Speech On Gratification
of the Orthodox Christians in Korea
delivered by the Protopresbyter Daniel Na
(on behalf of the local clergy and laity in Korea)
H.E.Dimitrios of America & H.E.Sotirios of Korea
On the Occasion of the Enthronement of His Eminence Metropolitan Sotirios, the First Metropolitan of the Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Korea
June 20th, 2004
“This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us be glad and rejoice therein”.
Your Excellencies, Your Eminences, Reverend Clergies and Deacons, and beloved Sisters and Brothers in Christ
On this Glorious and Exuberant Day of Your Enthronement to the Holy Throne of the Metropolitan of the Orthodox Metropolis of Korea, we are gathered today at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral from 7 different Cities, and some of us, from far distant lands, to witness this glorious moment of our Orthodox Church History in Korea since the first Orthodox mission started in 104 years ago, and to exhort Glory, and Honor, and Worship, and Thank to our Almighty Lord, Jesus Christ, and to express our heartfelt gratitude with sincere congratulations, and exclaim “AXIOS” on Your Enthronement Day to the Metropolitan of the holy Metropolis of Korea.
I am very honored and blessed to have this opportunity to address my sincere heartfelt greetings of congratulation, “EIS POLLA ETI DESPOTA ”, to Your Eminence on behalf of all the Clergy and Laity of the 7 different local Orthodox Communities in Korea, with filial love, deepest respect, obedience, and humble heart.
Your Eminence, You have been tendering of the Korean Orthodox Communities, days and nights without any of the proper rests as normal men would have, for the last 30 years since 1975 until this glorious day, the Enthronement of the Metropolitan of the Orthodox Metropolis of Korea. As I am remembering of all those years of Your endeavoring pastoral life as a good shepherd for the Orthodox people in Korea to have their spiritual nourishment and educations throughout the past years of difficulties. In time of the economic crisis, You shared all You had with the needy people, in time of the emergency of the unfortunate people, You provided quick and speedy assistance to protect them from such horrific dangers, in time of the loneliness, You became a good friend to the lonely people, in time of the need of love, You embraced with fatherly love all the children who lost their parents, and in time of the sickness, You prayed fervently without ceasing to our Lord in front of the wonderworking Icons of Theotokos of Tikhvin, and of St. Nicholas, the Wonderworker, for the speedy recoveries of the sick and suffering people until all the maladies disappeared clearly from them. For all these blessed and graceful wonder works You have done, we thank You so much, Your Eminence.
You have set the exemplified model of an Orthodox Missionary through Your mission works accomplished with all Your heart, mind, strength, might, and will, after the Commandment of our Lord, “Therefore, go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (Matt. 28: 19-20).” not only to Korea, but all over the world. We are very honored and blessed to witness this fact that all the people on earth praise all the works You have done in this Nation, “A Morning Calm Land”.
The word, “Mitropolis”, means “Mother City” in Greek,. As parents care their children, the Orthodox Metropolis of Korea will tender all the neighboring cities from Mt. Hanra through Mt. Paek Doo of “A Morning Calm Land”, Korea. This is our new Challenge of the Orthodox Metropolis of Korea for the 21st century. We are a small flock of our Lord, but we are powered around of all four sides of us by the intercession prayers of the 24 Patron Saints of Korea, and by Your presence in midst of all of us. Therefore, we will not loose our Faith and Courage to be with You always as one whole family, the Holy Orthodox Church.
With all our mind, heart, strength, and live, we beseech to Our Lord to grant You divine power and good health for many years, that all of us may be granted with all the heavenly bliss and spiritual joy and happiness with You forever more. Amen.
St. Paul Orthodox Press
www.orthodoxincheon.or.kr
