Dear brothers, rejoice in the Lord.
The Church of Christ in the Pacific Islands sends you its love and gratitude.
In these difficult times for the whole of humanity, you, our brothers in Christ from Greece, who have contributed and assisted in a very decisive way for almost 15 years in the foundation, development and proper functioning of our Churches, our Parishes, our Monasteries and our orphanage, show us in the most eloquent way your love and your support despite all the biological, economic and social difficulties that you yourselves are facing.
Thank you very much from the bottom of our hearts.
Our life here on the islands is becoming more and more difficult every day facing the pandemic. But our hopes in God’s grace are not diminishing, but on the contrary, they are growing.
We understand in the most dramatic way our shortcomings as human beings, our weaknesses as humanity, our sins as Christians. The pandemic acts as a spiritual magnifying glass, bringing out the hidden things and bringing out the real things in our lives.
In Lampasa on the island of Vanua Levi in Fiji, in the parish of Saints Nicholas and Athanasius, our good priest Father Barnabas with his worthy elder and his spiritual children in Christ, the good companions of his work, tries daily to help with whatever physical and financial resources he has, but especially with the inexhaustible love in his heart for his fellow human beings, the animated images of God, his parishioners and all the animated brothers on the island. He offers food, he offers financial help, he offers comfort, but above all he offers a big embrace with a lot of love for everyone, preaching non-stop and even in practice the Gospel, the Love and Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.
On the large Fijian island of Viti Levi, the pandemic numbers are growing and the virus is becoming increasingly threatening to people. At the St. Tavitha orphanage, Elder Melanie, with Sister Anusia and with the help of the children, are trying to sustain daily life under the conditions of prolonged confinement brought about by the pandemic.
The light maintenance and decoration of the buildings, the cultivation of the garden, the study of the school lessons – which of course remain closed – and the books of the Church are some elements of their daily life. The main concern is personal hygiene and the hygiene of the premises.
In Toga, where until the outbreak of the pandemic, three craftsmen from Greece, with the help of the locals, had been working for six months to complete the works on the great Temple of St. George, they managed to close the exterior and protect the interior of the Temple. After that, with the help and assistance of the Greek Embassy in Australia and the Consulate in New Zealand, they managed to find a flight and return to Greece. Since then, the country has remained closed, with the external borders closed and the only flights that take place are for the supply of materials and goods. This has of course resulted in no cases of coronavirus in the country.
The previous Samoan government worked almost identically, with the same results.
It has been 1.5 years since we have been unable to go to the islands and have a physical presence there. We are communicating electronically and by telephone with whatever that means. Let us hope and pray fervently that this ordeal will end as soon as possible so that we can see and enjoy each other’s faces in person.
We wish you a blessed new ecclesiastical year with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ under the care of the Lady of God.
† The New Zealand Myron
