On the feast of the Prophet Elijah (according to the unrevised calendar), His Grace Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia reflected on the spiritual needs of Moldovan society, which he said still suffers from a “hunger for the spiritual” due to decades of Soviet atheism and ongoing secularisation.
Bishop Veniamin presided over the Divine Liturgy in Puhoi village, Ialoveni District, to mark the feast day of the great Old Testament prophet.
In his homily, the bishop spoke about the life of the Holy Prophet Elijah and the context of his time—a society plagued by idolatry and disbelief. He highlighted Elijah’s prophetic virtues, the immorality of King Ahab, the falling away from true faith, and God’s pedagogical response aimed at calling people back to righteousness.
“These realities are still present today,” Bishop Veniamin noted. “We feel the hunger for spiritual nourishment as a result of both the atheism imposed during the Soviet era and the continuing influence of secularism.”
The hierarch also mentioned several upcoming Orthodox events taking place in August in both Chișinău and Neamț. Among them is the Orthodox Youth Meeting, which will be hosted at the end of the month in the city of Cahul.
Photo: Southern Bessarabia Diocese
