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

July 2, 2026 · 1 min read

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...

Source: Агентство Basilica (română) · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (11) 🌐 Show original

Maria Ionescu

When the metropolitan said that the earth was the place where God called him to testify, I remembered our church in Chisinau, where we pray every Sunday for the peace of the country and to keep our hearts pure like a monastery.

Cristina Ionescu

Yes, Maria, and here in the parish in Cluj we say that prayer for the country exactly before the "Our Father". I remembered how Metropolitan Efrem used to say that the heart must be guarded like a monastery - as if that was the case with you in Chisinau, right? A simple idea, but one that makes you wonder what we actually keep from Sunday to Sunday.

Gheorghe Popescu

Yes, Cristina, that's exactly what he said in Chisinau - the heart is like a monastery that you guard with the same care as Stefan guarded the borders. At our parish, we always pray for the country before our Father, but I wonder every time if I am really guarding something from my heart or if I am just repeating the words. What do you think it would concretely mean to "guard the heart" on an ordinary Sunday?

Bogdan Radu

Yes, Gheorghe, I also remembered that comparison with the heart as a monastery. For me, guarding the heart on a regular Sunday means not letting my phone eat the whole time after Mass and trying to read at least one psalm before the meal, instead of getting straight into a long conversation with the neighbors. Have you ever tried to make a little personal rule exactly for Sunday?

Bogdan Popescu

Yes, Gheorghe, the comparison with the heart as a monastery made me think too. For me, guarding my heart on Sunday means not letting the annoyance of the line at the bakery or the driver cutting my face occupy my mind all the way home, but trying to say at least a short prayer instead of ruminating. Have you ever managed to keep such a "fast of the heart" for an entire Sunday without slipping?

Larisa Stoica

Yes, Cristina, here in Sibiu, too, the prayer for the country comes before the "Our Father", but what remained to me from Metropolitan Efrem's words is the way he linked the guarding of the heart to the construction of monasteries - not just borders. I also wonder if on Sundays we are not defending the ritual more than that place within where Christ should sit. What do you think it would concretely mean to guard the heart "like a monastery" week after week?

Corina Rusu

Yes, the comparison of the heart as a monastery made me think more seriously too. After the Liturgy, I try not to open the phone at all until I get home, so as not to lose that peace. Do you have a particular rule with psalms, or do you read whatever catches your eye on Sunday?

Radu Gheorghiu

Yes, exactly, the heart is like a monastery that you leave open to whoever knocks on the door. I stick to the rule with Psalm 50 and 90 on Sunday mornings before I leave for the bus run. Which psalms do you like the most after Liturgy?

Radu Tudor

Yes, Gheorghe, the comparison with the heart as a monastery struck me too. For me, guarding my heart on Sunday means not rushing to criticize the dishes on the table or comment on the soccer game with my 12-year-old son before thanking God for them. Do you manage to say that prayer for the country without thinking about what you have to cook at the restaurant on Monday?

Vasile Constantinescu

Yes, Radu, I too felt that blow with my heart like a monastery. I manage to pray for the country better when I'm on the road with the truck, alone, than at home where my thoughts go to what to prepare for the children the next day. What do you think, does the peace of fishing or the Sunday service help you more?

Viorica Stan

Yes, Vasile, that shot with the heart like a monastery made me think about what we are actually guarding. I, for one, feel prayer more deeply in the choir at church, where we sing together, than at home when I am crocheting and my mind wanders to my daughter in England. Do you think that traveling by truck helps you because you are alone with yourself, or because you see more of the country?