“The sending of the Lord’s disciples is a holy mission. It is not an ordination for a parish, but a missionary mandate for the whole world,” emphasized Patriarch Daniel of Romania on Sunday, during the Vespers of Love.
The Patriarch of Romania presided over the Vespers service at the Patriarchal Cathedral, concelebrating with Bishop Qais Sadiq of Erzurum (Patriarchate of Antioch), Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishops Varlaam of Ploiești and Paisie of Sinai, and Auxiliary Bishop Timotei Prahoveanul of the Archdiocese of Bucharest.
The Gospel passage from John 20:19–25 was read in ten languages: Romanian, Greek, Latin, Arabic, Slavonic, English, French, Italian, Spanish, and Polish.
The Reality of the Resurrection
Patriarch Daniel explained that this liturgical moment recalls Christ’s appearance after the Resurrection: “Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said: Peace be with you!”
He underlined that this encounter strengthened the disciples in faith, demonstrating the reality of the Resurrection: “The Savior Jesus Christ first wants to assure the disciples that He truly rose from the dead, that He is not a ghost.”
Source: basilica.ro
Photo credit: Ziarul Lumina / Luigi Ivanciu
