‘Let us love the Saints and venerate their relics, even when we are mocked for it’: Transylvania Metropolitan at Bucharest

‘Let us love the Saints and venerate sacred things, and holy relics, even when we are mocked for doing this,’ the Metropolitan of Transylvania on Friday urged the believers present at the Divine Liturgy on the Patriarchate’s Hill, offering his reflections on the Gospel reading of the day.

All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God,’ the Lord told His Apostles according to John 16:1-2.

Metropolitan Laurențiu of Transylvania presided over the Divine Liturgy on the feast of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrios the Myrrh-Gusher, at the outdoor altar of the Patriarchal Cathedral in the presence of thousands of pilgrims, having as concelebrants several Romanian hierarchs.

Faith is considered folly in the modern world

His Eminence spoke to believers about the life of the Great Martyr celebrated on October 26.

The hierarch emphasized the fact that both in the time of Saint Demetrios and in our own days, assuming sacrifice for the faith is considered folly.

Just as the Martyrs witness to the Saviour Jesus Christ with the price of their life, without resisting, with no malice, but by assuming this sacrifice, which has amazed even their beheaders, so the Christian faith and steadfastness, the bearing of the cross by the sons and daughters of our Church are considered folly in the modern world, in the world in which only transient joy and pleasure are wished for, forgetting about the eternal joy given by our Lord Jesus Christ.“


On the veneration of holy relics

In the same context, Metropolitan Laurentiu said that Christians are mocked for venerating the holy relics as well, which are “the most obvious proof of holiness”.

The Metropolitan explained that kissing “the remains of the well-pleasing to the Lord” is expressing a bond of faith and love.

“We feel an intimacy, the fragrance of the Holy Spirit’s gifts, which we all partake of and bear in us”.

“Let us, therefore, love the Saints and venerate sacred things, and holy relics, even if we’re going to be mocked for it!” said Metropolitan Laurentiu, encouraging the believers to accept everything with peace and joy.

“So help us the Good Lord to be true confessors of Christ in peace and joy! Let us not try to avenge or seek our own justice! God will make His justice which He has in His dominion because vengeance belongs to Him, not to us.’

And may the Holy Martyrs, the Saints you have as your protectors and bear their names, be the protectors of every one of us, the guardians and intercessors to our Saviour Jesus Christ so we may all gain everlasting life. Amen.’

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Photography courtesy of Raluca Ene / Basilica.ro

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