On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, the feast day of the Holy and All-Praised Apostles Jason and Sosipater, from the seventy, His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu, Paxoi, and Diapontia Islands, officiated and preached at the celebratory Holy Church named after the Saints, in Garitsa, Corfu. During the Divine Liturgy, he was joined by the Venerable Archimandrite Christodoulos Triantafyllos, the Preacher and Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Saint Theodore Tiron and George the Trophy-Bearer of Stratia, priests from neighboring parishes, the parish priest of the Holy Church, Protopresbyter Spyridon Garnelis, as well as his deacons.
Metropolitan Nektarios Emphasizes Corfu’s Spiritual Heritage
During his sermon, addressing the large congregation, His Eminence referred to the great blessing for the local Church to honor the Holy Apostles Jason and Sosipater, emphasizing that they were the first founders of faith in Corfu, who brought the light of God’s Revelation to a world immersed in idolatry and spiritual ignorance. As he stressed, they did not merely convey a teaching, but the very presence of the living God, offering people hope, meaning, and the prospect of eternity.
The Apostolic Mandate and Modern Challenges
He then focused on the Lord’s apostolic command, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,” pointing out that this mission was never easy. Christ himself, as he mentioned, was not accepted by everyone, and for this reason, he prepared his disciples for the difficulties, rejections, and adversities they would encounter. He noted, however, that the Apostles did not dwell on difficulties but proceeded with faith and courage, because their strength was not human, but came from the grace of the Holy Spirit.
His Eminence pointed out that the same call applies to modern man, who is called to stand in a world that, despite progress and evolution, continues to experience spiritual confusion and estrangement from God. As he characteristically stated, “man of every era tends to construct a ‘god of his own,’ adapted to the measures of his passions and desires, thus leading to a peculiar ‘voluntary religion,’ which ultimately distances him from the truth.”
The Transformative Power of Christ and the Tragedy of God’s Denial
He made special reference to the fact that the coming of Christ radically changed the course of humanity, dividing history into before and after Christ. As he noted, even those who do not believe or follow other religious traditions live within this new reality, a fact that testifies to the power and universality of God’s presence in the world.
At the same time, he stressed that the greatest tragedy of man is the denial of God’s existence, which he characterized as the highest form of spiritual foolishness. As he said, he who denies God consciously chooses to live in the darkness of fall and despair, while conversely, he who repents, even if he has sinned, finds the mercy and love of God.
The Power of Humble Prayer and the Apostles’ Enduring Legacy
He placed particular emphasis on the power of simple and humble prayer, stressing that God does not ask man for many and elaborate words, but a contrite heart and a disposition of trust. As he characteristically stated, it is enough for man to turn to God with humility and say, “Lord, have mercy on me,” and then God intervenes, enlightens, strengthens, and guides.
In closing, he emphasized that the Holy Apostles are timeless models of faith and witness, and he reminded that without their work, there would be no spiritual tradition of Corfu, nor the presence of the great Saints who sanctified the place. He urged the faithful to entrust their lives to God, as the Divine Liturgy also calls, “Let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life to Christ our God,” so that they may walk safely, with hope and light towards eternal life.
Finally, Mr. Nektarios wished everyone strength, spiritual progress, health, peace, enlightenment from God, and a blessed journey with the grace of the Risen Christ.
Source: corfutvnews.gr
