His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said on Sunday at the historic St George Chapel of the Patriarchal Residence that “the Holy Spirit unites the tears of repentance with the joy of renewed life.”
The Patriarch explained that the Feast of Pentecost marks the visible establishment of Christ’s Church in history.
“Pentecost is also the Feast of the Foundation or Constitution of the Church, because on that day, through the power of the preaching of the Holy Apostle Peter and through the work of the Holy Spirit, about three thousand souls were baptised, forming the first Eucharistic community of the New Covenant.”
“This fullness of the Holy Spirit bestowed at Pentecost is also the beginning of the Church’s constitution as a divine-human reality in history,” His Beatitude said.
The Holy Spirit, the Pledge of Eternal Life
The Romanian Patriarch said that the Holy Spirit is the One who communicates to humanity the life of the risen and ascended Christ.
“The Holy Spirit is given in fullness as a pledge of eternal life.”
His Beatitude explained that all the Sacraments of the Church are works of the Holy Spirit that prepare human beings to inherit the Kingdom of God. Patriarch Daniel also highlighted the Holy Spirit’s role in cleansing and sanctifying the human person.
“First, He cleanses the soul of sins and sanctifies it through Holy Baptism and through the entire Christian life of fasting, prayer, repentance and good deeds. This is the first resurrection—the resurrection of the soul from the death caused by sins.”
Helping the Virtues of Christian Life to Grow
The Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church noted that Scripture presents the Holy Spirit in several forms:
“Both as a purifying, enlightening and warming fire, and as living water that helps the virtues of Christian life grow within the human person.”
Patriarch Daniel also recalled the words of the Holy Apostle Paul concerning the freedom brought by the work of the Holy Spirit: “Where the Holy Spirit is, there is true freedom for the accomplishment of good deeds.”
Concluding his homily, His Beatitude underlined the ultimate vocation of humanity:
“Man lives in eternal communion with the Persons of the Holy Trinity, with the Holy Angels and all the Saints in Heaven, but also with all peoples who believe in Christ, love Him, and fulfil His will in their lives.”
Photo: Lumina Newspaper
