Archbishop Nikitas of Thyatira and Great Britain
during the Service of Great Minima. (Announcement) at St. George
Patriarchal Cathedral. Photo: Patriarchate-Nikos Manginas
ΒΟΣΤΟΝ. His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyatira and Great Britain in an
exclusive interview with The National Herald called London “a ghost
town.” He said, “people are afraid to go out; individuals do not trust
governments and the news agencies.”
The entire interview follows:
The National Herald: Your Eminence please describe the coronavirus situation in London and generally in England?
Archbishop Nikitas: The situations in London and in
England, in general, are the same as in most other large cities. I have
used the expression “ghost town” to describe things. There is an
atmosphere of uncertainty, as no one knows what will happen. Churches
and schools have closed, businesses and shops are not open, and long
lines can be seen in banks, supermarkets, and other places. Along with
the uncertainty about the future, there is an atmosphere of fear and
distrust. People are afraid to go out; individuals do not trust
governments and the news agencies; young people are afraid that there
will be no jobs, positions, or future for them. To all these people, we
try to offer hope – Jesus Christ.
TNH: Are there cases of infection among your faithful and priests in the parishes of the Archdiocese?
Archbishop Nikitas: Yes – we have had a number of
cases, including two of the clergy, but they are doing quite well, thank
God. We are not sure as to how many members of the community have the
virus but I should also mention the fact that we have had a number of
deaths in our community. Please remember that we are a large Archdiocese
with over half a million faithful. The most notable situation, though,
is the case of a doctor who is in the hospital with the virus, who
contacted the priest and asked to receive Holy Communion. speak about
the situation, as this is a real testimony of faith and hope. This
doctor – a medical professional – is also a person who believes and who
looked to Christ, the only answer to all the problems of the world.
TNH: You had recently a teleconference with the Religious Leaders of England. What were the basic conclusions?
Archbishop Nikitas: The most important result of
the meeting was to issue a message of hope to all the people of the
United Kingdom. People seem to be losing hope and we are called to give
assurance. There are those who suffer from depression and isolation, we
must assist them to face and overcome their issues. The other leaders
listened as I spoke of the need to also help the clergy, who become
tired, as they deal with all the crises, problems and issues of the
others.
We also have begun sharing information – for example, where resources
are available – food, housing for the homeless, and other useful
information. For example, we are distributing food parcels and have
selected three centers for this. We are also working together to address
matters of legislation to see that basic needs are met by the
government. There is strength in unity.
TNH: Did you talk about the upcoming Easter? Will the churches open or not?
Archbishop Nikitas: At this moment, we are not sure,
as we have no clear directives. We will do as the Ecumenical
Patriarchate and the UK Government direct us. We are hopeful that we
will be able to open all the churches and we wait with this spirit in
our hearts.
TNH: How does are the British People dealing with the pandemic
Archbishop Nikitas: I think, for the most part, that
people here have followed the guidelines of the government. We hear the
message repeated over and over – “Stay Home – Protect the NHS (National
Health Service) – Save Lives.” Streets are empty, as are the hearts of
many. But, in all this, one must look for what we can learn. For
example, families can become closer and develop stronger relationships,
especially parents and their children.
In all of this, we have seen the worst and the best in humanity. I
would prefer not to speak of the worst aspects. But, I have seen young
people delivering food to the elderly and isolated. I have seen people
cleaning the streets and the sidewalks. I have heard of people who are
giving up their salaries. And, in a matter of a few hours, hundreds of
thousands of volunteers stepped forward to assist in the hospitals, care
centers, and elsewhere. What else could we ask for in these difficult
times?