Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The COVID-19 pandemic continues unabated around the globe. It is the confrontation of the wisest creature in the universe, man, with the smallest form of life in the world. Everyday life has changed dramatically for everyone all over the world. Human systems are being tested. Human life itself is threatened and in many cases lost. What is required is vigilance, attention and prayer as well as respect for the divine gift of life and for our brother.
Here in Oceania, in that corner of the earth so far from Greece, things are not very different. In New Zealand and the island states of Oceania, the effects of the pandemic are being dealt with effectively by those in charge. In no part of the H.M. of New Zealand are there any active cases of corona virus currently/today. However, one of the measures in force is the interruption of air transport between New Zealand and the islands of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, which does not allow us to go there.
This reality teaches us to live and function differently.
Technological means such as telephone, computers, cameras, communication programs, all these have become commonplace. We got them, and we learn how to use them every day. Once the physical presence and contact of humans has been suspended, they have been replaced by computer and telephone mediation.
In these conditions, something miraculous happened in the Fiji Islands on Saturday, February 27, 2021.
From now on, all the children of the orphanage will participate in the Divine Liturgy. Their names will be mentioned at the Holy Prothesis, their portion will enter the common Glass of Life from which they will all partake of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The spiritual birth of the neophytes in Christ gave joy to all of us.
Their names are Emmelia, Ioanna, Iulian, Ioachim, Iulianne, Nicodemus, Makrina, Emmanuel, Apollos, Andrew, Peter and Sarah.
Dear brothers and sisters, we humbly request you to remember our new Orthodox children in your prayer; you as well, blessed fathers, elders of our Church, please commemorate their names at the divine liturgy.
May God grant you both physical and spiritual health and enable you to go through this period of ordeal physically unscathed and may you become spiritually more mature and benefited having re-evaluated your life, priorities, goals and desires.
We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts because in this difficult period you have not stopped showing us your love and support with your prayers and your financial assistance. God bless you!
With love in Christ ✝ Myron of New Zealand
