Bishop Macarie of Northern Europe baptised two Swedish nationals, a mother and son, last weekend at the Romanian Orthodox parish church in Uppsala, Sweden. On the same occasion, seven young Scandinavians became catechumens.
Maria and Martin Hoppe chose to join the Orthodox Church after nearly two years of preparation.
“I was a catechumen for almost two years, and it was a wonderful period. Yet throughout that time, I eagerly awaited the moment when I could become a full member of the Church,” Martin Hoppe told Trinitas TV.
His mother, Maria, also described their journey towards discovering Orthodoxy through reading and growing closer to the faithful of the Uppsala parish.
“When we began reading and learning more about Orthodoxy, we understood that this is the truth, that this is God’s path and that we must follow it.”
Pure in heart and without guile
The liturgical programme also included the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, during which Bishop Macarie emphasised that children can serve as spiritual examples for adults.
“The Mother of God guides and enlightens us so that we may guide children. Yet children themselves, whether openly or quietly, also guide us, because we learn from them, in a special way, purity of heart.”
“Unless we become like children, pure in heart and without guile, we shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven,” the Bishop added.
The Romanian Orthodox church in Uppsala is dedicated to the Three Holy Hierarchs and the Synaxis of the Holy Metropolitans of Wallachia.
