Divine Liturgy Celebrated in Tunisian City of Bizerte

October 2014

With the blessing of His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodore II, Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Tunisian city of Bizerte, in a region with the largest concentration of radical Islamists. This took place last Sunday, reports Romfea.

The small Orthodox Church of St. Alexander Nevsky was built in the port city in 1939.

In spite of opposition from the city security services, a week before the forthcoming elections in the country, Metropolitan Alexios of Carthage together with head of the Greek community in Tunisia Dindisco and rector of the local Russian Orthodox church Archpriest Dimitry Netsvetayev came to serve at the church “with the closed doors,” and to encourage six Orthodox women who are living with their families under the constant death threats from Salafis (a strict Sunni Muslim sect).

In his sermon, Metropolitan Alexios said that by raising the son of the widow of Nain from the dead, Christ demonstrated His victory over evil.

“Future resurrection and salvation is the reward of all true Christians, especially those living in such dangerous regions as Bizerta so that the light of the true faith may not die away here,” the archpastor emphasized.

“The words of the Lord, “Fear not, little flock” (Luke 12:32) have become a tangible reality here. And this testimony in the most terrible and difficult circumstances is strengthening Christians all over the world,” the Metropolitan said.

In conclusion, Metropolitan Alexios has noted that the Christians from the capital came that day to support and encourage the tiny Orthodox Christian community of Bizerta.

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