“Let us seek the light through a constant struggle against darkness,” His Grace Timotei of Prahova, Assistant Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, urged the faithful on Sunday at the Patriarchal Cathedral.
Reflecting on the Gospel reading for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, the bishop explained that the power of evil is limited and that demons cannot act without God’s permission.
“The Saviour repeatedly showed that the power of demons is limited. They can do nothing without God’s permission.”
A constant struggle with our own weaknesses
Commenting on the dialogue between the father of the demon-possessed boy and Christ, Bishop Timotei said that every believer is engaged in a continual struggle with personal weaknesses, while the prayer, “I believe, Lord; help my unbelief,” expresses both humility and the desire for stronger faith.
The bishop cited St Cyril of Alexandria, who wrote that “authority over unclean spirits does not belong to anyone by virtue of personal worthiness; it is a gift from God.”
He also explained that humility protects a person from falling because “the humble have nowhere to fall from. They know they are already at the lowest place.”
Those who trust in God will prevail
Bishop Timotei reflected on the example of the father who brought his suffering son to Christ, describing him as a model of true parenthood—one who does not abandon a child in suffering.
“Caring for children is the sacred duty of parents,” the bishop said.
He encouraged parents to raise their sons and daughters close to God, explaining that “all those who remain close to God will endure trials and overcome them.”
“Those who place their trust in God will prevail, because the Saviour told us: ‘Without Me you can do nothing,'” he added.
The Christian’s struggle lasts until the end of life
The assistant bishop also recalled a saying of St Cleopas of Sihăstria about the Christian life: “A Christian’s struggle continues until the door of the grave.”
He urged the faithful not to be deceived by evil but always to turn to Christ.
“Let us therefore beware of his deception. And if we have been deceived, let us hasten to the Saviour. He is our only hope.”
An icon of the Romanian people’s dignity
Following the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Timotei officiated a memorial service for Michael the Brave to mark the 425th anniversary of his assassination.
He described the Romanian ruler as “one of the greatest icons of the Romanian people throughout history.”
The bishop stressed that Michael the Brave was not only the first ruler to unite the three Romanian principalities but also “a Christian prince who defended not only his own country but all of Christendom.”
Michael the Brave’s foundations
Bishop Timotei also recalled Michael the Brave’s church foundations at Dealu Monastery, near Târgoviște, and Mihai Vodă Monastery in Bucharest, as well as his support for several monasteries on Mount Athos, including Simonos Petra, Koutloumousiou, Xenophontos and Iviron.
Speaking about the prince’s reputation on Mount Athos, the bishop quoted the current abbot of Simonos Petra Monastery: “We believe he is a saint, especially because he sealed his life with his blood at the hands of traitors and murderers.”
Concluding his address, Bishop Timotei said: “The Church honours and remembers the great ruler of Wallachia, Transylvania and all Moldavia as a man who fought for his country and his people, for faith and for truth.”
Photo: Basilica.ro Files
