"Glory
to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit"
My
greetings and much thanks goes to His Eminence our Archbishop Amfilochios for
his blessing me to come on this holy pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain in Greece.
Bitter
truth I was a protestant church pastor and for 26 years searching for healing
of soul and body until I met this man of God, the Archbishop of the Christian
Greek Orthodox Church, who explained to me in the light of the Orthodox Faith
which is the main stream line of the Christian Church.
As I
searched digging dipper for a meaningful relationship with the Lord Jesus
Christ one Orthodox Priest from New Zealand told me they were the Ancient
Church and followed the Original Bible. I was more the convinced as he
encouraged of the church of Christ that was started by the Apostles and the
Holy Church Fathers.
He told me
and shared of their CREED which is the ultimate symbol of Faith of this Ancient
church.
THE CREED
I believe
in one God, Father All Governing Creator of Heaven and earth, of All things
visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of
God, begotten of the Father before All ages. Light of Light, True God from True
God, begotten not created of one essence with the Father through whom All
things were made.
Who for us
and for our Salvation came down from Heaven and was incarnated by the Holy
Spirit and Maria the Virgin and became man.
Who was
crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried and rose on the
third day according to the Scriptures.
And He
ascended into the Heavens and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
And He will
come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, whose Kingdom shall
have no end.
And in the
Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life who proceeds from the Father together
with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who spoke through the
Prophets.
I believe
in one Holy, Catholic and Holy Church, I confess one Baptism for the remission
of sins and i await the resurrection of the dead and I await the resurrection
of the dead and the Life of the age to come, Amen.
By the
grace of God I joined the church in 2011 and was ordained as priest in Greece
and am counting my blessings day by day preparing a people for the coming of
the Lord.
Holy Mount
Athos, Greece - 2015
This is a
special place called the Garden of the most Holy Theotokos, the Mother of our
Lord Jesus Christ splendid with Byzantine culture.
Holy Mount
Athos is Orthodoxy’s most precious treasure, her strength, praise and pride.
It is
history being the first Priest from Fiji for this Spiritual visit.
Mount Athos
has 20 great monasteries with many sketes and Kellies.
Mount Athos
goes deep into the sea like someone offering his hand for a handshake to one
approaching.
In addition
a wealth of articles of ecclestical worship, priceless examples of Athonite
art, celebrated miraculous Icons of the Theotokos/Panagai and of the holy
Saints, miraculous water springs, precious relics of John the Baptist, of the
holy church fathers and 1000s of manuscripts in their libraries, the holy
Sash/Belt/Zoni of the Mother of God.
The much
longed for me to venerate was the largest fragment of the Holy Cross on which
the Lord Jesus died and as I fell on my knee’s to worship my beginning words
were " Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me a sinner".
Upon
completion of this short visit I was much favored to visit historical sites and
Bible land marks during the days of Saint Paul in Athens, Corinthians and
Thessalonica.
In short in
my conclusion with the help of God and the Holy Theotokos [the Mother of God],
I give all the due glory for what He made me to accomplish today and together
as one family, with one voice and one heart we thank of the consecration of the
holy Orthodox Church by our Archbishop Metropolitan Amfilochious for
establishing churches in N.Z/Fiji/Tonga and Samoa.
On this
historical event by the grace of God, may the prayers of the Mother of God
always protect you and save you.
Father
George Pillay
Lautoka
City
Fiji.
