^“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)

While painting the Icons on the walls of the small chapel of Sts. Peter and Paul, on the Island of Tongatapu – the main island of the Kingdom of Tonga – we have been pondering on the joyful hope of the Christ’s Apostles, their patience in difficulties while in prayerful loyalty to Christ and His Gospel.  

The last year was particularly difficult and challenging, and the opportunities for practicing patience were plentiful. Nevertheless, the Lord is the one who taught us not to worry about tomorrow. He who himself was betrayed by his closest friends, vilified, slandered, tortured and crucified in response to His giving sight to the blind and making the paralysed walk, still commands – not to worry. “The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one” says the Apostle (2 Thess. 3:3).

As disciples of the Meek One, we anticipate trials that rival His own, yet we fervently endeavor to remain within the joyful hope that the Apostles so beautifully embodied.

We recall some correspondence from January of this year, when we felt that there was no wind in our sails to propel us forward. A friend and fellow priest wished us a Happy New Year and enquired whether we could make arrangements to meet in three months in one of the Islands of the Pacific.

In order to “boast all the more gladly about our weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on us” (2 Cor. 12:9),  here is the quote of the reply.

The year began thus, but we continued with hope in the power of weakness.

Just a month after this, our Metropolitan tonsured and then ordained a priestmonk – Father Nathanial – who came from Greece responding to a calling he received within his heart to join us in the Ierapostolic endeavours of our Missionary Metropolis.

We took a first breath – help had arrived.

That same month, at the invitation of the Archdiocese of America, we travelled to the United States to share our story and give people there opportunity to partake of the joy of the work for the Gospel. We returned reinforced in hope, having obtained new brothers and sisters in Christ whose hearts were moved by God to support this small sister-church in the Pacific. Furthermore, the donations we received allowed us to cover the living costs and maintenance for our various mission locations in the islands for several months.

As we were returning from that trip, news came that after much delay one of our three seminarians from Fiji, an alumnus of the St Tabitha Home, was accepted into the St Andrew Theological college in Sydney thanks to generosity of the Archdiocese of Australia. At the same time patrons emerged who promised to cover expenses for him and two other seminarians residing in the Monastery Neotharri in New Zealand.

We started to breathe more deeply.  

In March, old friends and coworkers Ilias and his brother Nicholas, who had worked on construction of the Church of St George in Tonga, finally came from Greece to work on the long-awaited restoration of the roof at the St. Paraskevi Mission centre in Sabeto, Fiji. They were joined by a volunteer painter from Greece – also named Nicholas. Finally, the leaking was repaired and a normal life under those blessed roofs has resumed. In addition to that project, the men from Greece repaired and painted the Volunteers House in Saweni and completely remodelled the bathrooms and showers for the boys at the St Tabitha Orphanage. They also began construction of a new Education Centre next to the orphanage.

All of that even before Pascha!

During Great Lent our Metropolitan, took on the duties of a parish priest in Fiji for a time, leading by example as always in the Sacrament of Humility.

Then Paschal joy arrived. Fr. Theonas from the Metropolis of Florina came and served for a whole month for us, in the big Island of Viti Levu in Fiji where we had no priest to serve since the beginning of the year. After Pascha Fr. Bartholomew, who came from Tonga to New Zealand to have a Pet Scan, returned to Fiji in good health and mood, and in the next months received a medical confirmation that the Prostate cancer is in remission with a help of medication. With his return to Fiji we now have a full-time priest in Viti Levu again.  

In early July we baptised new Orthodox faithful on the small island of Fiji – Vanua Levu which brought great joy to the vibrant parish where Fr Alexios Navindra serves as a successor of Fr Varnavas of blessed memory. In the same month we met with an experienced Priest, who God-willing will move to the South Pacific with his family to join the Mission here.

Currently we are in Tonga with the Jones family, our valuable coworkers in the Mission, who have now been here a year, working on the reopening of the Mission after a three-year absence from the Island due to Lockdowns and lack of personnel. Together we are working on a beautification project and finishing painting Icons in the chapel, and in few weeks, we will have a visit from another clergyman and his wife, who are preparing to move to our Metropolis.

The Lord is bringing the workers to his field without our perceptible input. We simply need to remain willing to receive in thanksgiving everything and everyone that comes our way, remain humble like the earth that waits patiently for each season’s changes, and give Glory to God for all things.  

Tomorrow belongs to the Lord.