Metropolitan Anthony: “God restrains us through trials from reckless actions”

Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) reminded that Christian life is unthinkable without sorrows and trials. According to him, it is a mistake to expect their sudden end, since “the entire earthly life of a Christian is a continuous chain of trials.” The hierarch noted that the desire for earthly well-being hinders the understanding of the meaning of suffering, citing the words of Christ: “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). His remarks were published on the online portal “Orthodox Life” (PravLife Info).

“Sorrows purify the soul, sorrows turn one away from sin. But also, at times, the Lord restrains us through trials from our reckless actions and deeds, and thus protects us from even greater troubles that, due to our ignorance, we might bring upon ourselves,” the metropolitan stated.

He recalled that Christ’s words about sorrow have a continuation: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

“If we accept with our mind and heart that every sorrow, every trial has meaning, and fully entrust ourselves into the hands of the Lord, not only will our view of earthly suffering change, but all griefs and troubles will largely cease to be perceived as such,” Metropolitan Anthony concluded.

Earlier we reported that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church intends to challenge the termination of citizenship of its Primate, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphriy, through legal means both within Ukraine and at the international level. This was announced by the UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich), during a recent sermon.