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Reunion of the soul: Metropolitan Antonie served at the Metropolitan Chapel in Chisinau for the first time after his enthronementtranslated

July 21, 2026 · 1 min read

His Eminence Father Antonie, the new Metropolitan of Bessarabia, officiated the first Liturgy after his enthronement at the "St. John the Theologian" Metropolitan Chapel in Chisinau on Sunday, in the presence of many believers from the city and neighboring towns.

During the Holy Liturgy, prayers were offered for the unity of the clergy and the faithful people of Bessarabia, for peace, for the cessation of hostilities and for the overflowing of God's grace on the Church and the entire society.

Starting from Sunday's Gospel, which tells the story of the healing of the two blind and a mute in Capernaum (Matthew 9, 27-35), the Most Reverend Father Anthony spoke about faith that changes the inner person and about persistent prayer as man's response to God's call.

Faith changes the inner man Metropolitan Antonie served at the Metropolitan Chapel in Chisinau for the first time after his enthronement on Sunday, July 19, 2026. Photo: Metropolis of Bessarabia "The two blind men followed Christ without seeing him with the eyes of the flesh. But they saw him with the eyes of faith. This is the power of true faith: it goes forward even when the road does not...

Source: Агентство Basilica (română) · Read the full story →

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Andrzej WiśniewskiBine ați venit acasă, Înaltpreasfințite. Mi-a plăcut cum ați legat orbii din Capernaum de rugăciunea stăruitoare – exact așa e, uneori mergem după Hristos fără să vedem namic clar, dar credința trage înainte. Să ne ajute Dumnezeu cu unitatea aceea despre care ați rugat, că ne trebuie tare mult la noi în Basarabia.

Dorota WiśniewskaI agree, Andrzej, this part about the eyes of faith really stayed in my mind. In our choir, we sometimes sing "blindly", not seeing the effect, and yet something continues. I pray that this unity he spoke about will not remain only in prayer, but will begin in ordinary conversations between people.

Галина ЛисенкоThe faith that pulls forward even when you see nothing clearly, as the Most High said about the blind, stuck in my mind. In our garden, when I plant seeds, I don't see anything yet either, but I keep watering and waiting. I also pray for that unity that he spoke about, that it does not remain only at the Liturgy.

Marek SzymańskiYes, the fragment with the blind who follow Christ without seeing Him with their physical eyes has stuck with me too. Just like when I make yeast for bread – you can't see anything yet, but you know it's working. I also pray for that unity that Metropolitan Antonie talked about, that it does not remain only in words.