“Our greatest desire is to see Christ, who rose from the dead. He gives the condition we must fulfill: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8),” emphasized Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj, Maramureș, and Sălaj in his Easter Pastoral Letter.
His Eminence underlined the need to purify the inner senses to behold Christ.
“Holy Scripture also reveals to us the soul’s senses that must be cleansed. In this regard, I will offer two quotes—one from the Old Testament and another from the New Testament: While in captivity, the prophet Ezekiel saw in a vision a human-like figure with four faces: a face of a man, a face of a lion, a third of an ox, and a fourth of an eagle (Ezekiel 1:10). The Book of Revelation tells us that Saint John the Theologian also had a vision of four living beings: ‘The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle’ (Revelation 4:7).”
Metropolitan Andrei cited Saint Macarius the Egyptian, who taught that the four creatures symbolized the guiding faculties of the soul.
The Four Faculties of the Soul
“The soul’s faculties—its four primary functions—are symbolically represented by the four living beings: reason by the eagle, feeling by the ox, will by the lion, and conscience by the man. These four are reason, emotion, will, and conscience,” said the metropolitan.
He then explained the function of each faculty and the need for their purification:
“These four senses—the four functions of the soul—have been defiled by sin. With his healthy reason, man should find the Creator in everything. ‘The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims the work of His hands’ (Psalm 18:1), says the Prophet David. Yet man can end up neglecting or even denying God. Only the pure in heart will see God.”
“The man with a pure heart loves God; his purified emotion, represented by the ox, loves holy and pure things. The sinful man laments, like Saint Paul, that his will is weak: ‘O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?’ (Romans 7:24). The will, symbolized by the lion, becomes powerless,” he added.
“And the conscience, which is the voice of God within man and should cry out whenever he sins, has become entirely dormant—his inner senses are defiled. We should enlighten the mind, warm the heart, and strengthen the will in the path of righteousness. And the dormant conscience must be awakened.”
Repentance – A Means of Purification
Metropolitan Andrei emphasized that repentance is one of the most important means available for cleansing the soul of sin.
“We have used all the means available to purify ourselves, but especially repentance. Saint Macarius the Egyptian tells us that repentance is our only salvation! Neither culture, nor intelligence, nor nobility, nor beauty can renew a person—but only true repentance, shame, and sorrow for all past sins. And, of course, a complete change in way of life and thinking. Repentance also includes a good confession.”
He also offered examples of saints who purified their inner senses and were found worthy to see God.
At the conclusion of the pastoral letter, Metropolitan Andrei urged the faithful to see the Saviour Jesus Christ present in every neighbour.
Photo: Cluj Metropolis / Darius Echim
