The 25th Sunday after the Pentecost, celebrated at the Nativity of the Lord Metropolitan Cathedral in Chisinau

On the 25^th Sunday after the Pentecost, with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau and All Moldova, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Nativity of the Lord Cathedral by the Metropolitan Vicar, His Grace Bishop Siluan of Orhei.

His Grace Siluan was encountered early morning by the synax of priests and deacons of the Cathedral, headed by Archpriest Vadim Cheibas, the Metropolitan Secretary and dean of the Cathedral, as well as by numerous church-goers who came to the holy shrine to give glory to the Almighty Lord.

After reading the Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 13, 10-17) about the healing of the infirm woman, His Grace Bishop Siluan delivered a homily:

“Our Lord Jesus Christ, seeing this woman, who had been bowed together for eighteen years by a spirit of infirmity, told her: Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. By loosing, or releasing this woman, Lord Jesus Christ showed her and to those present in the synagogue that nay sickness or any bodily pain originates in the spiritual falling down. All human suffering is consequence of human sin, this is why, before healing this woman, Lord Jesus dismissed her from her sin and from her sickness. From the point of view of humanity, those who were with Lord Jesus Christ at that moment should have rejoiced because this infirm woman had healed of her sickness. However, while she gave glory to God, the ruler of the synagogue came and said There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. But Jesus didn’t make anything that could bring him any profit, He showed mercy to this daughter of Israel who had been in suffering for so many years”.

Bishop Siluan called the believers to be kinder and more merciful, especially now when the Orthodox Christians are preparing, through fasting, to meet the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ: “From this Gospel story we can say that when we come to the church, along with the common prayer and participation in the Holy Eucharist, we also should keep in mind the pain and suffering of our neighbour, and not stay indifferent to their needs. A good Christian must, primarily, exhibit sympathy towards his brother, who is, first of all, the image and likeness of God. This is why, let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ on this Sunday, to increase our faith, to help us live in the spirit of the Gospel teaching, and let us call the Lord to relieve us of any sin and sickness, strengthening our faith, hope, and love”, mentioned Bishop of Orhei.

After the Lord’s Prayer, many church-goers came up to the Bishop in the Sacrament of Confession, and then partook in the Holy Eucharist, receiving the Flesh and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and for the life eternal.

After the Thanks-Giving Te-Deum service, His Grace Siluan delivered the message and blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, who is undertaking a pilgrimage to the Holy Land these days. Bishop Siluan congratulated all those present at the Divine Liturgy, wishing them much health, well-being, spiritual joy, and a good week, and blessed the praying community.

Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Relations with the Mass-Media