ANNOUNCEMENT
Wellington 1st of April 2020
To the Clergy, the Monastic Brotherhoods and Sisterhoods and the reverent plentitude of the Holy Metropolis of New Zealand (Fiji, Tonga, Samoa)
Wellington 1st of April 2020
To the Clergy, the Monastic Brotherhoods and Sisterhoods and the reverent plentitude of the Holy Metropolis of New Zealand (Fiji, Tonga, Samoa)
Beloved siblings and children in the Lord, I
am devoutly praying for you, setting my hope on our Lord Jesus Christ
who is the Saviour of our life, that you and yours have health of body,
soul and mind.
We continue the journey of Holy and Great Lent and soon we will be at the threshold of Great and Holy Week which brings us to the empty tomb of the Resurrection of Our Lord. This much is certain.
The never before encountered and unusual circumstances in which we live, which include the restriction of our travel, our contacts with others, the closing of our sacred churches and chapels and the suspension of our Sacred Services brings us all to an untenable and challenging situation. According to the forecast of the Governments and International Organizations, it seems likely that the present state of affairs will continue for a few more weeks perhaps months. It distresses and pains us all, however, this doesn’t mean that we will remain without action and response. Our priority is that we not place the physical health of our brothers and sisters, our neighbors, and those most dear to us--even our entire Community and Nation at risk.
This is a situation, a circumstance that we must learn to live through with patience hope and prayer. We won’t lose our faith! We won’t lose our courage! This is a time for us to put a greater weight, a more focused significance, on our personal prayer life, on our personal communication with God! We mustn’t stop talking with him! We mustn’t stop glorifying and doxologizing him! We mustn't stop thanking him! We mustn't stop entreating him! Now is the time to transform our homes into churches!
In this effort and during this holy period we have the assistance of technology, of broadcasts over television or the internet of our Sacred Services, services which are being held in Orthodox Churches all over the world!
Naturally, watching the Sacred Services over the internet or on television cannot replace our personal prayer, nor does it ever, in any way, fulfill our participation in the Sacred Mysteries of our Church, in the Divine Liturgy, and the receiving of the Sacred Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rather, it is simply a consolation, an assistance (it cannot be the same in essence) as we wait for the cessation of this trial and the opportunity to return to our churches and our regular and soul enriching Church attendance.
Throughout the duration of this crisis and during these holy days, our priests throughout New Zealand and Oceania will serve the Sacred Services for the sanctification of our land and her people the without for the time being the presence of our faithful.
In conclusion, we would like to express our boundless gratitude which we feel for all those in the health field who work in support of our good health during this critical time unti we resume undeterred our Community and Communal life.
Praying and beseeching our Lord Jesus Christ and with much love,
We continue the journey of Holy and Great Lent and soon we will be at the threshold of Great and Holy Week which brings us to the empty tomb of the Resurrection of Our Lord. This much is certain.
The never before encountered and unusual circumstances in which we live, which include the restriction of our travel, our contacts with others, the closing of our sacred churches and chapels and the suspension of our Sacred Services brings us all to an untenable and challenging situation. According to the forecast of the Governments and International Organizations, it seems likely that the present state of affairs will continue for a few more weeks perhaps months. It distresses and pains us all, however, this doesn’t mean that we will remain without action and response. Our priority is that we not place the physical health of our brothers and sisters, our neighbors, and those most dear to us--even our entire Community and Nation at risk.
This is a situation, a circumstance that we must learn to live through with patience hope and prayer. We won’t lose our faith! We won’t lose our courage! This is a time for us to put a greater weight, a more focused significance, on our personal prayer life, on our personal communication with God! We mustn’t stop talking with him! We mustn’t stop glorifying and doxologizing him! We mustn't stop thanking him! We mustn't stop entreating him! Now is the time to transform our homes into churches!
In this effort and during this holy period we have the assistance of technology, of broadcasts over television or the internet of our Sacred Services, services which are being held in Orthodox Churches all over the world!
Naturally, watching the Sacred Services over the internet or on television cannot replace our personal prayer, nor does it ever, in any way, fulfill our participation in the Sacred Mysteries of our Church, in the Divine Liturgy, and the receiving of the Sacred Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rather, it is simply a consolation, an assistance (it cannot be the same in essence) as we wait for the cessation of this trial and the opportunity to return to our churches and our regular and soul enriching Church attendance.
Throughout the duration of this crisis and during these holy days, our priests throughout New Zealand and Oceania will serve the Sacred Services for the sanctification of our land and her people the without for the time being the presence of our faithful.
In conclusion, we would like to express our boundless gratitude which we feel for all those in the health field who work in support of our good health during this critical time unti we resume undeterred our Community and Communal life.
Praying and beseeching our Lord Jesus Christ and with much love,
The Metropolitan
+ M Y R O N of New Zealand
+ M Y R O N of New Zealand
ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΙΣ
Προς Τούς Κληρικούς, τίς Μοναστικές Αδελφότητες και το ευσεβές πλήρωμα της Ιεράς Μητροπόλεως Νέας Ζηλανδίας
Αδελφοί καί τέκνα εν Κυρίω αγαπητά,
Αδελφοί καί τέκνα εν Κυρίω αγαπητά,
Εύχομαι και προσεύχομαι, έχοντας την ελπίδα στον Κύριο μας Ιησού Χριστό
και Σωτήρα της ζωής μας, να έχετε σωματική, πνευματική και ψυχική
υγεία.
Διανύουμε την Αγία και Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστή και σύντομα θα
διανύσουμε την Αγία και Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα και την Ανάσταση του Κυρίου
μας. Οι πρωτόγνωρες και ασυνήθιστες καθημερινές καταστάσεις που βιώνουμε
με τον περιορισμό της κυκλοφορίας, των συναντήσεων μας, το κλείσιμο των
Ναών, την αναστολή των Ιερών Ακολουθιών, μας φέρνει όλους σε μία άβολη
και αμήχανη κατάσταση. Κατά τα προβλεπόμενα των κυβερνήσεων και των
διεθνών οργανισμών πιθανόν να διαρκέσει λίγες εβδομάδες ἠ και μήνες. Μας
θλίβει και μας πονάει όλους, όμως αυτό δε σημαίνει ότι θα μείνουμε
άπραγοι και χωρίς αντίδραση. Προτεραιότητα μας είναι να μην θέτουμε σε
κίνδυνο την σωματική υγεία των αδελφών μας, των πλησίων μας, των δικών
μας ανθρώπων, όλης της κοινωνίας.
Είναι μία κατάσταση που θα
πρέπει να μάθουμε να την ζούμε με υπομονή, ελπίδα και προσευχή. Δεν
χάνουμε την πίστη μας, δεν χάνουμε το κουράγιο μας. Είναι καιρός να
δώσουμε μεγαλύτερο βάρος στην προσωπική μας προσευχή, στην προσωπική μας
επικοινωνία με το Θεό. Να μην σταματήσουμε να Του μιλάμε, να μην
σταματήσουμε να Τον δοξολογούμε, να μην σταματήσουμε να Τον
ευχαριστούμε, να μην σταματήσουμε να Τον παρακαλούμε. Είναι καιρός να
μετατρέψουμε τα σπίτια μας σε Εκκλησία.
Σ’ αυτήν την προσπάθεια
έχουμε βοήθεια μέσω της τεχνολογίας. Τηλεοπτικές και διαδικτυακές
μεταδόσεις των Ιερών Ακολουθιών της περιόδου λαμβάνουν χώρα από
Ορθόδοξες Εκκλησίες σε όλον τον κόσμο. Φυσικά η παρακολούθηση των Ιερών
Ακολουθιών από το διαδίκτυο ή την τηλεόραση δεν αντικαθιστά την
προσωπική μας προσευχή και σε καμία περίπτωση δεν αναπληρώνει την
συμμετοχή μας στα Ιερά Μυστήρια της Εκκλησίας μας, στη Θεία Λειτουργία
και την λήψη του Σώματος και Αίματος του Κυρίου μας Ιησού Χριστού.
Αποτελεί μονάχα μία παρηγοριά, μία βοήθεια και όχι την ουσία,
αναμένοντας να τελειώσει αυτή η δοκιμασία και να επιστρέψουμε στις
Εκκλησίες μας και στον κανονικό και ψυχοφελή εκκλησιασμό μας.
Καθ’ όλες τις Άγιες ημέρες που διανύουμε, Ιερές ακολουθίες θα τελούνται
από όλους τους Ιερείς της Νέας Ζηλανδίας και των νησιών του Ειρηνικού
για να αγιάζεται ο τόπος και οι άνθρωποι της, χωρίς προσωρινά την
παρουσία των πιστών.
Τελειώνοντας θα θέλαμε να εκφράσουμε την
άπειρη ευγνωμοσύνη που νοιώθουμε για όλους όσους εργάζονται για την
διατήρηση της υγείας μας και της απρόσκοπτη συνέχιση της κοινωνικής μας
ζωής.
Προσευχητικώς προς τον Κύριό μας Ιησούν Χριστόν και με πολύ αγάπη
Ο Μητροπολίτης
† ο Νέας Ζηλανδίας Μύρων
Χρήσιμοι σύνδεσμοι μεταδόσεως Ιερών Ακολουθιών / Useful LinksINTERNET
ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE
https://www.facebook.com/EcumenicalPatriarchate
NEW ZEALAND
https://www.facebook.com/HolyMetropolisNZ/
AUSTRALIA
Sydney
Sts Raphael Nicholas & Irene, Liverpool Fr Prochoros
https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolGreekOrthodox/
St Sypridon, Kingsford, Fr Steven
https://www.facebook.com/stspyridonparish/
Resurrection of our Lord. Kogarah Sydney Fr Sophrony
https://www.facebook.com/KogarahGreekOrthodoxChurch/
Melbourne
Presentation of our Lord, Coburg Melbourne Fr Eustathios and Fr Leonidas
https://www.facebook.com/Coburg-Greek-Orthodox-Church-199599883406283/
Brisbane
St George Brisbane, Fr Dimitri
https://www.facebook.com/stgeorgebrisbane/
Adelaide
Prophet Elias Norwood Fr Michael
https://www.facebook.com/propheteliasnorwood/
Perth
Bishop Elpidios of Kyaneon
https://www.facebook.com/frelpidios.karalis
GREECE
Dormition of Theotokos Neapoleos
http://in.icss.com.gr:8000/stream_003
TV
ERT2
https://webtv.ert.gr/ert2-live
ERT3
https://webtv.ert.gr/ert3-live
4E
http://tv4e.gr