Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria: True Faith Means Surrendering Our Will to God

Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria presided over the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at the Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos at the Orthodox Hermitage near Lake Balaton.

He concelebrated with Hieromonk Martinos, Fr. Laszlo and Archdeacon Georgios, while Fr. Prodromos attended prayerfully.

In his homily, Metropolitan Arsenios reflected on the day’s Gospel reading, emphasizing that Christian faith is not merely an intellectual acceptance of certain truths but a relationship of trust and communion with God.

Referring to Christ’s descent from Mount Tabor and His encounter with a father whose son was suffering, the Metropolitan stressed that salvation does not begin with humanity ascending toward a distant God, but with God descending toward fallen humanity.

He highlighted the father’s prayer, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief,” as an expression of authentic faith, arising when a person recognizes that self-sufficiency cannot bring salvation.

“The summit of faith is not the fulfillment of my own will, but the acceptance of the divine will,” Metropolitan Arsenios said, pointing to Christ’s own example.

He also emphasized the importance of…