A General Priestly Assembly in view of Easter took place on the morning of Thursday, March 25, 2024 at the Spiritual Center of the Diocese of Corfu, under the chairmanship of the Reverend Metropolitan of Corfu, Paxos and the Diapontian Islands, Mr. Nektarios, who was also the main speaker.
Addressing the clergy, Mr. Nektarios gave instructions in view of the Holy Week, while he also made some important remarks about the spiritual climate of the days.
In particular, Mr. Nektarios emphasized, among other things, the following:
“We need to point out something that is very important. Despite the great pressures and the defamation of faith and the Church, our people still believe in God and believe in God. Recently a survey of a large company was published, in which 80% of the people declare that they do not part with the faith of our fathers and forefathers. Although in the same survey, a good percentage do not object to the marriage of same-sex couples, which in part seems to be expected, since many do not personally care about such an issue, nevertheless the survey makes a finding that, in our humble opinion, is a trap for all those who want to turn our people away from their tradition. There are resistances at all ages. It’s obviously not as much as we’d like. But it is a message for those who ideologically shape public opinion and with pride and pomp proclaim that faith is fading from the hearts of many, that this is not the case.
Let the clergy be ready both to highlight the events of Holy Week with the liturgical ethos, the enthusiasm, the exhortation for the participation of our people, but also at the same time to give a testimony of pedagogy to Christ. This means that our presence is alive, kind, continuous, with love and spirituality. And to be able to highlight the fact of the Resurrection, which is the center of our faith. Let’s not stay in the sentimentality of the days, but let’s give Christ. To urge people to go to confession, to fast, to receive communion, to give alms, to come to their senses and not to stay in the superficial approach to the events of Holy Week.
I want us all to reflect on the fact that we often stay in death and do not move on to the Resurrection. Our world operates in the perspective of the nihilism of existence. That after death there is no continuity, leaving people inconsolable in trials. But faith gives us not only the hope of the Resurrection, but its testimony, with the tangible example of our Saint Spyridon, whose example reminds us every hour and moment of the resurrection of both Christ and ours.
Let us all make our temples the beginning of spiritual rebirth. Let’s not just stick to customs and traditions, but live the presence of Christ as the beginning of renovation and personal resurrection. And to be able to inspire our people the faith they still have, to keep it. Let us, among ourselves, bear witness to unity and love. Let’s get over bitterness. Let us forgive, that we may receive forgiveness. And let the infinite light that will rise once more from the Holy Sepulcher of our Lord illuminate our hearts and our lives.”
At the end of the assembly, the Metropolitan exchanged the greeting of love and the established wishes with the priests and deacons.
