“The sending of the Lord’s disciples is a holy mission. It is not about ordination for a parish, but about a missionary mandate for the whole world,” Patriarch Daniel of Romania said on Sunday during the Agape Vespers service of the first day of Holy Pascha, at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest.
The Romanian Patriarch officiated the Resurrection Vespers at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, together with Bishop Qais Sadiq of Erzurum (Patriarchate of Antioch), Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishops Varlaam of Ploiești and Paisie of Sinaia, and Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova of the Archdiocese of Bucharest.
The Gospel passage from John 20:19–25 was read in ten languages: Romanian, Greek, Latin, Arabic, Church Slavonic, English, French, Italian, Spanish and Polish.
The reality of the Resurrection
Patriarch Daniel explained that this liturgical moment recalls Christ’s appearance to His disciples after the Resurrection: “Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them and said: ‘Peace be with you!’”
He подчlined that this encounter was meant to strengthen the disciples’ faith by confirming the reality of the Resurrection.
“The Saviour Jesus Christ first wishes to assure the disciples that He truly rose from the dead, that He is not a ghost.”
The gift of the Holy Spirit
Explaining the theological meaning of the Gospel, the patriarch referred to interpretations by both Eastern and Western Church Fathers, noting that the marks of the wounds remained on Christ’s body to strengthen faith.
“The nails pierced His hands, the spear left His side open. The marks of the wounds remained on His body in order to heal the hearts of those who doubt the Resurrection,” Patriarch Daniel said, citing Saint Augustine.
In the same context, he highlighted the importance of the gift of the Holy Spirit, clarifying the liturgical wording.
“In all the languages you heard, it is not said ‘take the Holy Spirit’, but ‘receive the Holy Spirit’,” he said, emphasising that the Spirit is received as a gift, not taken as something seized.
Preparation for a difficult mission
The head of the Romanian Orthodox Church explained that this sending is strengthened through the work of the Holy Spirit and involves undertaking a difficult mission.
“The Saviour Jesus Christ prepares the disciples, strengthens them in faith and sends them on a mission—a great and very difficult task.”
He noted that, according to some commentators on the Gospel of John, the disciples were sent into a hostile environment, where they would face persecution, imprisonment and even martyrdom.
“Thus, He strengthened them with the power of the truth of His Resurrection from the dead and of the Holy Spirit, who empowers them for the glory of God and our salvation,” Patriarch Daniel concluded.
Photo: Lumina Newspaper / Luigi Ivanciu
