Graduates of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest took the oath of allegiance on Monday, June 27.
The ceremony was held at St. Catherine University Chapel after the Divine Liturgy celebrated by the patriarchal auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești.
The Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop addressed those present, stressing the significance of the ceremony.
“God, who cares for all, has ordained that this solemn moment in your life should take place in a special liturgical setting.”
Recalling the Gospel text read on Sunday, referring to the call of the first four apostles, Peter, Andrew, James and John, Bishop Varlaam explained:
“Feeling the irresistible call of the Son of God, Whose words are spirit and life, they left all at once and followed Christ. So here is the first meaning of the moment you are living. Christ, the perfect fisherman, has made this call mystically to you to come after Him.”
“Perhaps, like the four disciples, you left a lot and came to study theology here, but the true apostolic calling only begins here,” Bishop Varlaam stressed.
“Once the oath is taken, a whole new stage begins,” Bishop Varlaam added.
After taking the oath, the students participated in the graduation ceremony, organized in the courtyard of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest.
Source: basilica.ro
Photos: Alexandru Paraschiv; Lumina Newspaper / Luigi Ivanciu (gallery)
