Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia drew attention during his homily last Sunday to the challenges posed by the demographic crisis, highlighting the essential role of the Christian family in the birth, upbringing and education of children.
His Grace emphasised the need to encourage women and mothers in order to strengthen the family and promote childbirth, in the context of the Solemn and Commemorative Year 2026 dedicated to the pastoral care of the Christian family and to the holy women in the Church calendar (the Myrrh-bearing Women, martyrs, monastics, wives and mothers).
The Bishop of Southern Bessarabia officiated at the Chapel of the Great Martyr and Gealer Panteleimon in the city of Cahul, on the Sunday after the Nativity of the Lord, according to the unrevised calendar.
His Grace stressed that Christ’s saving work has a universal character, being addressed to every person, regardless of place or time. “The Lord Christ became incarnate in order to redeem us from the bondage of sin and death. From the Gospel accounts, we see that the Son of God did not become incarnate only for the chosen people, but for the whole of humankind.”
The renewal of the world
Bishop Veniamin underlined that the journey of the Christ Child—from Bethlehem to Egypt and then to Nazareth—reveals God’s care for humanity and for the salvation of the world. “The Lord Christ journeys with each of us towards the Kingdom of God.”
“The Incarnation of the Son of God from the Virgin Mary is a response to the total degradation of the world and its estrangement from God. Through the Incarnation, the Lord Christ accomplished the redemption and renewal of the world from within His human nature, which He sanctifies,” His Grace added.
The Bishop of Southern Bessarabia urged the faithful to preserve the authentic meaning of the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord and not to reduce the joy of the celebration to outward or superficial aspects.
“The joy of the Feast of the Nativity is brought by Christ the Lord Himself, who becomes incarnate and restores us to communion with God. He redeems us and restores our freedom, calling us to communion and true relationship.”
Photo: Facebook / Episcopia Basarabiei de Sud
