Blessings to our Cor-Episcopoi, Priests, Deacons, Parish Managing Committee members and all the faithful of our Diocese.
Dearly beloved,
As we enter into the very important liturgical
period of the Great Lent, which culminates with the Feast of the
Resurrection of our Lord, let us use the weeks in front of us as an
opportunity for self-evaluation and to return to God. Jesus Christ,
before his public ministry, observed 40 days fast in the Judean
wilderness and succeeded in the examinations of Satan. When we look back
at the fall of humanity in Genesis 3, we see that humanity, when
tempted by Satan, was attracted to the external beauty of the world and
thus fell into sin. He found the fruit good for food, a delight to the
eyes and that it would make one wise. Jesus Christ, after 40 days
fasting, when Satan came to Him tempting Him with food, to attain the
things which delighted His eyes, and to use the wisdom He had, He
triumphed over Satan and said that humans do not live by the pleasures
of the world, that we have to conquer all these temptations and delight
in the Word of God and in the power of the Almighty.
