Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina attended the patronal feast of the Theological Seminary at Neamt Monastery on Monday, August 5, where he spoke about the spiritual calmness searched by St John Jacob during his earthly life.
‘We can include Saint John Jacob among the chosen ones of earth and heaven, who showed that during his entire life he struggled to climb mount Tabor, i.e. to be encompassed by the light of the Most Holy Trinity,’ the Metropolitan said.
The Divine Liturgy on the Feast of Saint John Jacob (the new Chosebite) of Neamt was presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Teofan. Concelebrants for the Divine Liturgy included Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia and the Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti.
‘Man is incapable of drawing closer to God in worldly turbulence and anxiety,’ His Eminence noted during his homily.
Resembling Jesus Christ who climbed mount Tabor to show that ‘not in the midst of worldly bustle can man approach God easily,’ Saint John Jacob went in the Choseba wilderness for spiritual feats.
The 47-year long earthly pilgrimage of St John Jacob points to the fact that humans cannot draw nearer to God if they don’t try to find moments and spaces for quietude, the metropolitan explained.
Saint John Jacob of Neamt was a hegoumen of St John the Forerunner Skete in Jordan Valley. He reposed on August 5, 1960.
For his strict ascetic life and the miracles performed, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church resolved to glorify Venerable John Jacob during its working session on June 20, 1992.
Photography courtesy of Doxologia.ro
