His Holiness Pope Tawadros II led the Vespers praying this evening at the Church of the Martyr St. Mina in Bucharest, the capital of Romania. Participating in the service were His Grace Bishop Giovanni, Bishop of Central Europe, a number of bishops from various European dioceses, and members of His Holiness’s accompanying delegation.
Following the prayers, His Holiness delivered a spiritual address in which he expressed his joy in visiting the church and witnessing its ministry. He spoke about the significance of the Resurrection in our lives, affirming that the Resurrection is not just a historical event but a continuous source of strength and blessing, offering three fundamental graces to every believer:
- First Grace: Nothing is Impossible with God
His Holiness said:
“The Resurrection reveals that what is impossible for people is possible with God, as Scripture says: ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God’ (Luke 18:27). Christ raised Himself from the dead and triumphed over the sting of death, as St. Paul declared: ‘O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ (1 Corinthians 15:55). God can do all things—just as He healed the man born blind: ‘He spat on the ground, made clay with the saliva, and anointed the eyes of the blind man. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam”… So he went and washed, and came back seeing’ (John 9:6–7). This teaches us that with Christ, nothing is impossible.”
- Second Grace: There is No Fear with Christ
He continued:
“After the Resurrection, when the disciples were gathered in fear in the upper room, ‘Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord’ (John 20:20). Christ removed their fear and replaced it with joy. God gives us His peace because He is:
Loving toward all people,
The doer of all good,
Sovereign over all things.
This divine trio comforts the heart. The saints lived without fear because their eyes were fixed on Christ. He who lives with Christ fears nothing, for his heart is steadfast in Him.”
- Third Grace: There is No Despair with the Risen Christ
His Holiness went on to say:
“The Resurrection teaches us to always have hope. The women went to the tomb early Sunday morning saying to each other, ‘Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?’ (Mark 16:3). But when they arrived, they found the stone already rolled away. There is no despair with Christ—He always opens a way for us. The Risen Christ lifts up our hearts and minds to be with Him.”
His Holiness concluded his sermon by calling the faithful to hold fast to the joy of the Resurrection and to be witnesses of faith:
“The Resurrection is the feast of feasts and the joy of joys. It teaches us to live by faith, to keep our eyes on Christ in every circumstance, and through this, we live in His grace.”
He also announced that he will consecrate the church next Saturday morning. At the end of the service, His Holiness made a point to personally greet and shake hands with all the attendees, in a spirit of fatherly love.
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