Bishop Varlaam: Martyrdom remains a constant reality in the life of the Church

“Martyrdom is a constant reality in the Church, because it is the sign under which the life of Christ’s Church unfolds in the world,” Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești emphasised on Sunday evening.

His Grace celebrated the all-night Vigil service in honour of St Demetrius the Myrrh-Gusher at the Patriarchal Cathedral’s outdoor altar in Bucharest.

Drawing on the Saviour’s words, “If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you,” the bishop explained the history of martyrdom in the Church.

“This prophecy of the Saviour referred not only to the generation of the Apostles but to the entire history of the Christian Church on earth. For the world hates what does not belong to it, and the true children of the Church have been chosen by God out of the world.”

In this context, Bishop Varlaam recalled the martyrdom of St Stephen, the Church’s first martyr, St James the son of Zebedee, and other Christians who suffered at the hands of Jewish authorities and Roman emperors.

“Many edicts were issued, and a great many Christians fell victim to them,” he said.

Persecution has not ceased today The Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop explained that although…