From the July-September 2007 Issue
Trophies of Grace
Evangelos and Evropi Tzelis
GreeceThe occasion of the Olympic Games in Athens 2004 was a very significant worldwide event. Greece was very proud, firstly because the Olympic Games are of Greek origin, and secondly because the Athens 2004 Olympic Games were the most splendid, as well as the most successfully performed so far. According to historical records, the first ancient Olympic Games can be traced back to 776 B.C. They were dedicated to the Olympian gods and particularly to the god Apollo, who was regarded as the god of youth and of light. Those Olympic Games were staged on the ancient plains of Olympia, and took place every four years.
During the first centuries of the Christian era, the church objected to the Olympic Games mainly because of the pagan ideals and the moral corruption that accompanied the Games. As a result, the Emperor Theodocy of Byzantium, in the year 393 A.D. after the last performance of the Olympic Games, ordered the definite cessation of those pagan Games. The contemporary Olympic Games commenced in Athens in 1896 but, sad to say, with the same pagan ideals. Weeks before the starting date of the Olympic Games a special festival takes place, in the same place as the ancient Olympia. There an appointed priestess of the pagan god Jupiter, lights the Olympic torch from the light of the Sun, by means of a hollow mirror. After that the priestess invokes Apollo, with this light to enlighten all the people of the world with the ancient spirit of the Olympic Games. People and nations are perhaps ignorant of what lies behind and beyond these athletic games. The world does not care to know about it. The world is ready and willing to bow before any god once, and can enjoy the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
But what about us Christians? I am glad to say that we have had a great opportunity to proclaim the only one, true and ever living God who loved us and gave for us his only begotten Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Greek Christians, with the aid of Christians from abroad, all joined together in distributing copies of the New Testament, Greek and English in one volume, to the thousands of visitors. Perhaps many of them came from countries where the Bible is prohibited and the name of our blessed Saviour is not heard. A few weeks and months later news came from all over the world of people and athletes whose lives were touched by the message of God’s Word. They reported wonderful testimonies of how the living Saviour met them and changed their lives. Praise the Lord, for his mercy endures for ever. The Lord our God can turn everything to his glory. Alleluia!