Assistant Bishop Maxim of Danubius celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, 25 October, at the Romanian Orthodox Parish of the Nativity of St John the Baptist in Valletta, Malta, warning that people lose their freedom when they distance themselves from God.
His Grace explained the Gospel reading for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost, which recounts the healing of the demon-possessed man in the region of the Gergesenes.
“Today, we do not see this domination as it was manifested when the Saviour was in the region of the Gergesenes, that is, openly.”
“This domination by demons and the devil manifests itself through everything that enslaves us, everything that places a yoke upon us, beginning with social media and addictions,” the Bishop added.
At the end of the service, in recognition of his liturgical, pastoral, administrative and charitable work, Bishop Maxim presented the parish priest with the St Dionysius Exiguus Diocesan Order, on behalf of Bishop Siluan of Italy.
The priest’s wife, Presbytera Andreea Popescu, also received the St Dionysius Exiguus Diocesan Order for Laypeople.
On Saturday, Bishop Maxim had attended an event honouring Queen Marie of Romania, hosted by President Myriam Spiteri Debono of Malta.
