I am guessing that none of you are ignorant of the plight of
persecuted Christians in today’s world. Even the media, with its ability
to filter out whatever news it may wish, oftentimes allows us to see the
horrors of persecution or oppression being aimed at Christians around the
globe. It may be that we are now living in an age of unprecedented
Christian witness and martyrdom which will likely increase over time.
When you see or hear of such things, what is your reaction?
If you have the flame of the Holy Spirit within, you are no
doubt moved in your soul, offering a prayer and thinking, “What can I do to
bring comfort or aid to people in such straits?” Indeed, what can you
do? What can I do? Will it matter whether or not we do anything at
all?
From the earliest days of the Church, we can read about
Christians with means giving to those brethren, equally loved by God, who are
in hard straits. Even more than that, we read about impoverished
Macedonian Christians in II Corinthians (8:1-5) who wanted so much to give to
those in need that they gave liberally out of poverty. Why?
Brethren in Palestine had been sorely afflicted by famine. The Macedonian
believers gave liberally, from scant means, to relieve the misery of the
Palestinian brethren, their hearts aflame with love for God. And, their
impoverished giving has been recorded in the Bible as commended by God. All
they’d hoped to do was have a small part in relieving the misery of Christian
brethren—yet God honored their act in the recording of His Word. How
much value did God set on their gift!
There is nothing new under the sun, brothers and sisters.
We who live in relative peace and affluence have an opportunity to minister to
brethren who live in hardship under routine oppression and/or
persecution. It’s a privilege for me to bring before you a charity
which has my love, support and recommendation—The Decani Monastery Relief
Fund. The founder and president of the Fund, Rev. Fr. Nektarios Serfes,
is known to me personally. He and those who administer this fund have and
continue to do a faithful work to relieve oppression of the Christians in
Kosovo/Metohija (Serbia).
The Orthodox Christian population of Kosovo/Metohija have been living under hardship conditions for more than a decade. Every year becomes more difficult and austere regarding living conditions and provisions for the remaining Christian populace. Some of you already know of the devastation that was wrought in recent years--destruction of holy and sacred shrines, churches and monasteries (visit www.kosovo.net for more details of acts against the holy places). Now, there exists an overall oppression of Christians in the area, a persistent attempt to drive them from their ancient homeland, one which dates back to the 14th century and prior. Many of the destroyed churches are a testament to the ancient Christian heritage of these people. Sadly, life today is particularly harsh for the Serbian Orthodox of Kosovo/Metohija.
See photos of ancient churches which were destroyed here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/monitoring/media_reports/1717349.stm
Our beloved brother in Christ, V. Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios
Serfes, president of the DMRF, will be traveling to the area on October
13. He will bring humanitarian aid, inasmuch as brethren provide,
to relieve the hardship of many families, elderly and children in the
area. Winter is coming and the often brutal cold season always presents
greater needs and problems for the Christian populace: lack of heat, lack
of electricity, scanty food and more. Take a moment and imagine yourself
raising children or living as an elderly person in a cold climate without
proper heat, unstable utilities, insufficient food while sometimes coping with
illness. This is no small thing, brethren, it is hardship. And the
situation appears to be indefinite in nature. How long shall these people
bear this cross? The mercy is, you can help relieve the difficulties
of these suffering Christians. The Decani Monastery Relief Fund
has been faithfully ministering to genuine needs in the area for the past 16
years. Visit this link to read about what the Fund routinely provides for the needy: http://www.thedecanifund.org/
I would like to ask everyone who is reading—would you be willing
to send a gift to the DMRF? Many times people shy away from a direct
appeal, with a strong sense of--I can’t give much right now. So
many people feel this way, you are not alone. And, it’s true, you may not
be able to give what you’d like. However, please do not let that stop you
from doing something to relieve hardship from the lives of our brethren.
Doing something rather than nothing is meaningful.
If it means that more food or firewood can be purchased for the benefit of a
family or an elderly person or a school, then it IS worth something, especially
to the receivers. And if the gift is given with a heart that is turned to
God, wanting to share His love and His comfort with the brethren—then your gift
will be more like that of the impoverished Macedonian Christians in II
Corinthians whom God commended. What a beautiful thought!
So, let me ask you…will you send a love gift of any amount to
the DMRF today? Fr. Nektarios looks forward to distributing that which
can be purchased with these means when he arrives in Kosovo/Metohija.
What happiness there will be in bringing gifts which represent your sacrificial
love to the brethren. You may be sure the recipients will bless you with
much joy!
If you read the recent Orthodox Thought, “Smart Thinking
about Almsgiving,” you’ll recognize that one never loses anything by helping
those in need—one only gains by it. Herein lies an opportunity, dear
brethren. I hope and pray with all my heart that you will respond as
the Spirit of God leads you.
With faith & love,
Presbytera Candace
Prefer to
send a check?
Decani Monastery Relief
Fund
c/o V. Rev.
Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes
2618 West Bannock Street
Boise, Idaho 83702
USA
The DMRF is Non-profit
from Federal Income Tax under section 501© (3)
The Decani Monastery Relief Fund has the
blessings of the local bishop His Grace Bishop Teodosije as well as
Archimandrite Sava, Abbot of the Decani Monastery. Also, the blessings of
His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew and the Synod of Bishops, His Eminence,
Metropolitan Isaiah, Presiding Hierarch of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of
Denver, His Grace Bishop Kallistos of Diokleia (Great Britain) and the Friends
of Mt. Athos.
“Kosovo
Maiden” (1919) by Uroš Predić. Oil on Canvas
This extremely famous painting is based on an equally famous
Serbian epic poem, in which a young beauty searches
the battlefield for her betrothed husband and
helps wounded Serbian warriors with water, wine and bread
after the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 between Serbia and
the Ottoman Empire. Tragically, she discovers
from this soldier that her betrothed has been slain.
So much of the Serbian national story is distilled
in this one canvas.
