On the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, His Grace Bishop Nektarije of London and Great Britain and Ireland presided at the Eucharistic gathering at the Church of St Elijah the Prophet in Corby, concelebrating with the Very Reverend Protopresbyters-Stavrophors Nikola Kotur and Vida Vuković, and the Reverend Presbyter Borislav Kovačević.
A particular joy for the church community in Corby was the reception of our sister, Danijela Bastajić, into the Orthodox Church through the Holy Mystery of Chrismation.
Following the dismissal, His Grace addressed the faithful with a homily on the Gospel reading concerning the raising of the son of the widow of Nain. He reminded those gathered never to forget the Lord, Who hears even those prayers which, weighed down by pain and sorrow, we are unable to put into words. Christ, the true Lord of life and death, knows our suffering even before we can find the words to express it, and His love brings comfort and hope even when it seems that all hope has been lost.
Speaking about the Holy Mystery of Chrismation, the Bishop emphasised that through receiving the “seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit”, we are granted the grace-filled strength needed for the daily struggle towards salvation. This gift calls us to live in communion with Christ and His Church, growing ever firmer in faith, love and virtue, through which we become increasingly like our Lord.
Following the Divine Liturgy, fellowship continued in the church hall, where refreshments were served to all those present.
