His Grace Bishop Timotei of Spain and Portugal told Romanian faithful on Sunday that “following God is a great calling” during celebrations marking the patronal feast of the Romanian Orthodox Parish of Saint Bartholomew in Sines, Portugal, the birthplace of explorer Vasco da Gama.
His Grace celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the parish feast day and reflected on the life of the Holy Apostle Bartholomew and the meaning of the apostles’ calling to follow Christ.
“Speaking about him, Christ says in the Gospel according to John that he is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit, highlighting the purity and sincerity of his heart.”
The bishop explained that Church tradition “identifies Nathanael with the Holy Apostle Bartholomew, who was known by both names.”
“Through his sincere witness and the absence of any deceit, Saint Bartholomew remains for the faithful a model of pure faith and authentic discipleship,” he said.
Christ Prepares Our Souls
Bishop Timotei underlined that the apostles’ response to Christ’s call was preceded by an inner preparation.
“The apostles left behind what they had and followed the Saviour. Yet this was not their first encounter with Christ. They had already seen Him and heard Him speak. Before addressing His call to us, the Saviour prepares our souls.”
“Then He calls us to follow Him, and He Himself gives us the strength to respond, because following God is a great calling.”
“Only by cooperating with this grace in our lives can we follow Christ and attain holiness,” the bishop added.
A Witness to Romanian Solidarity
Romania’s ambassador to Portugal, Daniela Anda Grigore-Gîtman, also attended the event and said the gathering represented “a living testimony to the unity and solidarity of Romanians in Portugal,” noting the large number of participants from both Romania and the Republic of Moldova.
“We were delighted to see so many bright children and young people who continue to speak Romanian with pride and joy, even here, far from home,” the Embassy of Romania in Portugal said in a post on its official Facebook page.
“Such events continually reaffirm the essential role of Romanian parishes in preserving and promoting our spirituality and national identity.”
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Timotei elevated parish priest Fr Alexandru Gafiiuc to the rank of stavrophore economos in recognition of his pastoral and missionary work within the Romanian community of Sines.
The town in western Portugal is known as the birthplace of Vasco da Gama. The Portuguese explorer discovered the first direct maritime route between Europe and India at the end of the 15th century, opening the era of the global spice trade.
Photo: Diocese of Spain and Portugal
