Metropolitan of Bessarabia on Dormition Fast: ‘Through fasting, we learn to say no to the passions’

The Dormition Fast began on Friday , 14 August, for Orthodox Christians following the unrevised Julian calendar. On this occasion, His Eminence Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia issued a message urging the faithful to use the fasting period to strengthen themselves spiritually. “God gives us these days to prepare ourselves to understand the great mystery of the feast: she who received Christ into her entire being is herself received, at the end of her earthly life, into the Kingdom of her Son,” Metropolitan Antonie emphasised. His Eminence recalled the Annunciation, when the Mother of God accepted the calling to bear the Saviour Jesus Christ in her womb: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word!” (Luke 1:38). “This is one of the profound meanings of fasting: the passage from our own will to the will of God. We fast so that our desires, habits and passions cease to determine the direction of our lives. We practise self-restraint to make room for the work of grace. We pray more often so that our distracted minds may withdraw from vanities and our hearts may hear the voice of God’s calling.” “A person who cannot refrain from judgement, malice, pride, envy, anger, consumption or distraction becomes a slave to his own impulses. Through fasting, therefore, we learn once again to say no to passion so that we may say yes to becoming like God,” the Metropolitan of Bessarabia added. The Church calls everyone to salvation Metropolitan Antonie stressed that the Church calls everyone to salvation, “while ideologies founded upon hatred, falsehood and domination lead to the destruction of the soul”. “We must condemn atheistic imperialism and every form of aggression that separates brothers of the same blood, falsifies historical memory and uses faith for purposes alien to the Gospel. The Christian response is patience, forgiveness and prayer for peace and unity in Christ.” The Metropolitan of Bessarabia assured the faithful that he keeps them in his prayers, together with every community and family entrusted to his pastoral care. “We are particularly concerned about the spiritual condition of children and young people, families separated by migration, the sick, elderly people living alone, and those burdened by hardship or despair.” “At the same time, we thank the clergy of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, as well as all those serving at the holy altars throughout Bessarabia who, within their communities, serve with integrity, hear confessions, provide catechesis, visit the sick, support families and gather the people around the Holy Chalice, despite the difficulties, shortages and social tensions, which are by no means few.” His Eminence concluded his message with a prayer that the Mother of God would “protect our country, communities and families in love, peace and unity”. In Romanian-speaking regions, communities in the Republic of Moldova, northern Bukovina and Budjak, and Romanians in Serbia’s Timok Valley follow the unrevised calendar. Some Ukrainian communities in Romania, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and Mount Athos also follow the same calendar. Photo: Metropolis of Bessarabia