{"id":359240,"date":"2022-03-15T16:15:42","date_gmt":"2022-03-15T14:15:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=359240"},"modified":"2022-03-15T16:15:42","modified_gmt":"2022-03-15T14:15:42","slug":"holy-forty-martyrs-of-sebaste-honoured-at-bucharest-monastery-martyrdom-means-love-and-its-perpetuation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/holy-forty-martyrs-of-sebaste-honoured-at-bucharest-monastery-martyrdom-means-love-and-its-perpetuation\/","title":{"rendered":"Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste honoured at Bucharest Monastery: \u201cMartyrdom means love and its perpetuation\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste were honoured at Bucharest\u2019s St Anthimos Monastery, where particles of their relics, donated by Patriarch Nicodemus of Jerusalem 139 years ago, are displayed for veneration.<\/p>\n

The festal Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts was celebrated by the monastery\u2019s abbot Protosyncellus Vicen\u021biu Oboroceanu.<\/p>\n

During his sermon, the abbot referred to the martyrdom of the holy saints remembered by the Church on March 9 who \u201cchose suffering and steadfastness.\u201d<\/p>\n

The abbot pointed out the moment when one of the forty gave in: \u201cHe did not enter the frozen lake with a full confessional heart; he did not have the spiritual effervescence; he was doubtful\u201d, Fr. Vicentiu explained.<\/p>\n

Coming out of the icy water and entering the specially prepared hot bath, he died immediately, and one of the jailers chose to take his place in martyrdom: \u201cHe opened his heart and confessed that he was a Christian, then he went to the other 39 soldiers who were upset that their comrade-in-arms had left. And behold, he comforted them, and gave, even more, will power unto them who were in the frozen lake.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does Holy Martyrdom really mean, dear believers?\u201d the abbot asked. \u201cLove for Christ and its perpetuation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I don\u2019t love a little now, tomorrow I\u2019ll sweeten myself with a lust, another sin, I\u2019ll come back, I\u2019ll confess. It isn\u2019t easy. You have to stabilize,\u201d the abbot said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause the grace of the Holy Spirit is very delicate when it enters the human soul and heart. You must have your heart ready because man is not worthy of the coming of grace and the tasting of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Grace comes to the heart of man and gives him rest. It gives virtue over virtue and gifts over gifts to the man who is constantly a spiritual labourer.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Protos. Vicen\u021biu Oboroceanu, abbot of Saint Anthimos Monastery in Bucharest. \u00a9Basilica.ro \/ Raluca Ene<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Continuing his speech, the abbot referred to the significant difficulties facing the world today, especially the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n

He said that we have the Forty Martyrs and the confessors from the communist prisons and St. Anthimos the Iberian as support and models in these difficulties.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to have peace in our souls, but we also need to be aware of the times,\u201d Father Vicen\u021biu said, concluding his sermon with the words of the Saviour:\u201d Take heart, I have overcome the world!\u201d (John 16:33).<\/p>\n

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, a memorial service was held for those who confessed the Orthodox faith in communist prisons, including members of the Burning Bush movement that operated at St Anthimos Monastery.<\/p>\n

March 9 is the Day of Anti-Communist Political Prisoners from 1944-1989 in Romania.<\/p>\n

A museum dedicated to the Burning Bush spiritual movement members was set up in 2017 at Saint Anthimos Monastery.<\/p>\n