Metropolitan Ignatius of Dimitriada: “It is our responsibility to preserve the unity of the Church”

Solemn divine services were held at the Monastery of St. Gerasimus the New in Makrinitsa to commemorate the saint. Metropolitan Ignatius of Dimitriada attended Great Vespers and addressed the large congregation with a sermon on the significance of asceticism and unity.

In his address, Metropolitan Ignatius emphasized that the life of Saint Gerasimos the New is a shining example of ascetic devotion, rooted in a deep faith in Christ’s Resurrection, humility, and self-sacrificing love. His Eminence noted that true asceticism is not an end in itself, but is meant to lead a person to love for one’s neighbor, reminding us of the vertical path to God and the horizontal dimension of service to others.

The bishop paid special attention to the role of humility in modern life, emphasizing that it is necessary not only for monastics but also for every family to preserve its integrity. Metropolitan Ignatius called on the faithful to learn to listen to and accept their neighbors, stressing: “We must accept people as they are and set an example so that they may find the path of truth—the path of Christ.”

At the conclusion of his sermon, the metropolitan expressed his gratitude to the abbess of the monastery, Mother Eupraxia, and Father Simeon for their many years of work in preserving monastic traditions. His Eminence called monasteries a “barometer” of spiritual life and called on the flock to support the monasteries, emphasizing that the power of the Cross of the Lord and faith in the Resurrection are the main guarantee of the unity of the Orthodox Church.