The Romanian church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark in Almendralejo, Spain, was consecrated on Sunday by His Grace Bishop Timotei of Spain and Portugal and his Assistant Bishop Teofil of Iberia.
Following the consecration service, the two hierarchs celebrated the Divine Liturgy, attended by representatives of the local and provincial authorities. They included Raquel del Puerto Carrasco, First Deputy Mayor of Almendralejo and President of the Badajoz Provincial Council; Juan Manuel Forte Morán, Second Deputy Mayor and councillor; and Juan Sánchez Moreno, the mayor’s Chief of Staff.
Bishop Timotei spoke about the rich young man in the Gospel and the freedom people lose when they allow themselves to become enslaved by passions. The hierarch explained that the young man’s problem was not his wealth itself, but his relationship with it.
“Wealth itself was not the problem, but the fact that he had attached his heart to it and had lost his freedom. It is not a sin to be rich; the problem arises when wealth becomes the master of the heart,” His Grace said.
Let us love God above all things
The Bishop of Spain and Portugal explained that any passion can become a form of bondage when it takes the place of God in a person’s life: “When we become attached to it, we become slaves.”
Bishop Timotei encouraged the faithful to acknowledge their weaknesses and seek God’s help through prayer, confession and Holy Communion.
“Let us work together with Christ to regain our freedom and strive to love God above all things,” the hierarch emphasised.
Honours for members of the community
At the conclusion of the service, Bishop Timotei bestowed the rank of Stavrophore Oeconomos upon parish priest Fr Ion Sîrbu in recognition of his pastoral and missionary work within the community.
The bishop also awarded him the Order of the Cross of the Holy Apostle James, while the priest’s wife received the Diploma of the Holy Apostle James.
Mayor José María Ramírez Morán received the Order of the Holy Apostle James in recognition of his support for the Orthodox community in Almendralejo.
The Parish of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark in Almendralejo is located in the province of Badajoz, Spain.
Photo: Diocese of Spain and Portugal
