Metropolitan Hrizostom of Dabar-Bosna served Easter liturgy

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - His Eminence Metropolitan Hrizostom of Dabar-Bosna served the Easter liturgy this morning in the Cathedral Church in Sarajevo. On the occasion of Easter, he told believers not to weaken in faith and spirit during these days of trial, but to show that they are people and a nation of strong faith, but also a nation with a culture of responsibility towards themselves and others.

Metropolitan Hrizostom emphasized that this year's period of Great and Holy Lent passed in spiritual and biological struggles, as well as fears and uncertainties about whether any of us or someone close and dear to us would be infected with the deadly coronavirus, but he conveyed that Christians should live in freedom that does not fear death.

"Besides the deadly infection caused by Covid-19, it has caused biological panic. It is a panic of the masses unprecedented in human history. We, Christians, however, must live in the freedom with which Christ has freed us, in the freedom that does not fear death," emphasized Bishop Hrizostom in his Easter message.

He stressed that he knows and feels that everyone's hearts are heavy, and souls are enveloped in sadness and sorrow due to this trial with the coronavirus pandemic, which has not coincidentally struck at the very beginning of Great and Holy Lent.

"The devil never rests. He was particularly active at the beginning and during our Great Lent! I said that we would face great trials during this Lent. But, brothers and sisters, by looking at the voluntary suffering of Christ the Lord, we must and can find comfort and strength in Him to bear our sufferings, illnesses, and hardships that our bodies endure," said the Metropolitan of Dabar-Bosna.

Metropolitan Hrizostom called on the faithful Orthodox people not to weaken in faith and spirit during these days of trial, but, on the contrary, to show that they are people and a nation of strong faith, but also a nation with a culture of responsibility towards themselves and others.

"God, in His own way, calls us through this trial to be His collaborators in preserving our health and the health of other people around us. We believers, as much as we hope for God's help and mercy, must contribute just as much, and even more, to preserving our health and the health of other people around us," said Hrizostom in his Easter message.

He warned that believers should not lightly misuse God's name with this or that pandemic, especially not with God's punishment, because, as he stated, God is love and mercy, and punishment is a human category and does not belong to God.

"We are, brothers and sisters, proud of our Saint Sava, the first archbishop of our autocephalous Church and our enlightener. But there is something else very important for which we are proud of him at this moment. First, the fact that at the beginning of the 13th century, he established a hospital in the Hilandar Monastery, and second, that he established a quarantine outside the Hilandar Monastery for those who were infected with various viruses of that time," noted Metropolitan Hrizostom.

By doing so, he pointed out, Saint Sava showed that besides faith, hope in God, and prayer, people should be God's collaborators in preserving their health and have a culture of healing, respecting the postulates of medical science.

The Metropolitan of Dabar-Bosna appealed for all people to concentrate on preserving their health and the health of those around them.

"Let us preserve our physical and spiritual health, which is more valuable than all the riches of this world, health that we will certainly need in the renewal of life, people, and the Church... Let us not fall into the traps of fear and panic, which can be just as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than the coronavirus itself," said Metropolitan Hrizostom.

He emphasized that by protecting themselves and others with prescribed measures from potential infections, believers should prepare themselves, the Holy Church, and churches for the great holiday of Easter.

"We wish and want to celebrate Easter in joy and happiness, not in fear and worry. Prepared, primarily spiritually, and then with protective measures, and without questioning our faith, hope, and love for God and neighbor in this time of pandemic, let us celebrate the bright resurrection of Christ by singing: Christ is risen from the dead, by death He conquered death, and to those in the graves He granted life!" stated Metropolitan Hrizostom in his message.

He prayed for the recovery of all those suffering from the coronavirus, adding that he mourns for all those who have perished from this wicked disease.

Metropolitan Hrizostom especially greeted all doctors, medical workers, and all employees and those engaged in hospitals and other treatment centers for coronavirus-infected individuals, expressing admiration and gratitude for their sacrifice and their love for their neighbors.

Conveying that Easter is the feast of feasts and the joy of joys, the Metropolitan of Dabar-Bosna congratulated Orthodox believers on the greatest Christian holiday with the traditional greeting "Christ is Risen!"