Letter from Fr. Demitrios Tanaka in Japan

Via Mother Martha of the Sisterhood of St Elizabeth at Rocks Farm in Sussex:

Beloved-in-Christ Mother Martha and Kateryna 

This terrible earthquake hit the whole East Japan diocese and the tsunami devastated the whole city of Sendai and almost all the regional orthodox communities which exist along the Pacific coast. 

By order of His Eminence Daniel, the Metropolitan Council has been trying to get information from the beginning of the incident but does not have enough exact information about the East Japan diocese, because the telephone and internet lines are not working properly. They are mostly destroyed and other lines are restricted by the national authorities for the emergency priority. 

However, by now we confirmed that at least the clergy of Sendai orthodox church including Bishop Seraphim and Fr Clement is safe. According to Bishop Seraphim, most of the church buildings in Tohoku parish along the Pacific coast are severely damaged.

There are 24 churches in Tohoku parish. These churches are ministered by 5 priests. Out of these 5, one priest is missing. We have no exact information about the safety of the parishioners. 

Fortunately, my churches and parishioners are totally saved by God’s grace.
We are praying fervently Christ our Savior have mercy upon Japanese orthodox faithful and Japanese nation, because the nuclear power plant in Tohoku parish is found in critical situation. 

Please remember us Japanese orthodox christians in your fervent prayers.

With love in Christ

Fr Demitrios Tanaka
Holy Trinity Church of Odawara
Director of External Church Relations
Metropolitan Council
Holy Autonomous Orthodox Church in Japan

Saint Nicholas of Japan

Pray for your flock.