{"id":233896,"date":"2019-04-15T12:28:17","date_gmt":"2019-04-15T09:28:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=233896"},"modified":"2019-04-15T12:28:17","modified_gmt":"2019-04-15T09:28:17","slug":"new-deacon-ordained-as-new-hope-for-an-enhanced-work-at-bucharest-parish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/new-deacon-ordained-as-new-hope-for-an-enhanced-work-at-bucharest-parish\/","title":{"rendered":"New deacon ordained as new hope for an enhanced work at Bucharest parish"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti on Sunday performed the ordination to the diaconate of Basilica News Agency\u2019s Editor Iulian Dumitrascu noting that he is \u2018a hope for an enhanced work in a parish that is already distinguished by a multitude of spiritual and social works\u2019.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The ordination was performed during the Divine Liturgy celebrated at Precupetii Noi (new street vendors) Church in Bucharest on the fifth Sunday of Great Lent, April 14, 2019.<\/p>\n

\u2018He is not only a joy for your parish, but for the entire Church,\u2019 the bishop said noting that there are still many young people \u2018who not only desire to become deacons and priests in the Church of Christ, but they wait for years until their turn comes to receive the grace of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Holy Orders,\u2019 His Grace said recalling that Iulian Dumitrascu graduated ten years ago from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest.<\/p>\n

After graduation, the newly-ordained Deacon Iulian Dumitrascu was concerned about communicating the Good to know online, being one of the senior members of the Basilica News Agency (2010).<\/p>\n

In his homily, Bishop Varlaam offered his reflections on the gospel reading from Mark (10:32-45) where Christ predicted His passions and death.<\/p>\n

\u2018We observe that the Saviour decided to go and suffer for us and our salvation,\u2019 His Grace said, while reminding that in this context Christ uttered the harshest words ever spoken during his earthly activity.<\/p>\n

\u2018Saint Peter, who was the eldest, and usually spoke on behalf of all the disciples, took the Saviour aside and told him, Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!\u2019<\/p>\n

Then Jesus uttered his harshest words, \u201cGet behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n

Being older and cautious, Peter asked the Lord to take care so that he would not suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed, Bp Varlaam explained.<\/p>\n

\u2018This is the thought of every man who has the instinct of preservation deeply rooted in him, which often causes man to abandon the moral principles and values that usually guide his life: the fear of death, worry over not losing the things of this world.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018But the Saviour rebukes Peter because he thinks just like all other people in this matter,\u2019 His Grace noted.<\/p>\n

In the second part of his homily, the bishop referred to the life of Saint Mary of Egypt and urged everyone to follow her example of repentance.<\/p>\n