THE ORTHODOX CHURCH RESPONDS
Troparion of the Cross
Lord, save us your people and ever bless us as your inheritance; granting us victory over all enemies and preserving us via the merits of thy precious and life-giving cross.
This holy Sabbath “the Sunday of the Lord” the Church celebrated the veneration of the glorious cross which was a feast introduced in mid lent to remind us or rather anticipate the glory of what lay beyond Calvary hill – where flesh that laid in the tomb could not be held via doom but arose from deaths clutches so that all flesh may rise in his name who caused life to spring forth in the beginning!
Within this year of our Lord 2020, the world has been confined to its limitations and in many ways has been introduced to a compulsory Lenten observance….not so much in the rhetoric that non apostolic and fanatic supposed Christians pedal ‘apocalyptic stances’ but rather one that brings us back to our very persona; the inner garden that has grown wild and now needs immediate TLC!
It is not surprising that at such times of uncertainty, humanity reverts to a most primitive mindset where we clasp onto what we think should be ours, covet or hijack more than what is necessary, and of course bring into light the old behaviour; an eye for an eye – which is normally verbal and sometimes physical when purchasing supplies.
Our government has and continues to make sure we are safe by taking necessary measures in regards to contain the spread of the current virus and further endeavouring to keep our boarders in check and hoarders in line! Large events have wisely been cancelled and other such activities postponed due to the current health crisis. Religious institutions have made provisions for their communities and ensured that services are either streamed on the net or cancelled due to risks.
Yet, as we journey through the appointed time for prayer, reflection and in many ways isolation from everyday activities – a practice encouraged from formative years and is the monastic observance and lifestyle; Orthodox Christendom MUST NOT derail from that which it has been ordained to observe and further place itself in canonical peril! For at the sight of danger and pestilence, the Orthodox Church always intensifies her prayer as she has done in history and has never been vexed or untouched via such ills!!!
Our Faith and Church must make provisions as others have done, but we may not render such provisions in the same way as such! Pascha, Holy Pascha is the Feast of feasts and our people MUST NOT be denied the Holy Mysteries “Holy Communion, Absolution, Anointing” in any way within this timeframe! Yes, we may accommodate the current needs and offer the Divine Services “mysteries” accordingly within the limitations prescribed by our government “appealing to the common sense of the individual” so that we ensure safety and precaution as we have ALWAYS DONE when such perils arise!
Hence, we MAY NOT close the doors of the kingdom of the Communion of Saints to the faithful for it is forbidden and as the supposed canonical establishments pedal: renders all who do such UNCANONICAL! We must ensure our safety and quite rightly make provisions in being ever cautious, but we must not run away like the hired servants in the sight of danger to which our Lord exhorts in the gospels…. (Jn 10:12) for we are to be shepherds that ensure our fold is safe, nourished and at ease! May I remind you that Monasteries were the clinics of the past which tended to the afflicted and were effective in remedies whilst employing serious caution, professional and spiritual care!
Therefore, due to the current health crisis – if anyone is in need of pastoral care; they are to contact me directly and we can arrange the best way possible for that to be rendered accordingly! Should you have any prayer requests – we will include them in the cycle of services in our private chapels! The Divine Services are MANDATORY and each cleric is to celebrate them accordingly in his private chapel! Thus, the public services at Good Shepherd Chapel ARE SUSPENDED until further notice!
With this in mind, let us ask for the Lord’s intervention that HE will illumine the minds of our Australian medical research teams which are one of the leading bodies in the medical field to find the appropriate vaccine and at the same time enlighten people with common curtesy and true discernment!
Kontakion of the Cross
Lord, you ascended the wood of the cross in thy merciful love for us your people; as the lamb who goes voluntarily to his slaughter. You who are the unction from above; gladden us your Church who are preserved unharmed by thy Name. We venerate the wood of thy cross for you sanctified it with thy blood and as pearl of great price, you tear down the walls of oppression with thy weapon of peace.
Invoking the Lord’s blessing upon you that your Lenten observance may be fruitful at the Paschal harvest.
In the College of Apostles,
+Raffaele
ARCHBISHOP AND EXARCH
HOLY APOSTLES
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