Bishop Benedict of Sălaj officiated the re-consecration of the parish church in Boian, Șimleu Silvaniei Deanery, on Sunday, where he spoke about the transformative power of forgiveness.
“Your enemy should be the first name you sincerely mention in prayer before God. God has His divine pedagogy,” the bishop said.
He explained that it is difficult for people to forgive because they do not realise how much God forgives them. Forgiveness is hindered by selfishness and pride, while the suffering caused by others often gives rise to a desire for revenge.
“It is hard for a person to forgive because he forgets why God forgives him. We have a good God; otherwise, His attitude in the parable could not be explained. There will be a judgment from God because there is no true self-judgment from man. We must observe what God forgives us for and what we forgive others for. Let us observe the discrepancy,” the hierarch explained.
The wounded ego
A blow to one’s ego reveals hidden wounds, weaknesses, and inner faults, shaking the positive image a person builds of themselves. Forgiveness, therefore, becomes a painful but necessary process in order to think and live in the spirit of the Gospel.
“We forgive with great difficulty because we are full of ourselves, of egoism. You suffer when someone hurts you. Our tendency is to seek revenge. Although our reaction may seem justified, we do not think in an evangelical way. Evangelically speaking, we need to be struck in our ego, which is a kind of false protection, an outer shell showing only our positive side, while within us lie many unmanifested evils.”
“When someone strikes your ego, they break through that outer layer by which you want to appear upright before others and instead appeal to your inner self—your pains, failings, vulnerabilities, and faults—which makes you uncomfortable. You become frightened by what you see inside yourself, and your position is destabilised.”
The religious ceremony began with the consecration of the Holy Altar Table, which involved washing, anointing with Holy Chrism, and the placement of relics of martyrs.
During the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Benedict again addressed the theme of forgiveness, highlighting it as a gift learned from Christ and a path toward salvation.
Recognitions
Liturgical responses were offered by the vocal group Doxa, directed by Professor Florin Lazăr of St. Nicholas Orthodox High School in Zalău.
At the conclusion of the service, Parish Priest Răzvan Adrian Mândruț thanked the hierarch for his presence and blessing, offering him an icon as a token of appreciation.
For his pastoral activity, the priest was elevated to the rank of sacellarius, with the right to wear a blue cincture.
The family of Vasile and Viorica Pop, principal supporters of the renovation works, also received a diploma of appreciation from the bishop.
Brief history of the Boian church
The village of Boian, in the southwest of Sălaj County, was first documented in 1481.
Religious life in the village has deep roots, with records of a wooden church from the 17th century dedicated to the Holy Trinity, which remained in use until 1941.
The current stone church was built between 1935 and 1937.
Between 2024 and 2025, under the coordination of the parish priest, extensive renovation and modernisation works were carried out both inside, including the installation of a new marble Holy Table, and outside, with restored doors, renewed plasterwork at the base, and the rebuilding of the outdoor altar.
Photo: Diocese of Salaj
