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The Most Reverend Father Theophilus of Iberia: To be righteous is to believe that God is alivetranslated

July 22, 2026 · 1 min read

The Most Reverend Father Theophilus of Iberia, Vicar Bishop of Spain and Portugal, spoke about the justice of the faithful man and the power of persistent prayer, on Monday, on the feast of the Holy Prophet Elijah the Tesvitean.

The hierarch officiated the Holy Liturgy at the Episcopal Cathedral "The Entry of the Mother of God into the Church" in Madrid, together with Protosinghel Macarie Bărgăvanu, church-administrative adviser and ecclesiastic of the cathedral, Archdeacon Ioanichie Oproae, diocesan secretary, Protosinghel Efrem Ceaușu and Archdeacon Casian Nemet.

The Most Reverend Father Theophilus of Iberia explained that the Holy Prophet Elijah is presented in the Apostle as a righteous man, whose prayer had power, but also as a man "completely similar to us", with weaknesses and inabilities.

"We understand that being righteous does not mean being without sin, but it means believing that God is alive and giving life, humbly admitting that we are sinners, repenting and confessing our sins, and praying persistently for the salvation of all," His Eminence said.

The Most Reverend Father Theophilus of Iberia also explained that this path is available to every Christian, as long as man wants to walk straight in...

Source: Агентство Basilica (română)  ·  Read the full story →
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T
Timothy Johnson
That line about Elijah being “just like us” with all his weaknesses really stuck with me. It’s a relief to hear the bishop say being righteous isn’t about being sinless but about believing God is alive, confessing, and praying steadily for everyone. Makes the whole thing feel doable even on an ordinary Tuesday shift.
D
Daniel Lewis
That part about Elijah being just like us hit me too. I remember reading how he got so down he asked God to take his life, yet his prayers still moved mountains. Makes me think even on a slow fishing morning when my mind wanders, just showing up and praying for the folks around me is enough to keep walking straight. What shift do you work, Timothy?
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