The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church issued a pastoral letter to all believers within the Romanian Patriarchate for the first Sunday of the Nativity Fast 2024.
This year’s letter is inspired by the thematic focus on pastoral care for the sick and the veneration of healing saints.
The Romanian hierarchs reflect on humanity’s first suffering, stating that it began with “the loss of harmony and closeness with God and the expulsion from Paradise, where man lived amidst a creation filled with the divine Spirit.” They warn that “the deepest illness is the absence of communion with God,” highlighting the spiritual dimension of healing.
A key message of the letter is that “the Church prays for health and salvation,” while also honoring the saints who received the divine gift of healing.
The pastoral calls on both clergy and laity to embrace the fasting period as “an opportunity to multiply Christian love and mercy.” It encourages the faithful to organize collections at parishes and monasteries to support those in need, emphasizing the transformative power of compassion and solidarity during this sacred time.
Source/Photo: basilica.ro
