Frankfurt am Main, April 29, 2025
Photo: eparhija-nemacka.com
A new Serbian Orthodox church in Germany was consecrated on Thomas Sunday, April 27.
The consecration of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Frankfurt am Main was celebrated by a host of hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church—Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro, Metropolitan Justin of Žiča, the local hierarch Metropolitan Grigorije of Düsseldorf-Berlin and Germany, Metropolitan Teodosije of Raška and Prizren (Kosovo), and retired Bishop Konstantin of Central Europe Konstantin—and Archbishop Tikhon of Ruza, Administrator of the Berlin and German Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. They were also joined by clergy from throughout the Serbain Church and representatives of other Local Churches, the Metropolis of Düsseldorf reports.
Following the Divine Liturgy, Met. Grigorije greeted those present. His homily focused on the true meaning of a church beyond its physical structure. He began by connecting the consecration celebration with the Gospel reading about St. Thomas and Christ’s appearance to the disciples, emphasizing how their situation—behind closed doors, gripped by fear—parallels our own spiritual struggles.
Photo: eparhija-nemacka.com
The Metropolitan highlighted Christ’s approach: “He doesn’t break down doors. He doesn’t shout. He doesn’t rebuke. He comes and says: ‘Peace be unto you.’” Through this simple greeting, Christ creates “a reality in which God doesn’t come to rule, but to gather—in love and faith.”
A central theme is the church as living community rather than mere building. “Its walls are made of stone, but its soul is you. Us. The Church isn’t an object, but a community and a relationship.” He reframed St. Thomas not as “faithless” but as “an honest seeker,” teaching that “God doesn’t reject questions. He doesn’t reject doubt.”
While acknowledging the beauty of the new church building, Met. Grigorije emphasized that internal spiritual development supersedes external construction: “Building churches is a noble act—and this church is a feat worthy of all praise—but building within ourselves and among ourselves a structure of goodness, sacrifice, mercy—I dare say—is even more important.”
Photo: eparhija-nemacka.com
His Eminence concludes by returning to St. Thomas’ proclamation upon touching Christ’s wounds—My Lord and my God!—drawing a parallel to their own journey: “And today, after all tears, sweat, worry, and sighs, celebrating the Resurrection of Christ and looking at this beautiful church, we unanimously exclaim and joyfully confess: My Lord and my God!”
Following the service, a lunch was offered in the church hall, featuring remarks from Abp. Tikhon of the Russian Church and Bishop Bartholomew of Arianz of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, who attended the festive meal.
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