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Damascene of Aetolia and Acarnania: "Our destination is the permanent relationship with our Creator Father"translated

July 5, 2026 · 1 min read

The importance of gratitude to God, constant spiritual vigilance and participation in the Eucharist are at the heart of the message of the Metropolitan of Aetolia and Acarnania Mr. Damascenes for Sunday July 5, 2026. His Holiness points out that people often take the goods of life for granted and turn to God especially when they are tested, as a result of which they "faint within our gratitude to God". On the occasion of the evangelical passage of the Gergesenes, he underlines that life away from God leads to spiritual darkness, while closeness to Christ gives birth to "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control". Holy Communion occupies a special place in the message, which it characterizes as a source of strength, protection and union with Christ.

The Metropolitan invites the faithful to turn their participation in the Mysteries into a daily lifestyle, stressing that "our destination is the permanent relationship with our Creator Father". Concluding, he reminds us that holiness is not only a human achievement, but the fruit of Christ's presence: "Holiness is Christ himself".

The message of the Metropolitan of Aetolia and...

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Anna Anderson

After Divine Liturgy last Sunday, I almost forgot to thank God for the rain stopping on my way home—just like the Bishop said, we take the little gifts for granted until the big ones hit.

Irene Thomas

That bit about turning the Mysteries into a daily attitude really struck me. Last week I caught myself rushing through the morning prayers like they were just another item on the list, exactly the “taken for granted” thing the Bishop mentioned. Need to slow down and actually mean the thank-you part before the day gets away from me.

Xenia Parker

That line about the Gergesenes really hit home. Last month when things were going smooth I barely thought about God all week, then one rough night at work I was suddenly praying nonstop. Guess I need to make the Divine Liturgy attitude stick on the good days too, not just when the pigs start running off the cliff.

Radu Nistor

And I was left thinking about what he says about Ghergheseni. Last year, when my harvest went well and no one in the house got sick, I barely said a prayer in the evening. It wasn't until the drought came and I thought I was losing the orchard that I really started asking. It seems to be like that with all of us – we forget to say thank you when it's quiet.

Іван Коваль

I remembered the moment about the Gergesyns. Last year, after a good harvest in the garden, I also almost did not mention God for a whole week, and when hail broke half of the trees, I immediately went to church. It is necessary, perhaps, even on good days not to forget about that daily thanksgiving, as the bishop says.

Сергій Лисенко

Yes, Ivan, you made a good point about those Gergesyns. I also had a similar case last year - I collected jars full of honey, and somehow I couldn't thank God for the bees and the weather. Then the rain washed away the beehives, and I immediately remembered. Apparently, daily gratitude, even for small things, is the "holey relationship" that the bishop says about. How do you try to instill this in your family?

Emily Brown

That’s exactly what gets me too, Irene — I do the same thing with the prayers some mornings, ticking them off before the coffee’s even ready. The bishop’s point about making the Mysteries a daily stance reminded me how much steadier the day feels when I actually pause at the “thank you” part instead of rushing. Have you found any small trick that helps you slow down without adding more to the to-do list?

Васил Стефанов

And I thought about the Gergesenes. Last fall, after my car had been running smoothly for a month and we had no expenses, I almost forgot to say thank you for dinner. And when the alternator broke right before the game, I immediately thought of praying. I think the bishop is right - we should make thanksgiving and communion something everyday, not only in times of trouble.

Ειρήνη Κωνσταντίνου

Metropolitan Damascenos said it well about the Gergesians. Last year when my daughter had a good harvest in her orchard, I remember days went by without saying a "thank you" for the water and the sun. Now I try to put it in my daily prayers as well, not just when something breaks.

Олександр Ткаченко

Ivan, you also have a garden, I see. After that hailstorm last year, I had three apple trees left, and I started saying "Glory to You, God" every morning, before coffee, even when nothing special happened. And how are you now trying not to forget the good days?

Юлія Коваленко

Ivan, it's good that you started with "Glory to You, O God" even before coffee - this is exactly what Bishop Damascene said about, so that gratitude does not fade on calm days. I also have only two plums left after the hailstorm two years ago, but now every morning when I water the garden, I repeat the same words. Have you tried reading the "Our Father" right after you get up, or only the "Glory" so far?

Степан Лисенко

Yes, Oleksandr, my apple trees also survived after that hailstorm, only two. I also try to say "Glory to You, God" every morning, even before I pick up the tools, because then I'm busy with other things at work. Do you just use words or do you also bow?

Timothy Baker

That part about the Gergesenes always gets me too. I catch myself doing the same thing — good weeks I’m out in the garden or at choir practice and God’s barely on my mind, then one bad fishing trip or a doctor’s call and suddenly I’m all prayer. The hard part is turning the Liturgy into plain Tuesday habits like you said. How’s that been going for you since that rough night at work?

Irina Dumitrescu

Yes, Radu, that's exactly what happens with my garden: when the tomatoes and peppers come out beautiful and the children are healthy, they go through the day as if it were normal. Only with a hailstorm or a more serious cold do I start counting my blessings. Maybe we should put a small cross near the orchard, to remind us daily.