To the Champion Leader – A Hymn for Peace in Troubled Times

In a world marked by anxiety, conflict, and noise, an ancient hymn still offers something many people are searching for: strength, peace, and the reassurance that we are not alone.

“To Thee, the Champion Leader, do I offer thanks of victory…”

The Hymn That Endures

These words come from the ancient Akathist Hymn to the Virgin Mary, or Theotokos, in the Orthodox tradition. In the 7th century, as Constantinople faced siege and fear, the faithful turned not to weapons first, but to prayer. According to tradition, the city was saved, and the people responded in gratitude with an all-night vigil of praise.

That is why the Mother of God was praised as the “Champion Leader” — not only as a tender mother, but as a spiritual protector. The hymn, also known by its Greek opening, Ti Ypermacho Stratigo, is still sung today, especially during Great Lent, and continues to speak to people in times of uncertainty.

When Nana Mouskouri sang this hymn in her Peace Concert, she introduced it to many listeners beyond its original liturgical setting. Her performance carried not only the beauty of the melody, but also its deeper longing for peace, protection, and hope.

Why It Still Matters

What does it mean today to call on a “Champion Leader”? For many, it means turning again toward divine help in a world that often feels unstable, harsh, and spiritually exhausted.

In modern Australia, this question takes on a particular weight. Many Christians still have freedom to practise their faith, yet some feel increasingly hesitant to speak openly about what they believe.

This hesitation often comes from a fear of being seen as intolerant, divisive, or exclusive. Respect, dignity, and peaceful coexistence matter deeply in a plural society, and they should. But a healthy society should also leave room for people to speak honestly about faith without embarrassment or dismissal.

Christianity remains part of Australia’s historical and spiritual inheritance. Its language and values — forgiveness, compassion, charity, dignity, and love of neighbour — still shape many of the ideals people affirm today, even when their religious roots are forgotten.

The Presence We Still Feel

Even so, many people who hear this hymn today do not know its full history. Yet something in it still reaches the heart: something happens, and we feel her presence. Its words and melody awaken a sense of comfort and love that is difficult to explain, but deeply felt. We do not need to understand every word to be moved by it.

Perhaps that is the lasting power of the hymn. It reminds us that even when nations tremble and the world seems cold, love still speaks. It whispers, “You are not forgotten. I will stand by you.”

For many believers, the Theotokos embodies that reassurance — a sign of steadfast care, prayer, and nearness to her Son.

 Faith and Public Life in Australia

Who is the Champion in our own lives? What does divine protection mean to us in today’s world, particularly here in Australia? Many Christians feel hesitant to speak openly about their faith, worried that their beliefs may be dismissed or misunderstood because they do not fit the established narrative. Yet how can we become peacemakers — standing firm not in anger, but in prayer, hope, and love — when our voices feel unwelcome?

Christianity should not be pushed aside or treated as something embarrassing simply because it forms part of Australia’s historical and spiritual foundation. It has shaped many of the values people still speak about today — forgiveness, compassion, charity, dignity, unconditional love, and even loving your enemy.

And perhaps this is where the reassurance of the Theotokos becomes important. Through her prayers and the help of her Son, Christians are reminded that they are never abandoned.

A Final Reflection

As we reflect on this ancient hymn, perhaps the deeper question is not only who the Champion Leader was for those who first sang it, but who we turn to now. In a culture that can sometimes make public faith feel awkward or unwelcome, this hymn still invites us to stand with humility, courage, prayer, and peace.

What might it mean, in our own time, to trust that we are not alone?

Below is Nana Mouskouri’s moving rendition of the ancient hymn Ti Ypermacho Stratigo, a hymn of protection, peace, and hope.

https://youtu.be/G52QMjsOFhU?si=SUvQ5O_VV2invfPY

Walking Gently with Mystery: Reflections on Angels, Discernment, and Purpose

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Lately I have been reflecting on my journey with my relationship the Angels and how this journey has shaped not only my faith, also my sense of purpose. I truly  believe in angels.  I believe they help us fulfil our mission in life. There's a verse that confirms this:  “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11.

It means that angels act in loving obedience to God’s will. Their presence is not independent, but part of God’s ongoing care for humanity. As I walk my life path, with clarity and sometimes uncertainty or both, I feel supported by divine guidance that protects, strengthens, and gently directs me toward what is good and true.

For a long time, my thoughts felt crowded. Questions, curiosity, longing, and faith all moving together, sometimes without clear edges. At the centre of it all was a simple truth: I believe in angels.

My curiosity led me to read religious books, especially “The Angels and Their Missions. According to the Fathers of the Church”, by Jean Danielou.  He describes angels as mediators of the divine, yet that order never violates human freedom. The belief that angels are mediators of the divine, and guides to humanity encouraged me to on a journey to explore how angels can help us.

It led me to explore different workshops over time. I completed an Aura-Soma workshop on angels — an experience that felt overwhelming, yet meaningful. I wanted to understand more. I wanted to connect. Later, I attended a yearly online workshop with Terah Cox. Some aspects resonated deeply and helped things fall into place, while other parts did not quite align with what I had been taught about angels within the Church.

Another workshop, this time on Divine Energy, introduced the idea of different levels of angels. That stirred something familiar in me. In Church, I had often heard names sung in hymns — always in Greek. I recognised the sounds but didn’t know their spelling, so I couldn’t explore them further at the time. Words like Seraphim and Cherubim would pass by during the service, leaving me quietly wondering what they were pointing to.

I have always been drawn to the mystical — not magic, not spells, not anything dark or manipulative — but the mystical that speaks of beauty, reverence, and holy mystery. The kind of mystery that cannot be fully explained. The unknown that invites wonder rather than control. This is what Danielou implied in his book. He suggests that mystery means not everything must be understood; instead, trust that guidance is present when clarity is absent.

Looking back, I realise God taught me to trust and understood my longing, especially when I felt isolated. Even, when my curiosity led me into unfamiliar territory, He kept me safe. He protected me and continually redirected me toward my true north: to love and serve God. When I drifted, He gently corrected my course, with help of my guardian angel.

My journey with the 72 angels eventually led me into a deeper appreciation of Judaism — the faith Jesus Himself was born into and taught from. In Judaism, angels are treated with deep respect. They are not beings at our command. They exist to serve God and to assist humanity in fulfilling God’s purposes, always under His authority.

When angels help, it is by God’s permission — not because we summon, chant, or attempt to control spiritual forces. This is why I struggle with many modern interpretations that link the 72 angels of the Tree of Life with magic or personal power. To me, this feels at odds with what Judaism — and Christianity — both teach.

So why continue to reflect on angels at all?

Because I am discerning my own work and calling. I work with angels as a way of reminding us that we are not alone, that there is an order and meaning to life beyond what we can see, and that our lives unfold within God’s wisdom — not through our own control.

Angels, as I understand them, are not forces to be activated or energies to be used. They are created beings who serve God alone. They are messengers and servants, acting only by God’s permission and always pointing beyond themselves — back to Him.

Throughout what has sometimes felt like a winding journey, God kept me grounded. He placed wise guidance around me and prevented me from misusing what I was learning. For that, I am deeply grateful.

At its heart, my work is about helping people slow down, reflect, and reconnect with their divine purpose. We all have one. I want to support those who sense that there is more to life than what is visible — and to do so in a way that is safe, reverent, and faithful. 

Have you ever felt that there is more than meets the eye?

Have you sensed that life holds deeper meaning than what you have been told?

Have you wondered about the great mysteries of life, yet felt unsure or even afraid to ask the questions? 

Mystery does not have to lead us away from God. When held with humility and discernment, it can gently draw us closer — into wonder, trust, and peace. 

“The angel is not a being to be possessed or mastered; he is a presence that leads us, by God’s will, into the hidden depths of divine order and love.” — Jean Danielou  "The Angels and Their Missions. According to the Fathers of the Church”

Your Personal Reflection

Would you like to share your experience with mysteries of life?