Romanian Orthodox bishops consecrate parish church in Spain’s Almendralejo

The Romanian church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark in Almendralejo, Spain, was consecrated on Sunday by His Grace Bishop Timotei of Spain and Portugal and his Assistant Bishop Teofil of Iberia.

Following the consecration service, the two hierarchs celebrated the Divine Liturgy, attended by representatives of the local and provincial authorities. They included Raquel del Puerto Carrasco, First Deputy Mayor of Almendralejo and President of the Badajoz Provincial Council; Juan Manuel Forte Morán, Second Deputy Mayor and councillor; and Juan Sánchez Moreno, the mayor’s Chief of Staff.

Bishop Timotei spoke about the rich young man in the Gospel and the freedom people lose when they allow themselves to become enslaved by passions. The hierarch explained that the young man’s problem was not his wealth itself, but his relationship with it.

“Wealth itself was not the problem, but the fact that he had attached his heart to it and had lost his freedom. It is not a sin to be rich; the problem arises when wealth becomes the master of the heart,” His Grace said.

Let us love God above all things The Bishop of Spain and Portugal explained that any passion can become a form…