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The streets of London echo an eerie silence, and the feelings of
isolation and loneliness permeate throughout this once lively and
bustling city.
I find myself in a new place, a new home, worshipping with new
people, having arrived in the United Kingdom only a few months ago.
However, even in the midst of this new situation, coupled with this
current pandemic, there seems to permeate, at the same time, a distinct
sense of rejuvenating peace.
Since I have been in London, I have found solace praying with the
faithful of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great
Britain. I have also found joy in exploring new ways of reaching out to
and engaging with the people here. And in addition to this, I must admit
that I have found that my own stability and confidence have been
strengthened by the resilient leadership of His Eminence Archbishop
Nikitas.
Each day, there are new announcements by government officials and
agencies concerning the spread and alarming death toll directly
connected with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has shaken the whole world to its very core.
Social distancing and separation, as well as working from home—together with the #ΜένουμεΣπίτι (#StayHome)
movement—have all demonstrated the severity of this global pandemic.
Indeed, our world as we knew it will forever be changed by what is
happening now.
Our minds cannot help but be taken over by a storm of anxiety,
insecurity and fear. Great Lent this year will be like no other we have
ever experienced before, especially since the pandemic is so different
than anything any of us have ever encountered. But with this health
crisis, the work of the Archdiocese here in the UK shines bright as a
vigilant and courageous beacon of hope and reassurance that better days
are coming.
My relationship with Archbishop Nikitas
I have been blessed to know Archbishop Nikitas personally since the
years of my youth. As is widely known, he was an assistant priest at
Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Merrillville,
Indiana, which is my home parish. His Eminence was also one of the
priests at my baptism. Decades later, too, our paths crossed
providentially as His Eminence was a member of the Ecumenical
Patriarchate’s Holy and Sacred Synod, when I began my tenure as a layman
there serving its English Office.
A few months later, when the “fullness of time” had arrived for me to
become a clergyman, His All-Holiness our Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew asked the then Metropolitan Nikitas to ordain me to the Holy
Diaconate at the Phanar. Once again, I found His Eminence inaugurating
me into another phase of my life in the Church. And since then, I had
the great blessing to assist His Eminence on various programs and
projects that he was spearheading on behalf of the Mother Church of
Constantinople throughout my time serving at the Patriarchate (almost 12
years in total), most especially the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Task
Force on Modern Slavery as well as on the official Youth Committee of
the Patriarchate.
Just as I was surprised then, I was pleasantly surprised—and also
honored and privileged—that, after all of this, Archbishop Nikitas would
eventually be the one who would ordain me to the holy priesthood. And
not only did he ordain me personally, but the ordination itself took
place at the very parish where we officially met, where His Eminence
served during my baptism decades ago.
My ordination to the priesthood on November 24th, 2019, went hand and
hand with His Eminence’s request to His All-Holiness that I assist him
in England, the Mother Country of our beloved homeland, the United
States of America.
His response to the pandemic
As COVID-19 began spreading across the globe, I watched closely as
our Archbishop monitored the situation in Asia. His Eminence served as
the Metropolitan of Hong Kong for over a decade. So, of the religious
leaders in the Church, he probably had one of the most well-informed
assessments on the situation in those lands.
I listened to him intently as he asked important and poignant
questions to better understand the threat, and over the last few weeks, I
have watched him courageously tend to the needs of our Archdiocese here
in the UK during what has undoubtedly been a most challenging and
confusing time.
Since the beginning of the crisis, the Archdiocesan staff, led by
Archbishop Nikitas, has worked around the clock to respond to all
inquiries being made by the clergy and laity of our Archdiocese in the
UK. He has also sent out regular Archpastoral e-mails and communications
almost daily to all of the clergy, providing them with important and
much needed guidance as they care for their own flocks. He has worked
with the small Archdiocesan staff to help coordinate hospital visits to
all those who are ill.
Overall, in facing COVID-19, the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great
Britain made a clear choice: to remain available at all times for all
the faithful and for all those in need. Recently, His Eminence
expressed:
“We are the Church and we are responsible for the care of both the
body and soul; for, we have been called to minister to those suffering
around us. It is for these reasons that I am communicating with all of
you, as your Archbishop and father, for I will give an account for your
souls and your service to the Church before the throne of Christ.”
The importance of his actions
His Eminence has lovingly encouraged all clergy who are able and not
at risk to offer the scheduled Divine Services, of course, behind closed
doors. While this is a painful directive for everyone, especially
during this most beautiful time of the year, it is one that is done out
of love and respect for the faithful.
Even though the doors to the churches may be closed, though, the
Archbishop has emphasized his personal conviction that prayer and the
Divine Services play a central role in our response to this pandemic.
And always serving as the example, His Eminence has ensured that the
services continue to be offered in the Archdiocesan Chapel, even though
they are closed to the public. A few weeks ago, he wrote to the clergy
saying:
“We have to make haste and visit the hospitals, minister to the
suffering, serve the Divine Services, and attend to the many other tasks
required of us all as clergy. While I know and understand that you
might be tired and weary, also remember that people are looking to us
for guidance and hope. The Church has always been the place where people
find comfort, and we cannot deny them this, especially in these very
difficult times.”
Recognizing the detrimental effects that this pandemic has had and
will continue to have on our community and society at large, Archbishop
Nikitas has encouraged local parishes to form “task forces” and “hands
of mercy” in order to collect food, non-perishable items,
over-the-counter medicines, to visit those who are shut in and to
deliver necessities to all those in need.
Preparing for Pascha amid the pandemic
The response of the devout people of this Archdiocese to His
Eminence’s call has been extraordinary and overwhelming all at the same
time. This includes a call on the faithful to support yet another
initiative: the preparation of food packages for Pascha.
Again, people of goodwill from all over the Archdiocese are already
responding with love and concern for their neighbors. Our goal for
Pascha this year is to prepare as many care packages as possible and to
make them available for distribution to those in need.
Essentially, in anticipation of the most Holy and Great Feast of
feasts, the Lord’s Pascha, His Eminence moved swiftly to ensure
that—when our faithful proclaim the ever sacred words “Χριστός
Ανέστη”—they will also have a proper meal, making sure that no one goes
hungry and that no one remains in need while we celebrate the
Resurrection of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Most recently with the closing of day schools, His Eminence has tried
to find ways of providing meals to school children, who come from
families facing unprecedented financial challenges. Thus, through this
philanthropy, our Archdiocese is exemplifying the fullness of our
Orthodox Faith by considering every aspect, every circumstance, every
predicament brought on by this pandemic.
Psychological support for our faithful
Unfortunately, it must be said that the uncertainty and instability
of the present situation has also brought psychological dysphoria to
many members of our community. To address this challenge, our
Archdiocese has arranged for Greek Orthodox Psychotherapists to
voluntarily offer their time and professional assistance to members of
our Archdiocese. Because of this, counseling services are now available
online or in person for anyone in need of psychological support.
Furthermore, with everyone socially isolated from one another, our
Archdiocese has been meeting with many of the faithful by means of live
video conferencing. We have offered a series of Lenten lectures in the
English language. This lecture series has grown in popularity as
stay-at-home measures have become stricter, and there have been large
numbers of faithful who have been participating on a weekly basis.
The lectures have provided them with a platform, where they can see,
speak with, and learn directly from their Archbishop. It is quite
obvious that he has been ready and more than willing to face and address
every challenge presented to his community.
Having the most historic and the largest eparchy in Europe, His
Eminence Archbishop Nikitas demonstrated personal interest and
solidarity with the neighboring Orthodox eparchies of the Ecumenical
Throne, communicating with their Metropolitans about ways in which our
own Archdiocese can be of assistance to their ministries. These simple
and modest actions have strengthened their bond of love in Christ and
has demonstrated the solidarity of the Orthodox hierarchs in the UK in a
tangible manner.
A true spiritual father
As it is easy to become dismayed by the storms and winds of the
present pandemic, God has provided the faithful believers of the
Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain a loving and dynamic
shepherd, a true spiritual father—one known for his kindness, charity
and compassion.
Our loving God has blessed His Church throughout the world with
visionary leadership, especially in the person of His All-Holiness
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, as well as Archbishop Nikitas here in
London. These hierarchs inspire us, encourage us, and remind us by their
Archpastoral love that God is always with us.
In Archbishop Nikitas’ enthronement speech less than a year ago, His Eminence stated:
“I come to Great Britain in a time when the world is shaken by many
inequalities and sufferings. For this reason, I have as a priority for
us to cooperate all together—lay people and clergy—so as to hold the
pilot light of Orthodoxy burning in Great Britain, and renew this light
with a genuine and undistorted oil, that is, the oil of the Orthodox
Faith.”
Now more than at the time of his enthronement, our world is shaken.
And yet, as the whole world trembles with fear of the unknown, the
Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain has personified a Church that
stands next to us, embraces us, guides us, loves us and nurtures us.
As our whole Archdiocese prays for the strength and courage of all
the self-sacrificing people around the world, who are striving to
restore health and peace for humanity, the people of our Archdiocese add
a prayer of thanksgiving for our Archbishop, who we have been blessed
with—that he be blessed with many years of good health and wisdom,
keeping us connected to Christ and bringing us together as a community,
so that the light of our Archdiocese may always burn bright with the truth and love of the Orthodox Faith.
About the author
A native of Indiana, the Very Reverend Nephon Tsimalis served for
many years as a Patriarchal Deacon at the Ecumenical Patriarchate of
Constantinople. In 2019 he was ordained a priest and elevated to
Archimandrite and sent to assist Archbishop Nikitas in London where he
now serves as a full-time priest of the Archdiocese of Thyateira and
Great Britain.