“Let us set aside, for a time, the noise of the outside world, give shape to the power of communion, and bear witness to the joy of our Orthodox faith,” Bishop Benedict of Sălaj said in a message at the beginning of the Dormition Fast.
“We are all called—priests, monastics, and faithful alike—to add greater substance to our lives and, together, to help one another grow spiritually within the communities to which we belong,” His Grace added.
A Spiritual Pilgrimage
At the beginning of his message, the bishop reminded the faithful that “the Dormition Fast is a favourable time for the renewal of the soul,” and concluded by comparing the observance of the fast to an inward pilgrimage.
“Let us set out on this journey with courage and with pure hearts,” the bishop urged.
In the Diocese of Sălaj, the fasting period will conclude with The Way of the Most Pure One, an annual walking pilgrimage dedicated to the Mother of God, the protector of families, children, and young people.
The pilgrimage, established last year, takes place every year on the eve of the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God. Pilgrims walk from Sânpetru Almașului to Strâmba Monastery in Sălaj County, home to the wonderworking Glykofilousa icon of the Mother of God “The Sweet Kiss”, painted by the priest Luke of Iclod, the same iconographer who created the renowned wonderworking icon of the Mother of God at Nicula Monastery.
“We invite you to join us and walk together—young and old alike—on this journey of faith for the betterment of our daily lives,” the bishop said.
Prayers and Reflections on Holy Women
Bishop Benedict encouraged the faithful to attend church services and sing hymns dedicated to the Mother of God.
He also announced that throughout the fast, every church and monastery in the Diocese of Sălaj will officiate the Supplicatory Canon (Paraklesis) to the Mother of God each evening, followed by a meditation dedicated to one of the Romanian holy women canonised last year.
The bishop concluded his message by offering his blessings to every generation represented within the family—children, young people, and the elderly.
Photo: Sălaj Diocese
