The Christmas Pastoral Letter of His Eminence Metropolitan Serafim of Germany, Central and Northern Europe, briefly presents the life of eight of the sixteen newly canonized Romanian Saints – those His Eminence knew.
“Let us give glory to the good God who has raised so many saints from our people who pray for us, interceding before Him for the forgiveness of our sins, and let us strive, as much as we can, to follow the example of their lives of faith, kindness, patience, and forgiveness,” conveyed Metropolitan Serafim.
“In the year 2025, the Romanian Orthodox Church celebrates 100 years since its organization as a Patriarchate, the highest form of organization for a local Orthodox Church,” His Eminence recalled.
“Over these hundred years, God has blessed our Church with many gifts: the establishment of new dioceses, monasteries, and parishes, the construction of hundreds of parish and monastery churches, the founding of theological schools and social institutions.”
Faith Will Help Many Romanians Return Home
“But God has also allowed times of great trials to come upon our people and our Church, such as the communist dictatorship, followed by the exodus of millions of Romanians from the country, which endangers the future of our country and our people,” recalled the Romanian Metropolitan of Germany.
“Only faith in God saved us from the atheist dictatorship, and we hope that faith in God and love for our nation will help many Romanians return home.”
Holiness, God’s Gift, with Human Cooperation
After briefly introducing the new saints he knew personally, Metropolitan Serafim urged believers to remember all sixteen visages of holiness inscribed in our Church’s calendar and follow their example.
“Holiness is the exclusive gift of God, but the grace we all received at Holy Baptism requires cooperation with it throughout life through a struggle unto blood (Hebrews 12:4) against sin and all kinds of evils with which the devil tempts us,” wrote His Eminence.
“Struggle unto blood means perseverance in faith by fulfilling God’s commandments, prayer and fasting, a moderate life in all respects, and a constant connection with the Church through whose Holy Sacraments and prayers grace and the power of God are renewed and multiplied in us.”
“Taking these words of teaching to heart, I conclude with the biblical quote with which I began: Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith (Hebrews 13:7),” further noted the Metropolitan of Germany.
Photo: Metropolis of Germany
