Metropolitan Irineu of Oltenia said on Sunday at Lainici Monastery that Saint Bessarion of Lainici received the crown of martyrdom and holiness for his life dedicated to Christ.
Speaking during the local proclamation of the canonisation of the Holy Venerable Martyr Bessarion of Lainici, Metropolitan Irineu recalled that from a young age, “Saint Bessarion passed through many crucifixions and attained many resurrections.”
“In fact, we are born and then grow; we die to childhood to be born to adolescence, we die to adolescence to reach the maturity of manhood — the fullness of Christ. Saint Bessarion went through these stages,” the Metropolitan said.
During his monastic life, Saint Bessarion was distinguished by the way he chanted the name of the Lord, fulfilling the promise he made when he took monastic vows.
“Saint Bessarion kept the promise made at his tonsure — to pronounce as often as possible the name of the Saviour, the sweetest name of the Lord — and the All-Merciful One would answer from his heart: Your sins are forgiven you,” Metropolitan Irineu emphasised.
A life in Christ that disturbed the world
However, these virtues and his life in Christ brought Saint Bessarion into the attention of “those of ill faith, who, prompted by the devil, could not bear his calmness and gentleness,” the hierarch explained.
Thus, Saint Bessarion received the crown of martyrdom, with which he entered the Kingdom of God.
“The All-Merciful God wished to grant him a greater crown than that of a monk or hesychast. The Saint bore witness before people, professed his piety, and crowned his work as Christ Himself commanded,” Metropolitan Irineu said.
“The Saint entered the Kingdom of God with a martyr’s crown — and we know from the Holy Fathers that Christ Himself places the crown of martyrdom upon their foreheads,” he added.
Providence and faith under persecution
Metropolitan Irineu noted that Saint Bessarion was among the many who suffered imprisonment for their faith and accepted the sacrifice for Christ without complaint.
“In Oltenia, 40% of the serving priests were arrested and tortured. Many of them died in prison,” the hierarch said.
“Saint Bessarion suffered too and never murmured — he was like a sheep led to the slaughter. Truly, he is a lamb of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who sacrificed himself, who endured, and who is now glorified together with Saint Gerasimus of Tismana, who died in the same year.”
“It is God’s providence that saints who lived in different places should meet in the Kingdom of Heaven,” Metropolitan Irineu concluded.
Photo: Oltenia Metropolis
