New Zealand

NEW ZEALAND With Fear of God and Faith and Love, Draw Near

The Maori, Polynesian natives of mainland New Zealand, and the Greeks have a common history. During World War II, the 28th Maori Battalion fought and gave 677 dead for the freedom of Crete and Greece, in the Battle of Crete. This sacrifice and common history is still respected and honored to this day by many Maori people. For the past two years, by the grace of God, priests of our Metropolis/Diocese have begun a systematic missionary effort near the Maori, the people of Aotearoa (as the Maori call New Zealand). They are people with a strong tradition and culture, which are supported in various ways by the official state, to be kept alive and grow.

Today, almost 80 years after the first contact, many Maori people are being catechized. The first fruit, to the Glory of God, is the baptism of the first Maori family, Peter and Mary King and their children (Demetrios (15), Athanasia (11), John (9), and George (1)). The family is now preparing to baptize their newborn child. It will be named after Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis, the Miracle Worker, whom Peter loves very much. There are many references to the presence of the Saint in many Christians in New Zealand!

When we asked them why they came to Orthodoxy, Peter answered us «we understand that Orthodoxy is the First (Ancient) Church and brings the one true faith. Through our contact with Reverend Fr. George, we saw God in action and the transformation of our life unfolding before our eyes, like a miracle. We felt a Peace that we could not explain.»

Peter, Maria and their family were baptized in Tepapa’Tapou, the port of Aotea. It is a sacred place for Maria’s family and with a special connection with the family of the Maori King Tawhiao (1822 - 1894). They used this area during the defense of their homeland against the British. Many local Maori people attended the Holy Sacrament of Baptism with a spirit of respect and reverence. For more than 70 of them, it was the beginning of their inner change; they started asking, learning and attending church meetings and prayers; they were not only catechumens in the Orthodox faith but also ambassadors of Orthodoxy and Christ in their own families!

Fr. George, wisely thinking is not in rush for new baptisms. He prioritizes catechism and personal example, to essentially help catechumens be prepared to become conscious soldiers of Christ and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Kowhai, the official flower of New Zealand

Fr. George tells us: “We do not want these inwardly beautiful, pious people to come to Holy Baptism without a deep understanding of what it means to be and to live as an Orthodox Christian. We need solid foundations on which we can build the Faith of the Church. There are five brothers who could be baptized now, but we are not in a hurry. We also teach them prayers and hymns in the Greek language. We have been invited and perform Divine Liturgies in «Mara», the traditional gathering place of the Maori tribes. It is the first time that Orthodox prayers had been heard in this traditional setting. It is very moving. Next year, with the blessing of our Metropolitan, and the assistance of many capable catechumens, we plan to translate the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom into «Te Reo Maori», the Maori language. Peter, with the consent of his wife Maria, has prepared himself to be ordained a Deacon, the first Orthodox Maori clergyman. Demetrios and Ioannis serve in the Sanctuary every Sunday, while Athanasia is at the chanter’s stand. Nine-year-old John has repeatedly stated his desire to become the first Orthodox Maori Bishop. May they be blessed!»

This effort is an important step for Orthodoxy in Aotearoa. Our faith was first disseminated in this country by Greek immigrants who built Churches and established Parishes in the major cities of Wellington, Christchurch, Palmerston North and Auckland. Today is the next step and our Faith reaches the indigenous peoples of Waikato and beyond.

Please, our brethren, remember and keep our missionaries, the newly illumined and the catechumens in your prayers. Our young brothers in Christ, Maori, Fijian, Togolese and Samoan are in need of your prayers and are looking forward to them. Our family in Christ is growing. Let our love grow along with it, too.

With prayers and the love of Christ,

† Myron of New Zealand