Celebrating Saint Nikolaos in Corfu

His Eminence the Bishp of Corfu, Paxos & Diapontia Islands Mr. Nektarios, on today’s feast of Saint Nikolaos, the protector of the seas, officiated at the celebrating Church of Saint Nikolaos (de Vecchi) in the historic center of Cabielo.
During the Divine Liturgy, he spoke to the participating faithful, as he received an occasion from the saint’s butt and specifically “I laid down your soul for the sake of your people”. He underlined that Saint Nikolaos imitated the good shepherd, Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ the incarnate word of God which is the true shepherd and His relationship with the man for whom he was incarnated, is a relationship of trust and love, which is why Jesus Christ as the evangelist John says that no one has greater love from Him. Jesus Christ Himself set Himself in favor of the love of His people-creation and for this reason He sacrificed Himself on the cross death, to redeem us from the bondage of fall and sin.
Saint Nicholas therefore copied Jesus Christ and risked for the love of his people in many phases of his priestly ministry, “‘you saved the innocent from death”, he fought for the true faith, protecting his people from heresy in the First House. Synod, he was a helper in the poverty and diseases of his people “for this you are sanctified as a great mystic God of Grace”.

So today we must reconsider our relationship with both us pastors and the pastors’ attitude toward the Church. Most of us have rested in the glory of the holiness of the old fathers of our Church, and the voice of those invited to the work of renewing participation and holiness in the Church may be subdued. But also from the side of the crew of the Church there is the rest in the enjoyment of everyday life through the offer, the supposedly easy life and the fulfillment of the obligations with the help of technology and the means of advertising, in the modern life of the members of the Church.

His Eminence called on the people and the clergy to self-determine our place in the Church where we are on the one hand the priests of the sacraments and on the other hand those who seek the Grace of God. Saint Nikolaos is the living and timeless example for the life of our Church. In the end, His Eminence gave his warmest wishes to the people celebrating their Nameday, to the people of Corfu and in general to our homeland which is surrounded by the sea and most of them deal with it, Saint Nicholas to protect them and their families.

After the completion of the Divine Liturgy, the established Doxology was performed with the participation of the political, military and naval authorities of our island. At the end of the eulogy, His Eminence wished the commander of NASKE, but also the Harbor Master who represented the merchant and navy, Saint Nikolaos to be a protector in their lives. In fact, he referred to the enemies of our homeland from the east, who threaten our homeland. Saint Nikolaos to give them strength, in these difficult conditions they face.