Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Emotional response to Orthodox service


A FIRST FOR NELSON: Orthodox Archbishop of New Zealand and Exarch of Oceania Amfilochios, Adamantios Tsoukos, of Wellington, left with Father Konstantinos, here Sunday to conduct a service at Bishopdale Chapel.
Nelson Monday, 14 April 2008
Eastern Europeans living in Nelson may have the opportunity to attend regular Orthodox Church services after an emotional response to the church's first service in the city.

The service, conducted by Wellington-based His Eminence Archbishop of New Zealand and Exarch of Oceania Amfilochios, Adamantios Tsoukos, was held yesterday at Bishopdale Chapel. Organiser Rosalina McCarthy said it attracted about 30 people and feedback from the church-goers indicated there was a demand for more regular services.

"It was wonderful," she said. "For me it was like coming home.
"One or two of them got quite emotional because they have not been to an Orthodox service for so long. It was also really nice to get together with other Europeans we had people there from the Russian, Greek, Macedonian and Serbian communities."

The service was delivered in English and Greek with some Russian. Ms McCarthy said the Anglican Bishop of Nelson, Rt Rev Richard Ellena, and Chairman of the Friends of Bishopdale, Rev Alec Brown, also attended the service. The Anglican Church had been supportive of the Orthodox service in Nelson.

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