His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, celebrated Friday, 6 May 2016, the Divine Liturgy at Ghighiu Monastery, on the Feast of the Life Giving Spring of the Mother of God. Together with His Beatitude concelebrated His Grace Timotei of Prahova, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest.
In the homily delivered during the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude addressed the faithful referring to the different meanings of the feast.
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel emphasized that the Feast of the Life Giving Spring shows us the healing power of our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who is called by the festal hymns the Spring of Life. The Mother of God is referred to as the Spring of Healings. Therefore, this feast is both a feast of our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who was crucified and rose from the dead, and a feast of the Mother of God, Who is named a Life Giving Spring and the Spring of Healings.
The icon of the Life Giving Spring depicts Christ as a Child on the right side of the Mother of God, who is praying. The Mother of God with her hands raised in prayer represents the Church, while Christ is the Life of the Church. He is the Spring of Life, while the Mother of God, by the power of Christ’s grace, becomes a Life Giving Spring. The feast is very important for the piety of the people if we consider that every Sunday after Easter is a Sunday of Healings, His Beatitude said.
Both the Mother of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ are present in the Church, the Romanian Patriarch noted.
The Mother of God is the living icon of the praying Church, while Christ is permanently present in His Church. The healing power of Christ was granted to His disciples. In particular, after His Resurrection Christ gave them the power to heal man of sin, which is the greatest illness. Sin is a spiritual illness, as considered by the sixth Ecumenical Council.
The Head of the Romanian Orthodox Church also noted that on the feast of the Life Giving Spring we have to pray more for those who cannot pray or do not know how to pray anymore for themselves.
Let us take care of those who silently suffer in solitude, who do not afford to buy their medicine, those who have no support. There are many sick people in hospitals, and in private houses. There are many sick and lonely old people. Many people have been carrying the heavy cross of illness for many years. There are some people who lie in bed for decades and even though they do not hope for a physical healing, they still hope for the salvation of their soul, which is the human union with God.
Before the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Daniel ordained Hieromonk Vartolomeu Burlă a protosyncellus. In addition, during the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude ordained the abbess of Ghighiu Monastery, Nun Epiharia Lungu, a stavrophore nun.
After the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel and Bishop Timotei of Prahova officiated the Lesser Blessing of the Waters.
