His Eminence Bishop Marko of Delčevo-Kamenica of the Macedonian Orthodox Church - Ohrid Archbishopric, in the prayerful presence of His Eminence Archbishop of Cetinje, Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Mr. Joanikije, today, on the feast of the Holy Martyr Andrew Stratilatos, the Holy Martyrs Timothy, Agapius and Thecla, and the Venerable Theophanes, presided over the Holy Liturgy, followed by a prayer for the blessed beginning of the school year at the Cetinje Monastery.

The holy service was attended by students of the Theological Seminary of Saint Peter of Cetinje, who, after the service of the prayer, were instructed by His Grace Bishop Marko with an archpastoral letter. Emphasizing that he felt privileged to be present at this important act of invoking the Holy Spirit, that the grace of God may come upon them, to strengthen them and show the theologians what their calling is now, the Bishop said that the Church very rarely bestows this epithet on saints.

"Only a few saints bear that great title or calling of theologian: Saint John the Theologian, Saint Simeon the New Theologian, Saint Gregory the Theologian. Which means that it is a very important and responsible calling for all of you who have come to take that cross upon yourselves, to learn, to be enlightened, so that you can then enlighten other people. In the Gospel, we read that Christ does not forbid children to approach Him, because the kingdom of God is of such, as Christ says, if we do not receive the Kingdom of God as children, then we will not enter it. You have the great privilege of being close to this holy family of Cetinje, learning and being enlightened by the knowledge and grace of the Holy Spirit here where the relics of Saint Peter of Cetinje and the right hand of Saint John the Baptist, great pleasers of God, who stand as an example and as signposts for us in the world — signposts to eternity, to the Kingdom of God," Bishop Marko spoke.

Speaking about taking up and carrying the theological cross, he said that it may seem, at first, that it is not easy, and none are easy, which is why it is called a cross, a burden that we take up, but that Christ is with all of them.

"He helps you to carry that cross and carry it to the end. May God grant you grace in abundance, that you may feel the joy of being theologians, that you have the opportunity to get to know the teaching of God a little deeper, just as Christ called the Holy Apostles to go into the depths of the lake, symbolically saying that they should delve deeper into the faith and teaching of God. In the same way, he called you to delve deeper into faith and teaching. May God enlighten you, may he send the grace of the Holy Spirit upon you, and may the teaching that you have begun to learn be of spiritual benefit to you and to all those to whom you will pass on that teaching, above all faith. And on that faith we learn in this holy family, in addition to the living saints and the examples of their lives, that these lives may also be our lives, that we may be zealous for God, for faith, and that in this way we may reach the goal of our existence, which is eternal communion with God. May "May God bless this new school year, may God bless and strengthen you. May the grace of the Holy Spirit and the mercy of God be with all of you," said His Grace Bishop Marko of Delčevo-Kamenica.

At the end, those gathered at the Cetinje Monastery were sprinkled with holy water for the enlightenment of hearts and minds.

Photos

Vesna Dević

Photo: Saša Dedić