Greek Metropolis of Hong Kong lauds canine good fortune

(OMHKSEA) - Message by His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios of Hong Kong and South East Asia on the occasion of the Chinese New Year of the Dog


Dear brothers and sisters,

Dog is the eleventh in the 12-year cycle of Chinese Calendar.

The Chinese tradition regards dog as an auspicious animal. If a dog happens to come to a house, it symbolises the coming of fortune. Dog is man’s good friend who can understand the human’s spirit and obey its master. It is loyal, faithful and grateful.

The virtue of the dog is a great example for the spiritual life of every Christian. We ought to be loyal, faithful and grateful to our Master and Saviour Jesus Christ. He gave to us a life of meaning and purpose! A means of change and transformation! A wellspring of mercy and forgiveness! A worldview of divine love and unconquerable hope! This is what faith in Christ can mean to each one of us.

We ought to be vigilant and to safeguard the freedom given to us by our Saviour Jesus Christ, and not to go back to the life of captivity and to become slaves of sin and corruption once more. Christian is called to live in purity in an impure world. Because this world will pass away, we ought to be holy and godly, living as citizens of the Kingdom of God through evangelism, prayer, holy living, repentance and obedience.

在中國傳統，狗被視為吉祥動物。若有一頭狗來到某戶人家，便象徵好運來臨。狗是人類的良朋，牠能理解人的靈，並且忠心、忠誠、服從並感激主人。

狗的德性是每個基督徒屬靈生命的美好榜樣。我們應該對救主耶穌基督忠心、忠誠及心存感恩。祂賜我們生命意義及目的。對我們每一個來說，信靠基督是改變和轉化的途徑、饒恕和憐憫的泉源、神聖大愛和不息盼望。

我們應儆醒及保護救主耶穌基督賜予我們的自由，不要退回過被綑綁的生活，變回罪和朽壞的奴隸。基督徒被呼召在污穢的世界過聖潔的生活。因這世界將會過去，我們應是聖潔和屬神的，透過傳道、祈禱、聖潔生活、悔罪和服從，過屬天子民的生活。





恭喜發財 Kung Hei Fat Choi





With my best wishes and love in Christ

+ Metropolitan Nektarios of Hong Kong and South East Asia