Читать книгу The Journey: How an obscure Byzantine Saint became our Santa Claus - David Price Williams - Страница 70

good will, of a life that would transcend destruction and death. That was the crux of the Christian message. However uncertain life may be, however bitter and unfair, however hounded people felt by political upheaval, ill health or any of the other human catastrophes which surround us daily, God was there to care for us. He loved us and would see us through. It was an extraordinary claim, especially in such a troubled world as ours. That I quickly realised was what drew people to believe and to flock to the cause in such numbers and with such faith. That was the “good news.”

I read parts of the Gospel of Luke several times that night by the light of an oil lamp. I was fascinated by it! I couldn’t wait to meet more of the faith in the great city of Alexandria and to hear more of their way of life that they had all chosen. I wanted to be part of it, to absorb it, to participate in this message of expectation.

“Light ahead!” came the cry of a seaman at the prow of the ship just before dawn. “See, the beam of the great lighthouse.”

We all peered through the darkness and sure enough, low on the horizon was an orange flame, appearing and disappearing in the gloom of the night. It got brighter and steadier as we continued and it seemed to climb out of the sea as more of the building came into view. This was where we were heading – Alexandria. We looked fixedly on the growing flame from the top of what was eventually going to be the tallest tower I

THE JOURNEY