Franciscan Friar among immigrants in Rhodes

February 10th, 2021 @ 08:45 |

The presence of Franciscans of the Holy Land in Greece goes back to the very beginnings. The Province of “Outremer” founded in 1217 included not only the friaries in Acre and the other remaining Latin enclaves of Palestine, but also extended to the whole eastern Mediterranean and the region of the Aegean. By 1263 the Chapter of Pisa had decided to divide the Province into two, namely the Province of Syria, comprising Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Cyprus, and the Province of Romania, comprising the Aegean region, corresponding roughly to modern-day Greece. Among the various places of Franciscan presence, the most important from a historical point of view were Constantinople and the island of Rhodes. In this island the Franciscan presence has a long history, particularly in the period of the presence of the Order of the Knights of Saint John (1310-1522). Nowadays the Custody of the Holy Land is not present in Constantinople (Istanbul), but is still present in Rhodes, in the friaries of Saint Mary of Victories and of Saint Francis. Fr. John Luke Gregory ofm, an English Franciscan and member of the Custody of the Holy Land, has been present in Rhodes ever since 2004, as parish priest of the Latin Catholic community on the islands of Rhodes and Kos, as well as Custodial Vicar for Greece. Fr. John Luke is currently also one of the Discreets or members of the Council of the Custody of the Holy Land. Although his work as a zealous Franciscan, who speaks many languages and works tirelessly in the upkeep of the various Catholic churches and chapels on the island (Saint Mary of Victories, Saint Francis, Chapel of the Holy Cross, Chapel of Saint Anne in Trianda, Church of the Holy Cross on the island of Kos) is well known, as is his commitment to cultural events and the restoration of the Custody’s buildings after the devastating earthquakes of 2017 and 2020, Fr. John Luke has recently been on the news because of his sterling work among immigrants on both islands. Rhodes and Kos have been some of the principal landing spots of immigrants fleeing the war in Syria and other places, since they lie just a few kilometres away from the coast of Turkey. Fr. John Luke has mobilised international aid to the immigrant communities, but he personally coordinates this aid with great personal sacrifice on his part. He often goes around the immigrant camps distributing aid. Other friars who happen to live in Rhodes from time to time help him in this work, including Franciscan seminarians from Jerusalem who study the Greek language and spend some time helping him. With his simple Franciscan style and smile Fr. John Luke has brought relief to many families of immigrants, and helped them to regain dignity after having had to escape from war-torn Syria. The work of the Custody of the Holy Land in Rhodes and Kos, and the presence of Fr. John Luke, continue to enhance the Franciscan historical presence in the region. For anyone willing to collaborate in the humanitarian work of the Custody of the Holy Land in Rhodes, Fr. John Luke Gregory’s address is the following:

Church of Our Lady of Victories
Kathopouli Street, 45
Rhodes 85100,
Greece
e-mail: stmaria@otenet.gr