Articles

Once a pilgrim visited a hermit. Impressed by the desolation and harshness of the place, he asked the monk: “What do you do here?” And the hermit replied: “I hold the place…”

I recalled this story today, as our Church commemorates the holy memory of the Evangelist Luke. The Orthodox Community in Hong Kong honors the Apostle and Evangelist Luke as its patron saint.

Indeed, in Hong Kong, we too, the few Orthodox Christians, “hold the place.” The presence of the Orthodox Church in Hong Kong, as well as in other parts of Southeast Asia, is a true miracle. Without money. Without property. Without large communities of wealthy members. Without the support of the powerful of this world. And yet, despite enormous difficulties and intractable problems, the Divine Liturgy continues to be celebrated. The word of the Gospel of Christ continues to be proclaimed. The Orthodox witness remains alive. Is this not a miracle?

Let us rejoice in the wonders of the grace of the All-Holy Spirit for as long as they last. Apostle Luke, intercede before the merciful God for all of us who are fighting the good fight of faith in the Far East!

Nektarios Tsilis, Metropolitan of Hong Kong