HOLY MARTYR SAINT ELEFTHERIOS
ORTHODOX CHURCH Gubat, Sorsogon, Philippines
ANO SCHOMEN TAS KARDIAS! As far as Orthodoxy is concerned, I pray for our new community to be more than just a fledgling congregation, but a kind of a thriving parish. For Christianity is a religion of continuity and renewal. The dynamic intermingling between tradition and newness is a definitive aspect of the ministry of Jesus Christ, the early Church, as well as present or Church Militant. The more clearly our identity is defined, the more focused our vocation and mission, the more effective the success of our witness becomes especially in a country like the Philippines that the Orthodox Church is not yet well known. And we trust that the words of Christ remain equally true for our Church today: “Lift up your eyes, and see the fields are already good for harvest” (St. John 4:35). Faith cannot be imposed on anyone because it is to be freely given and embraced; but faith will not be easily received if the new life it creates is never seen or heard. Orthodoxy cannot successfully preach love, righteousness, justice, unity and peace to others without convincing evidence of these realities within its bosom. Please allow me to quote what Anthony Coniaris has stated in his book introducing The Orthodox Church: “We Orthodox have a great past and great tradition. We are proud of this. But we must not live in the past. Where are our John Chrysostoms today? Our Basils today, our Gregories, new Athanasius? We have the apostolic doctrine, we have the apostolic succession, but can we have, too, the apostolic power of the Holy Spirit to produce new and powerful witness today? New Church Fathers - not carbon copies of the old but originals as they were. The Orthodoxy is not a museum of the first thousand years of Christianity”. Yes, we must also be committed to the future by being zealous and resilient in the ministry of God. Others may say this is just a “Messiah Complex”, but I do not care. For definitely, the hindrance to liturgy (Litourgia) which means public work or work of all is lethargy which means doing nothing or in a state of being idle. I do not want to see our community to be in a lethargic spirituality, but instead more in a progressive liturgical life, integrating truth and life-orthodoxia and orthopraxia. Please allow me to use another thought from the book The Way of Christ, authored by Theodore G. Styllanopoulos: “The challenge for Orthodox Christians is to recover more of our evangelical spirit through genuine repentance, deep prayer and spiritual renewal. The evangelical spirit kindled by the grace of God, is the vital energy behind the Church’s ministries. We must meet in boardrooms and conferences in the presence of the Holy Spirit as if we are conducting a liturgy. We must face issues of leadership, education and administration with the eyes of God. We must come out of our committee meetings and our liturgical assemblies transformed and ready to share the “more” of Orthodoxy as fullness of faith and life. Orthodoxy is the fulfilment of all things in order that God’s glory may shine in all creations. The living tradition of Orthodoxy is creative and liberating, not merely protective”. With these awesome blessings, we exclaim, EFHARISTISOMEN TOU KIRIO! (Let us give thanks to the Lord!) Our local community is requesting all Orthodox faithful for prayers, and for our missions. Another concern is that our five year old community is looking forward to have a permanent place. May we, also, the faithful people of the HOLY MARTYR ST. ELEFTHERIOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH, Gubat, Sorsogon, Philippines, is opening the door of opportunities for those who would want to be part of our endeavours. You may send us your help, may it be monetary or in kind. Please feel free to contact our local community or Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Everyone is welcome to inquire, observe, and most specially partake with us during Eucharist as we celebrate Divine Liturgy in our makeshift chapel. We can be located at Brgy. Luna - Candol, Gubat, Sorsogon, Philippines. Also at rhs_chrysostom@yahoo.com In all these things I say, Ano schomen tas kardias! (Lift up your hearts!). - Fr. Chrysostom+
