{"id":169974,"date":"2017-07-03T11:35:58","date_gmt":"2017-07-03T08:35:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=169974\/"},"modified":"2017-07-03T13:48:08","modified_gmt":"2017-07-03T10:48:08","slug":"patronal-feast-of-putna-monastery-st-stephen-is-like-the-angels-whom-he-amazed-by-his-bravery-he-archbishop-pimen-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/patronal-feast-of-putna-monastery-st-stephen-is-like-the-angels-whom-he-amazed-by-his-bravery-he-archbishop-pimen-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Patronal Feast of Putna Monastery | ‘St Stephen is like the angels, whom he amazed by his bravery’, HE Archbishop Pimen says"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thousands of believers from all across Romania celebrated Sunday the feast of the founder and spiritual protector of Putna Monastery: Ruler Prince Saint Stephen the Great, on the 25th<\/sup> anniversary of his glorification by the Romanian Orthodox Church.<\/p>\n

The feast day of St Stephen the Great was established as the second patronal feast of Putna Monastery in 2010.<\/p>\n

The festive celebrations began on the evening of July 1 when His Eminence Pimen, Archbishop of Suceava and R\u0103d\u0103u\u0163i, officiated the all-night vigil, in the concelebration of hieromonks and lay clergy.<\/p>\n

His Eminence delivered a homily in which he stressed the spiritual qualities of St Stephen the Great. Archbishop Pimen noted that the humble Moldavian Ruler Prince used to blame himself when he lost a battle, saying that God had punished the people for their sins.<\/p>\n

St Stephen has no equal among men, he is like the angels, whom he amazed through his bravery. How many great deeds did this well-pleasing man of God do in difficult times! <\/em><\/p>\n

On the feast day, His Eminence Teodosie, Archbishop of Tomis, concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with the Archbishop of Suceava and a numerous assembly of clergy.<\/p>\n

Archbishop Teodosie addressed the faithful present stressing that we re-experience the troubled history of Moldavia by commemorating Ruler Prince Saint Stephen the Great.<\/em><\/p>\n

St Stephen\u2019s reign was not easy, but all the wars he carried brought him even more faith. The Holy Prince always went to battle with the thought of God, carrying with him the Holy Cross and the icon of Saint George, having the desire to defend the faith and his nation.<\/em><\/p>\n

Teodosie went on to speak about the brave deeds and foundations of the Prince coming from the Mu\u015fatin family, which he called eternal fortresses, landmarks of sacrifice and thanksgiving to God.<\/p>\n

His Eminence ended his speech by presenting St Stephen the Great as a model for all heads of state today. The Archbishop entreated Ruler Prince St Stephen to intercede with God for the increase of faith and national love, for help in our struggle with hardships, temptations and the foreign influence that comes upon us.<\/p>\n

After the Divine Liturgy, there was a concert of religious hymns held by several musical groups from Suceava County.<\/p>\n