Bishop Petar: There is no true healing without communion with Godtranslated

July 14, 2026 · 1 min read

Bishop Petar: There is no true healing without communion with God :: SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH :: :: SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ::

Source: GN church: Serbian Orthodox Church · Read the full story →

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Katherine Morris

That's a good reminder. I've seen in the hospital how even patients who get the best medical care still struggle if they're carrying heavy bitterness or feel totally cut off from God. Makes me think twice about what "healing" really means.

Emily Brown

I've seen something similar on the oncology ward where I volunteer—folks with top-notch treatment who stay restless until they start talking to the chaplain. Makes me wonder, Katherine, have you noticed any little practices that seem to help patients let go of that bitterness?

Sophia Turner

My cousin’s wife went through chemo a few years back and said the same thing— the bitterness was worse than the nausea until she finally started going to the hospital chapel with the chaplain. Simple prayer rope she kept in her pocket seemed to help her let it go a little at a time. Good point, Emily.

Anna Moore

Yes, Emily, that restlessness you see on the ward rings true. A few of the older Greek ladies I know from choir say just lighting a candle and saying the Jesus Prayer quietly each morning helps them drop the resentment that builds up after bad news. Have you found any simple thing that seems to work even when the chaplain isn't around yet?

Rachel Miller

Yeah, that restlessness makes total sense – I've seen it in my own family when my nan got her diagnosis. For me it's been making a point to go for a quiet walk after liturgy and just say the Lord's Prayer out loud a few times; seems to loosen the bitterness better than anything else. Have you noticed if the patients who light a candle before they chat with the chaplain settle down quicker?

Juliana King

Yes, Emily, that restlessness on the oncology ward is exactly what Bishop Petar is pointing at. In my nursing shifts I've watched patients unclench a bit once they start naming their anger out loud in confession or even just telling the chaplain "I'm furious at God right now." Have you found any short phrase or gesture that seems to help them move past the "why me" stage?

Grace Hall

That rings true—my aunt said the same about the anger eating at her more than anything during her treatment, until she started lighting a candle at our little church on the way home from the hospital. The prayer rope is such a quiet, practical thing; did your cousin’s wife keep using it after the chemo ended?

Michael Young

Yeah, that quiet Jesus Prayer in the morning makes sense — I've seen something similar with a couple guys at the truck stop who light a candle before their run when the news hits hard. For me it's usually just stepping into the garden after supper and saying the Lord's Prayer out loud while I water the tomatoes; it settles the mind even if the chaplain's still an hour away. Have the Greek ladies noticed it works better on certain days than others?

Peter Clark

Yeah, that bitterness can really hang on. My grandma used her prayer rope the same way during her cancer treatments—kept it right in her coat pocket for the drives to the clinic. Did your cousin’s wife notice any difference once she started using it regularly?

Daniel Baker

Yeah, the prayer rope really is one of those small things that keeps you anchored when everything else feels out of control. My wife’s uncle went through something similar a couple of years ago and said just holding it during the long waits helped him stop replaying the anger in his head. Did your cousin’s wife ever mention if she paired it with anything else, like a particular psalm?

Peter Wilson

Yeah, that garden moment with the Lord's Prayer hits different—mine's usually a quick one on the back porch after I get the tools put away, just enough to cut through the day's noise. Never thought about it varying by the day, but now that you mention it, does seem steadier on Wednesdays when the youth group meets later. The Greek ladies at coffee hour might have a story or two on that.

Nicholas Parker

Yeah, that back-porch spot after packing up the tools sounds perfect — mine’s usually a quick Our Father while I’m watering the tomatoes in the evening. Wednesdays do feel steadier for me too, especially after choir practice. Have the Greek ladies ever told you what they pray for when the coffee hour crowd thins out?

Paul Taylor

Yeah, that back-porch moment after the tools are put away does hit different. I usually say the Jesus Prayer while I’m wiping down the kitchen benches at home, and Wednesdays feel calmer for me too after the youth group wraps up. Never asked the Greek ladies that — what do you reckon they’re praying for once the crowd thins?

Christopher Wilson

Yeah, that back-porch spot after the tools are packed away is hard to beat. I usually just sit there with a cup of coffee and run through the Trisagion prayers while the light fades. Never thought to ask the Greek ladies either—what makes you figure they wait till the crowd thins out?