The power of the nation springs from the power of faith: Putna Monastery honored its patrontranslated

St. Stephen the Great "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," said Metropolitan Ephrem of Aleppo on Thursday, at the Putna Monastery, where he officiated the patron Liturgy and delivered the teaching speech.

The Metropolitan of Antioch emphasized that "not only Stephen's weapon saved Moldova, but also his spiritual life" and explained that "the Church honored him as a saint not because he did not make mistakes, but because he knew how to repent, return to God and put his life in the service of Christ".

"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 on mission," His Eminence added.

"Saint Stephen stands here to remind us that the future is not built by fear, but by courage based on a living faith."

Clerics from all over Bucovina alongside the Antiochian hierarch Metropolitan Efrem of Aleppo officiated on Thursday, July 2, 2026,...