{"id":126701,"date":"2016-03-25T14:02:56","date_gmt":"2016-03-25T12:02:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/?p=126701"},"modified":"2016-03-29T18:00:00","modified_gmt":"2016-03-29T15:00:00","slug":"his-grace-varlaam-ploiesteanul-feast-of-the-annunciation-is-the-revelation-of-the-mystery-hidden-for-centuries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arhiva.basilica.ro\/en\/his-grace-varlaam-ploiesteanul-feast-of-the-annunciation-is-the-revelation-of-the-mystery-hidden-for-centuries\/","title":{"rendered":"His Grace Varlaam of Ploie\u015fti: \u201eThe feast of the Annunciation is the Revelation of the Mystery Hidden for Centuries\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cThe feast of the Annunciation is the revelation of the Mystery hidden for centuries and not known by angels, namely the Mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God, of Jesus Christ, our Saviour\u201d. <\/em>These are the words of the sermon of His Grace Varlaam of Ploie\u015fti, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch addressed to the faithful at the Annunciation feast day.<\/p>\n

His Grace celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Bucharest, Friday, 25 March 2016.<\/p>\n

On this day, the Bible text from Luke 1:24-38 (see below) was read in all the places of worship of the Romanian Patriarchate, presenting the moment Archangel Gabriel announced Virgin Mary that she would give birth to Jesus Christ, our Saviour.<\/p>\n

The hierarch underlined the fact that Jesus Christ brought a new law, the law of the Grace of the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus Christ, our Saviour, is the Holy One, the source of all holiness. He is not a person who becomes holy by efforts, asceticism or cultivation of virtues. Besides this Mystery of the Incarnation of our Saviour, today the Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin; Archangel Gabriel announces beforehand the grace, namely the new law that our Saviour brings, the law of the Grace of the Holy Spirit\u201d, <\/em>His Grace Varlaam of Ploie\u015fti said.<\/p>\n

His Grace told the faithful that humility and obedience are two virtues very important for human\u2019s salvation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe humility and obedience of the Mother of God, humility and obedience until death on the Cross of Jesus Christ, our Saviour, made possible the restoration of the human nature, taken up now by Jesus Christ, our Saviour, at the time of the conception, so that it becomes worthy to be received in the Heavenly Kingdom through holiness and the work of the Holy Spirit\u201d, <\/em>the Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch also showed.<\/p>\n

His Grace Varlaam of Ploie\u015fti has also said that today\u2019s Gospel text shows that the One born as human by Virgin Mary has existed before all ages. We must also learn the humility from the Mother of God.<\/p>\n

During the Divine Liturgy, Rev. Fr. Alexandru Mo\u0163oc, General Inspector at the Holy Synod Office, who passed away this morning, was commemorated.<\/p>\n

In the end, the hierarch read the message of the Patriarch of Romania for opening the conferences of the Christian Orthodox Students\u2019 Association of Romania and of the Christian Orthodox Youth League of Romania entitled The Vocation of the Orthodox Young People Today: Communion and Responsibility<\/em>. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Bible text Luke 1:24-38<\/p>\n

After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. \u201cThe Lord has done this for me,\u201d she said. \u201cIn these days he has shown his favour and taken away my disgrace among the people.\u201d In the sixth month of Elizabeth\u2019s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin\u2019s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, \u201cGreetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.\u201d Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. \u00a0<\/sup>But the angel said to her, \u201cDo not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob\u2019s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.\u201d \u201cHow will this be,\u201d Mary asked the angel, \u201csince I am a virgin?\u201d The angel answered, \u201cThe Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.\u201d \u201cI am the Lord\u2019s servant,\u201d Mary answered. \u201cMay your word to me be fulfilled.\u201d Then the angel left her.<\/em><\/p>\n