The venerable Clergy and People of this Holy Exarchate under the protection of the Lord’s Apostles.
CHRISTVS RESSUREXIT!
Dear Family of the Church and friends of the Exarchate, as we know Holy Pascha is a most important event in our elder liturgical calendar; apart from the wonderful Divine Services that are filled with awe and mystery, we reverently absorb thus: Bright Week (Albis – the week where in formative times the newly baptized wore their baptismal gown for the Divine Services) is an occasion to unwind and have a sense of accomplishment – where the services are shortened immensely and festal joy resounds!
As you are all aware of the various miracles the Lord is working within the Exarchate, such as the miraculous oil streaming icon of the Apostles Peter and Paul which occurred on the eve of the 25th of September 2017 Anno Domini after the vesperal (Evening Prayer) service commemorating the fore feast of the Universal Exultation of the Holy Cross.
Now It is with immense Joy in the Risen Saviour who is the glorious Bishop of his Church, that in this Year of our Lord and Paschal Season of 2021AD I thus formally announce with praise to the Father Pantocrator, that the Lord once again blessed us on Great, Good and Holy Friday with his sanctifying presence via another occurrence of streaming olive oil coming forth from the icon of the Epitaphios (the Shroud of Christ) which began to flow from the leg of the reposed Christ around the mid-afternoon.
Within the liturgical tradition of our Church, the Epitaphios is sprinkled with blessed wine, and rosewater to which thus is further anointed with the new Holy Chrism oil at the burial service on Good Friday evening. The Icon itself was painted/written by my hand in Great Lent of 2016AD via traditional means as far as the canvassed wood panel is concerned, yet the paint is acrylic.
Hence, in considering the Lord’s presence through this miraculous occurrence – there was no need to carry out the prescribed tradition.
Thus, just as the Holy Myrrh bearers went to the tomb on the first day of the week to complete the burial customs due to the Sabbath prior, they were in awe when greeted by St. Gabriel the Archangel and his brother angels who announced the resurrection. We too were not only left in awe, but were anointed by his (Christ’s) very presence within this miraculous gift bestowed us. Therefore, all the faithful on that eve were anointed with the grace filled oil at which some even dabbed tissue upon it to take home and anoint their loved ones.
It is rather extraordinary when our Holy Exarchate enters trials and is visited by the spite of others outside its walls who try to tarnish that which the Lord himself has decreed. The notion of knowing a Christian or a group thereof by wholehearted love went out years ago and is frightfully remote to non-existent when push comes to shove!!! To love in Christ DOES NOT MEAN that a person who seeks the Lord MUST CONFORM TO THE NARROW MINDEDNESS AND CULTURAL CUSTOMS OF A COMMUNITY “which most are lacking mercy” they find and attempt to join!
To be a Christian means to wholeheartedly accept that person “cultural identity especially” for who and what they are whilst the Lord works on them and nurtures them with the same love he has for all; nailing our brokenness and stupidity (ignorance) to the wood of the cross for their transfiguration according to his will!!! There is an unhealthy movement within “the church” to have a quasi-cult mentality which encourages Guruism and I assure you that there is nothing spiritual about it – it in actual fact damages any hopes and potential a human person has to be a faithful servant of God!
Unfortunately, many supposed Christians resemble the pharisaic party who hide what they really are and have an endless supplies of masks to cover their tracks yet are a deceit onto themselves! These are the very people who shut the doors of the kingdom onto souls who are poor in spirit and in desperate need of God! Yet the LORD reminds such that if they continue to act in such ways he will deny them access and claim he doesn’t know them! (Mt 7:21-23)
Yet, history “biblical history” repeats itself where we have a handful indeed outside of the Orthodox Church accuse us of being fakes, some within the Orthodox Church label us as non-canonical (non-legitimate) whilst a minority of others within the Oriental traditions of the Orthodox Church which separated from the Chalcedonian (Eastern Orthodox) Orthodox Church in the late 4th Century (451AD) call us heretics…….Yet the Lord who anointed us via the pleasure of his Holy Spirit, continues to visit us and strengthen us amidst such jealousy and calumny harboured by these vicious serpents; reassuring us of his protection, love, grace, and presence!
Again, within the Holy Orthodox Church, there is no room for science to ratify that which is incompatible for its coherence. The Lord himself who through his All Holy Name IESVS KRISTOS which caused the BIG BANG and life sprung forth from his hand, unveils once again the mystery of his presence with sacramental elements which convey that he is truly Emmanuel – our Risen Saviour who visits the vineyard his right hand has planted: the Mystical Body of his Communion of Saints on earth which is joined to his Church of the New Jerusalem above and beyond!
Hence, in Holy Orthodoxy: it is definitely not a case of zoom in and comprehend, but come, behold and participate in what the Lord himself bestows. As we have experienced in the wave of confusion, turmoil and disaster this past year, many were deprived of the Holy Mysteries (Sacraments) now that the Lord has blessed us to celebrate his Holy Pascha – we definitely need to make an effort and put him first; family lunch and celebration IS SECONDARY!!!
We need to rediscover our identity and come to a realisation that many of us have become the very people who shun the cross “people who believe in Christ – Christians” when things have been normal and life’s daily rhythm was quick – the slow down we received did us some good; bringing the family unit together to eat, converse, and hopefully pray also for we need his intervention and come to realise that a split second can change society’s course!
May this episcopal statement upon the truth and reality of the wondrous matter be a source of consolation for those who grow weary and may have strayed away from the Church due to various reasons – encouragement for progress in the spiritual life of the baptized!
All are welcome to the Divine Services “please consult the schedule of services” and there is an open invitation to those who may just wish to sit quietly in meditative prayer, light a candle and ask his saints for assistance as they intercede to the Lord for our needs.
With every Blessing sincerely invoked upon you in Christ our glorious Bishop,
+Raffaele
Metropolitan Archbishop and Exarch
HOLY APOSTLES EXARCHATE
How inspiring and affirming of Christ's holy presence...sadly I was not present.