“The saint, in similarly difficult times, resisted alongside his people the enslavement of their homeland. From that time on, he has been the one who encourages us to spiritually resist every enslavement that targets our faith, our Church, our homeland, our education, and all the values and institutions of our local tradition. If we fail to grasp the message of spiritual resistance, we’ll fall into an enslavement that won’t come from the Hagarenes, but will be spiritual—and that’s the most difficult and most abhorrent kind.
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“Just as our ancestors, fourteen hundred years ago, faced danger not in ignorance but in prayer and vigilance, so too we today, in the midst of various trials, wars, divisions and uncertainty, are called to stand — not sitting idly by, but hurrying forward in faith, hope and love
“Do not allow the enemy to discourage you, break you, or take away your hope and support. Resist evil without losing your ability to love, befriend, care, help, believe, rejoice and be grateful — to our defenders, to people of goodwill and to God.
“His All-Holiness encouraged the faithful to take up their cross and bear the burdens of daily life
“They regard the earth as an opportunity to attain heaven. The entire Church has established the saints—these heroes of the faith—as examples to follow, because through their lives and deeds they bear witness to the joy of God’s presence in our lives.
“the parishioners have long been accustomed to a constant struggle for survival and accepted the difficult situation with humility
“St. Nazaria, he said, shows that pure prayer isn’t a utopia. St. Olimpiada, he continued, shows that taking on external cares and administrative or leadership responsibilities doesn’t stop a person from reaching God—rather, when such service is undertaken in God’s name, it becomes a pure offering to the Holy Trinity. St. Elisabeta, he added, shows those who fulfilled the Lord’s word to the rich young man in the Gospel: “Go, sell your possessions, give to the poor, then come and follow Me.”
“endured imprisonment, contempt, hunger, and want, but didn’t fall into despair, instead being strengthened through prayer and hope in God.