Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești emphasised the value of the gift of life and the family’s role in raising children at the Patriarchal Cathedral on Tuesday: “Every child who is born is a gift and a blessing from God.”
The Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop spoke about the veneration of the Most Holy Virgin from the apostolic period onwards.
“We know that the Mother of God was cherished and venerated by the Lord’s disciples and apostles. She was cared for by the Apostle closest to Him, St John the Theologian or Evangelist, and the Mother of God was the heart of the Church in Jerusalem, which persevered in prayer and in awaiting the Lord.”
“We see, therefore, that from the very beginning the Church venerated the Mother of God,” His Grace emphasised.
‘The Mother of God inaugurates a new history’
The hierarch explained why the feast was placed at the beginning of the Church Year and the significance of its date.
“The eighth day of September was chosen because, in Christian spirituality, the number eight signifies eternity, eternal life. Even in mathematics, the figure eight placed on its side symbolises infinity. Through her birth, therefore, the Mother of God inaugurates a new history.”
“If the old Eve inaugurated the history of the fall of humanity, from Adam until Christ, the Mother of God inaugurates the history of human salvation through the birth of Jesus Christ,” the Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop continued.
‘The Mother of God is born as the fruit of prayer’
Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești pointed to the example of the Holy and Righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anne.
“The Mother of God is born as the fruit of prayer, of the patient and hopeful waiting of her holy parents.”
“We learn from today’s feast that we must follow the example of the Holy and Righteous Parents of the Mother of God, Joachim and Anne, who persevered in prayer for a long time and waited with great patience for God to grant them a child,” His Grace emphasised.
The Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop said that “every child should be dedicated to the Lord, first of all through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, so that they may receive the graces flowing from this sacrament and from the Sacrament of Holy Chrismation, and should be brought to church as often as possible to be nourished with the Body and Blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ”.
‘May God enlighten the minds of students’
Against the backdrop of the new school year, Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești stressed the importance of education.
“We realise how important education is, especially spiritual education, which alone is capable of showing children and young people the purpose and meaning of our lives: the salvation of the soul and the attainment of eternal life.”
“We rejoice that prayers were offered at the opening of schools, invoking the grace of the Holy Spirit upon the children beginning the school year, that God may enlighten their minds, strengthen their determination to study what is beneficial and cultivate their memory,” the hierarch added.
“Let us pray to the Mother of God, protector of families and children, to grant wisdom and discernment to all students who have begun school, to give holy zeal to educators and teachers, and to give parents the love with which to support their children throughout this process,” His Grace said.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop congratulated those named after the Virgin Mary or bearing names derived from hers.
On behalf of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, the hierarch wished them health, joy, the fulfilment of their good aspirations, and help from God and the Mother of God.
Photo: BASILICA / Raluca-Emanuela Ene
