On Sunday, June 14, 2026, Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria presided over the concelebrated Divine Liturgy at the Holy Chapel of Saints Hierotheos and Stephen in Budapest.
Bishop Maximos of Ariste concelebrated with the Metropolitan, and the hierarchs were liturgically assisted by Stavrophoroi Oikonomoi Gregory Nácsinák and Makarios Beke, and Presbyter Joseph Ötvös
In his sermon, the Metropolitan reflected on the Lord’s calling of the Apostles and their readiness to leave everything behind and follow Him. Within this seemingly simple narrative lies one of the deepest mysteries of the divine economy: God’s call. Jesus Christ entered human history and called each of us personally. ‘It was our Lord and God who loved us first. Before we sought Him, He sought us. Before we called upon Him, He called us.’ Emphasising this central truth of the Gospel reading, the Metropolitan explained that the Kingdom of God is founded not on human abilities, but on divine grace. Christ called the nations to salvation with twelve ordinary men. Without any guarantees and driven solely by their love for Him, the apostles proclaimed the gospel to the whole world. He therefore invited everyone to become disciples of Christ, deepening their relationship with and communion with God. Christ calls us to follow him because he is the centre of our lives. By following Christ, we become instruments of salvation for ourselves and others, since the Church exists to bestow the freedom of liberation from the bonds of this world upon the world. Finally, he urged the faithful to reflect on whether they truly hear God’s call, whether they are ready to cast off their bonds, and whether they are prepared to embark on the journey towards the freedom of the children of God.
After the Divine Liturgy, there was a gathering where the parishioners could meet and talk to the hierarchs. Exchanging words of comfort and love, they received the blessing of the Church and returned home.
