Serving on Monday at the church founded by the Brâncoveanu family in the centre of Bucharest, the patriarchal auxiliary bishop Ieronim of Sinaia said that their martyrdom impressed a whole world, not only the Romanians. The patriarchal auxiliary bishop listed the Saints among the martyrs of the first centuries and those during the communist regime, recalling that the day of their veneration, August 16, is also the National Day of Awareness of Violence against Christians.
Bp Ieronim said that the Romanian nation has “a long line of martyrs who gave their lives for Christ, who embraced the Cross and who considered it the way of their lives.”
He also mentioned the “great statesmen” like Saint Constantine Brâncoveanu, the “brave voivodes” such as Saint Stephen the Great, Vlad the Impaler, or Michael the Brave.
“Let their suffering and sacrifice not be in vain,” the hierarch urged.
“Let their suffering and sacrifice be to us a source of strength, to make us aware. Let’s not let the country dissipate in these times that are quite strange, unexpected, unprecedented.”
“Let’s not let our language dwindle, let’s not let our culture be unknown. Let’s pass it on to future generations. Let us embrace with great love our ancestral faith and our spirituality!”
Thinking of those who not far from the New Saint George Church died thirty years ago, facing atheism and injustice, the bishop stressed: “Let not their death be in vain!”
In this context, the patriarchal auxiliary bishop said that “too many have turned their backs on the country and left too far away.”
“It is true that the economic part is essential and that people after everything was destroyed step by step, had nothing to maintain their lives and the existence of their families. But, still, we need a power of regeneration,” he noted on August 16.
His Grace recalled the way St. Constantine Brâncoveanu encouraged his sons to receive martyrdom: “We have lost everything we had, from now on let us not lose our souls!” and he said that this was an appeal “over the ages.”
“Whatever the temptations in this world, no matter how much we love life, possessions are nothing higher, more beautiful, and more precious than the soul.”
On the patronal feast, the Syrian Icon of the Mother of God from Ghighiu Monastery was brought to the New St George Church in Bucharest.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Ieronim of Sinaia blessed three icons made of Venetian mosaic depicting the Holy Martyr Constantine Brâncoveanu, Saint Nicholas, and the Holy Great Martyr George.
Next to them, a Byzantine portrait of Princess Maria Brâncoveanu was placed in the church, thanks to whom the honourable relics of Saint Constantine were brought to Wallachia and deposited in a tomb inside the church.
Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro / Raluca Ene
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