The man who defends the borders of the homeland without guarding his heart cannot build a future: Metropolitan Ephrem of Aleppo in Putnatranslated

St. Stephen the Great "chose to remain steadfast in his faith, to face his enemies, to defend his people and to build churches and monasteries, because the man who defends the borders of his homeland without guarding his heart cannot build a future," said Metropolitan Ephrem of Aleppo on Thursday, at the Putna Monastery.

"Today, therefore, we are in front of a model of faith that builds a homeland, in front of a courageous leader and a shepherd who enlivens. We are in front of a humble man and a great saint, Stephen the Great and the Good."

"He remained in history not only because he was a military leader, but because he was a man convinced that the power of the nation springs from the power of faith and that the defense of the land cannot be separated from the defense of holiness," continued the Metropolitan of Antioch.

Let us be the salt of our native land His Holiness Father Ephrem also spoke about the difference between patriotism and nationalism.

"Stefan's attachment to his land did not come from a national fanaticism, because the land meant for him the place where God had called him to testify about Christ. Therefore, his stay on earth was a stay in the mission", he emphasized...