« Address of Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh to St Nicholas Church in Oxford »
28-10-2011 Very Reverend Stephen Platt,
Rector of St Nicholas Church in Oxford
Your Reverence,
Dear brothers and sisters!
I have learned with deep concern about the occurrence of the blasphemous sacrilege in our recently consecrated church of St. Nicholas in Oxford.
Christ has been assaulted again by the weak faith and morals of people who in their wickedness have encroached upon the sacred, and plundered our Orthodox holy things: the cross from the church dome, the particles of holy relics, sacred vessels and other holy things.
In this distressing event for all of us let us humbly perceive a providential indication that we all need spiritual vigilance. Everything that has happened is a reminder of Christ's words, spoken in Gethsemane before his Passion: ’Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation’ (Mt. 26, 41).
In this hard lesson for us, brothers and sisters, let us not be despondent, but rouse ourselves to a renewed spirit of repentance, prayer and church attendance in faith and devotion to Christ, who for our sins has borne mockery, suffering and the cross.
With faith in the radiant resurrection of Christ, let us renew our church in Oxford through our humble labours and support. May the heavenly patron of our church, St Nicholas of Myra, accompany us in this task.
I wish you peace and invoke God’s blessing on you all,
+ Elisey
Archbishop of Sourozh