{"id":295051,"date":"2020-10-21T10:40:15","date_gmt":"2020-10-21T07:40:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=295051"},"modified":"2020-10-21T10:40:15","modified_gmt":"2020-10-21T07:40:15","slug":"metropolitan-teofan-on-st-paraschevas-feast-the-pandemic-challenges-us-to-ask-ourselves-inevitable-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arhiva.basilica.ro\/en\/metropolitan-teofan-on-st-paraschevas-feast-the-pandemic-challenges-us-to-ask-ourselves-inevitable-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Metropolitan Teofan on St Parascheva\u2019s Feast: The pandemic challenges us to ask ourselves inevitable questions"},"content":{"rendered":"

In his homily on the feast of St Parascheva of Ia\u015fi, Metropolitan Teofan offered some answers to the challenges of the present times. <\/strong><\/p>\n

To stop the community spread of the SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus, Romanian authorities imposed harsh restrictions for this year\u2019s celebrations: pilgrims from outside the city of Ia\u0219i were denied access to the cathedral where the saint\u2019s relics are kept.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe presence of this epidemic in our life challenges us to ask ourselves inevitable questions,\u201d the metropolitan said Oct. 14.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe, ordinary people and leaders, cannot avoid wondering why this is happening, we cannot avoid the question: What have we done wrong? What was it that we could have done better, what should we see and understand of all this?\u201d<\/p>\n

He said the answer can only come from deep within and is related to the mystery of communion, which has become a distant notion for too many of us.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do feel that this secret connection between people, which is called communion,<\/em> is waning and we cannot refrain from asking whether we have contributed to this. The distance we are being summoned to keep mirrors our previous spiritual distancing from each other: children from their parents, teachers from their students, spouses from each other, politicians from their electors, priests from the faithful and hierarchs from priests.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Pilgrims at St Parascheva\u2019s feast. Photo: Doxologia.ro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The metropolitan explained that duplicity has often interfered with our relations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe often prefer soul-killing falsehood to profound change. We\u2019d like to look different than we are. Instead of real penitence and instead of striving to fulfil God\u2019s will in us, we\u2019d rather tap into the worldly spirit and make use of soul-crippling surrogates.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe state of spiritual watchfulness is too often replaced by apathy, simplicity by opulence, temperance by excess, which makes us vulnerable and unprepared for the trial we are going through. Particularly loneliness and restlessness have crept into our souls and hearts, we have become suspicious and diffident, relations between people and even between institutions have become tense and this can only add to the suffering and diminish our chance to be restored.\u201d<\/p>\n

Therefore, said the Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina, \u201cwe need to become aware that our own inner failures define our present trajectory. And we need to accept that we are never going to be successful only through ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Orthodoxy is inconceivable without its holy relics<\/h4>\n

His Eminence mentioned that St Parascheva\u2019s holy relics are in Ia\u0219i since 1641 and represent a \u201csmooth and clear cascade of living water for the thirsty of the world, living water whose Source is our Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn times of joy and accomplishments, the faithful came to the saint\u2019s relics to thank her, in drought time, her holy relics crossed the parched fields and the rain promptly poured. In times of plague, the saint received all who came to her. She comforted and blessed them. There are countless testimonies from those who found healing, peace after the turmoil of the soul, an answer to their difficult problems and a clear direction on the sinuous path of their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

The hierarch explained that \u201csuch testimonies are foolishness for some; for the worldly spirit, the holy relics, just like the other elements of faith, are unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yet, the metropolitan mentioned, \u201cthis has always been the faith of the Church, so much so that Orthodoxy is inconceivable without its holy icons and relics, just as it is inconceivable without the Holy Scripture or\u00a0 without the Divine Liturgy, without fasting and prayer, without charity and love of enemies.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Metropolitan of Moldavia also spoke of the epidemic we are confronted with and emphasized that \u201cmedicine, hospitalizing, all forms of protection are essential,\u201d because \u201cthey make the material part of the treatment and are absolutely necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition, he reminded that places of worship give us help from God and the strength to fight the disease.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn appeased man who has just participated in an act of faith becomes more resistant to the disease or, if already sick, more able to fight it. A real Christian would know that entrusting his or her life to a loving God, who conquered pain and disease for him, is a source of strength in the face of hardship.\u201d<\/p>\n