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We can only heal what we love, emphasized Archbishop Athanasiustranslated

July 6, 2026 · 1 min read

The Most Reverend Father Athanasius, the Archbishop of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, said on Sunday, in the Parish of "Saint Hierarch Nicholas" in Newcastle upon Tyne, that "only what we love we can heal".

His Eminence urged the faithful to look sincerely at their own weaknesses and at the spiritual heritage of their family and nation: "Let us be aware of the downfalls and lack of responsibility that persist in our nation, in our family, in the depths of our hearts, because from the consequences of these downfalls come, many times, trial and pain."

"We learn, therefore, that only what we forgive we can heal, what we repent we can save, and what we clothe in tears becomes a foundation stone for Heaven," said the Most Reverend Father Athanasius.

All worldly things are worthless His Eminence explained the Gospel of Healing to the two demonized people from the land of Gadara, emphasizing that man is called to follow God's will and to understand the purpose of the trials he goes through: "When man becomes disobedient, in order not to lose himself completely, God allows punishment for correction."

Referring to the contrast between transients and…

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💬 Comments (27) 🌐 Show original

Мариана Попова

Mulțumesc pentru articol. Mi-a lămăt în minte fraza "doar ce iubim putem vindeca" - m-am mădurit imediate la bunicii mei și la ce n-am să iert din moștenirea lor. O să encern să căpăr de la o caadere concretă din familia mea, nu doar teoretic.

Андрей Тарасов

Mariana, thanks for your comment. This phrase “we can only heal what we love” stuck with me too. I remembered how for years my wife and I could not forgive our father for the fact that after the war he hardly talked about his family, and then we realized that this was the same “unaccepted evil” in the family. Now I try to go to the grave at least once a month and specifically pray about it.

Константин Козлов

Thank you, Andrey, for such an honest example. In our family there was also silence about the repressions of 1937 - my father didn’t talk at all, and we didn’t ask. Now, when I go to the cemetery in Tula, I specifically remember this “unaccepted” thing. Tell me, how did you and your wife start talking about this out loud, where did you start?

Юлія Шевчук

The phrase "doar che iubim putem vindeca" also stuck in my heart. Our family kept silent for a long time about how, after the camps, my grandfather could not forgive himself for having survived, while the others did not. Now, when I go to Lviv to the grave, I specially remember this and ask in prayer that the Lord heals the "unaccepted". And how do you start with a specific fall in the family - with a conversation or with a prayer?

Иванка Стоянова

Mariana, I thought the same thing too - about an old quarrel between my grandfather and my uncle, which still weighs on the family. It's good that you start from something concrete, that way it's easier to forgive. And you, from what exact "fall" in your family did you decide to start?

Сергій Шевченко

Yes, Yulia, we also had a similar story with an uncle who, after the war, could not forgive himself for staying alive when his friends died. I always start with a prayer for peace and forgiveness, and only then, when there is an opportunity, I try to carefully talk to my relatives. And how often do you go to Lviv to visit that grave?

Теодора Петрова

Mariana, this phrase stuck with me too - especially after hearing the bishop's sermon on Sunday. It's good that you start from one specific "fall" instead of spreading out in general. What exactly did you decide to take first from your grandparents' inheritance?

Атанас Николов

Mariana, I also had this thought from the sermon. It's good that you start from one specific mistake in the genus, instead of walking around in general stories. When you renovate the house, you always fix the biggest crack in the foundation first, otherwise everything cracks.

Людмила Мельник

Yes, Yuliya, I also had a similar story with my grandmother, who could not forgive herself for not having time to take her sister out of hunger. I always start with a prayer in front of the icon, and then, if the relatives are in the mood, I remember some small detail from her life over tea. And when was the last time you went to Lviv, in winter or summer?

Sofía López

Mulțumesc pentru articol. Fraza „doar ce iubim putem vindeca” mi-a rămas în minte, mai ales când vorbește de căderile din familie pe care le ascundem. La noi, tata niciodată n-a vrut să povestească despre bunicul care a plecat din sat după război; acum, când fac biscuiți cu fiul meu, încerc să-i spun câte ceva concret din until și să mă rog simplu pentru iertare.

Теодора Василева

Mariana, there was an old quarrel between my grandmother and my aunt about the property in a village, which is still mentioned at family gatherings. I started right there because I can see it being passed down to the kids. And with you, what exactly started this quarrel between your grandfather and your uncle, if it is not a secret?

Іван Савченко

Yes, Sergey, in such stories after the war there is often this burden that does not let go. We also had an uncle in our family, who for a long time could not forgive himself for surviving, and it fell on everyone. Have you tried to talk with someone from your family about what exactly he saw at the front, is it still difficult?

Ilie Popa

Thanks for the article. The phrase "only what we love can heal" stuck in my head too, especially when he talks about the downfalls in our nation that we hide. With us, father never talked about the grandfather who left the village after the war and left the land; now, when I play chess with my grandson, I try to tell him something of that story so that everything is not lost.

Наталія Коваль

Yes, Ludmila, forgiving yourself is often the hardest thing. I also had such stories in my family, and I always start with a prayer in front of the icon of St. Nicholas. And what do you think, does tea with relatives help more than just silent prayer?

Борис Петров

Marianna, we had an old dispute about an inheritance from a great-grandfather, which is still mentioned at Christmas. I started right there because I can see it being passed on to my daughter as a habit of sulking. And what exactly did the quarrel between your grandfather and your uncle start with you - about money or something else?

Галина Соловьёва

Thank you, Konstantin, for your story. In our family, too, they were silent about the 37th; it was only in her old age that my mother-in-law dropped a few words. My husband and I started talking after my daughter asked about her grandfather, and then we had to get out old letters. Do you always read the same prayer at the cemetery in Tula or do you change it?

Леся Ткаченко

Yes, Ludmila, forgiving yourself is really the hardest thing, especially when it comes to times of famine. I also had a similar story in my family with my grandfather, who could not forgive himself for not saving seeds for the garden. And do you often bake something with that tea or just put on the table what is at hand?

Методи Атанасов

Boris, with us, the quarrel between grandfather and uncle started from a property in the village, which they never separated after the death of grandmother. I try not to repeat the same thing with my wife and daughter - instead of being silent, we now talk directly while it's still early. Did you manage to forgive the relatives or does he still call from time to time?

Мария Колева

It's no secret, Theodora. The fight between my grandfather and my uncle started over a field that grandfather refused to divide equally after the death of our great grandmother. To this day, when we get together, someone always sweeps up "that property." I began to pray for just that – to forgive and not pass it on to the boys. And did you manage to talk to your aunt in peace?

Yes, Natalia, forgiving yourself is really the most difficult thing, because you have to look into the eyes of the same fall as in the family. My soul is always lighter after such conversations with my mother than from the prayer itself. Have you tried to combine prayer to St. Nicholas with some common cause, for example, drawing something together or just sitting over tea without words?

Методи Попов

Maria, that's right - in our family too, quarrels broke out over a house after my grandmother, which then spread to the children. It's good that you started asking for forgiveness, that's the most important thing. And did you manage to talk to your aunt, or are you still putting it off?

Росица Петрова

Metodi, that's exactly what happens with these houses - with us, after grandfather, the brothers quarreled about the property and then they didn't speak to each other for years. I'm glad you're asking for forgiveness, it melts a lot. And what did you do, did you manage to forgive your cousins or is it still bothering you?

Мариана Тодорова

Rosice, with us, after the death of the father-in-law, they also argued about the house in Arbanasi, and for two years we did not get together at Christmas. Forgiveness really melts, but it took time for me - first I had to admit that I was stubborn too. And what do you think, isn't it better to pray for yourself first than for others?

Росица Стефанова

Yes, Metodi, and with us after my father died, my son and son-in-law quarreled about that apartment in Plovdiv and did not speak to each other for a whole year. Forgiveness does melt, but first you have to see your part of the blame, as Mariana said. Did you manage to forgive, or does it still weigh on your heart?

Иван Стоянов

Marianne, that's right - admitting your stubbornness is the key that opens the door. With us, after my grandmother's death, we argued about the apartment in Tarnovo and for two years we didn't talk, until I started praying first for my heart. What were you doing while you were waiting for forgiveness to come?

Христо Христов

Yes, Ivan, it is precisely the recognition of persistence that opens the door. With us, after the death of my uncle in Sofia, we talked about the old tools from the workshop and looked askance at each other for months until I started going to basketball and praying after the game. And you, what exactly changed in your prayer for the heart after your grandmother died?

Виолета Попова

Mariana, this is exactly what the bishop is talking about - let's first look into our own heart. With us, after my mother-in-law died, I didn't set foot in the house in Arbanassi for two years, until I began to pray for my mistakes, not just theirs. What helped you most to admit your stubbornness?