Salutation to You, Holy Church!
The sacred and Holy House of God, Holy Orthodox Incarnation Church has existed on wards the Blood shed of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, upon the cross for the redemption of the world. She is the abode of the Lord’s Divinity, in performing worship to Him with all her sacraments, bestowing her children the true path of salvation and heavenly life.
It is therefore our duty and responsibility as Christians to keep her command and order in fulfilling the Liturgy of worship to God. Humans are given the gift of knowing our Lord, live by His Law and inherit the Kingdom of heaven. Yet, we defy His command and tend to lean more on keeping world’s order and be disobedient.
Holy Church has suffered much by the act of gentiles, heresies and pagans throughout history as holy scriptures tells. Even in our generation, we have witnessed her scarification to the truth of God and Christianity but mostly within the lives and hagiographies of saints and martyrs. This is all because for the love of God and His holy house, the Church.
It is a pity though, other men have defied and betrayed her just for the sake of coinage, prosperity and power. We have recently seen the Arks and Icons being destroyed and burned down, her servile slaughtered to death and laities hunted down by enemy territories in particular to our country Ethiopia. Many rural areas were victims of these harmful and devious acts of pagans and authorities, tending to demise the true religion orthodox Tewahedo (Incarnation) and holy church. Their aim being the devil’s scam to bring down human race to hell, there are blinded and deafened by its spirit without the ability to recon the truth.
Those who are hunting the ministers of Church and laity, are followers of the devil. Their aim is to vanish and destroy the truth of God and His kingdom. Thus, tend to burn Churches and also kill her children. If we are to tell the truth and follow the right path that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has made for us, as He, Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”, it is likely to be hunted down, tortured and killed by enemies. It is stated as, “In the world you will have tribulation.” This is a truth we have witnessed and will in the future, for truth never dies as “God is the truth.” (John 14:6, 15:33)
Then, how shall we survive all the pain and misery that we face in our earthly life for the triumph of spiritualty is up to us. It is our good will, desire and wish to know the Lord’s attributes, in keeping His command and order. Our prayer, fasting, diligence and Christian endeavors are what attach us with Him to live under His shadow.
The Lord safeguards us in His holy house if we are to keep the order. We shall be aware of the sacraments in performing them, so as to partake the Holy Communion. Since our Lord said, “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.” (John 6:56)
Dear Brethren, we shall have love, adoration and reverence to our only one Holy Sacred house; Holy Church, that our Lord gave us, saluting her everyday: Salutation to You, Holy Church!
May God’s mercy, safeguards and benevolence be with us, Amen!