and great city of Serres is happy and celebrates today, on Thomas’s Sunday, the Saint Hieromartyr Nikitas who blessed and sanctified the city in this glorious Church that the faithful Christians built in order to worship God and their protector.
His Eminence, the Bishop of Corfu, Paxoi and Diapontian Islands, Mr. Nektarios along with his Eminence, the Bishop of Servia and Kozani, Mr. Paul and the local Bishop of Serres and Nigriti, Mr. Theologos did the Divine Liturgy.
Moreover, the Priests and Deacons of the Holy Metropolis participated in the Divine Liturgy. Among them, were the following ones who celebrated their name day, Arch. father Nikitas Chalemis, Secretary of the Holy Metropolis and Protopresbyter father Thomas Tsiaggas, General Prelatic Warden.
The people from Serres were present in order to participate to the Service and worship the holy Relic.
His Eminence, the Bishop of Corfu did the preaching referring to the Resurrection of our Lord and the Incessant Light that gives hope, as faith to His Resurrection is the hope and the resilience in everyone’s life.
“Our Lord’s death on the Cross is the saving of humanity, the overcoming of death because through death, He gave quality to the present life but also life of eternity, overcoming the final enemy of humans, death” said his Eminence and continued his speech having the celebration of the New Martyr Nikitas as its centre.
“The blood of this New Martyr is everywehere in this blessed land of Serres, after he confessed and talked about the Resurrected Christ in a difficult and dark time. We today focus on his Martyrdrom in order to worship but also to learn from him, since in our times the rationalism is everywhere. Rationalism and Materialism is mixed with the orthodox spirit of this world and has taken us to the difficulties of this world. Saint Nikitas confessed Christ without being affected by the atmosphere around him”.
In his conclusion, the Bishop mentioned: ” Today our Saints are the indications and the steps to move forward. Then, the ones in power thought that with the death of the New Martyr they would be done with him, but they did not know that his Martydrom would strengthen the Church and the faith of people. Today many people talk and fight Church. The more they fight Church, the more power she has. Church was born in Bethlehem cave, was empowered in the catacombs and the Martydroms and was hurt in the palaces.”
His Eminence the Bishop of Serres, Mr. Theologos underlined that the new Martyrs prepared the nation for its rebirth like spiritual forerunners. He also thanked the Bishops for their presence in this new year’s worshipping events for Saint Nikitas.
He also expressed his great gratitude of the local Church for the local Authorities and the people for their participation
In the end, he wished Saint Nikitas to help our homeland win, in our spiritual fight and our way to meet Christ.
Among the ones who were there, the MEP, Mr. Manolis Kefalogiannis, the Members of the Greek Parliament, Mr. Kostas Karamanlis and Mrs. Foteini Arabatzi, the Mayor of Serres, Mr. Petros Aggelidis, the President of the Municipal Council, Mr. Arabatzis and other Regional and Municipal Councelors etc. were present.
