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High Priestly Liturgy in Kastania Imathia for the feast of St. Paisiostranslated

July 12, 2026 · 1 min read

On Sunday, July 12, in the morning, the feast day of Saint Paisios the Agioreitos, the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Veroia, Nausis and Campania Mr. Panteleimon officiated and preached the divine word at the Holy Church of the Forerunner in the mountainous Kastania in Vermio. The Speech of the Metropolitan of Berea, Naousis and Campania:

"Having gifts according to grace, we were given various things."

With these words from his letter to the Christians of Rome, which we heard in today's apostolic reading, the foremost apostle Paul attempts to interpret the differences between people. The great apostle himself had on various occasions defended the equality of men. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all in Christ Jesus", he wrote to the Galatians.

Yes, all people are equal before God, because we are all his children, because we are all his creatures, because we are all heirs of his kingdom. But this does not mean that we are alike, that we are all the same.

Imagine a world where all people had exactly the same abilities and skills. If we could all…

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Ольга Марченко

It is interesting how the Metropolitan explains the difference between equality and sameness. A particularly memorable example is when he imagines a world where everyone has the same abilities. In our parish, we also often say that everyone has a gift from God, although not everyone is the same. Thanks for the reminder.

Максим Мельник

It is interesting how Metropolitan Panteleimon shows directly from the apostle Paul: there is equality before God, but there is no uniformity. The example with a world where everyone is equally capable is memorable, because you can imagine how chess or hiking would lose their meaning. In our parish, it is also often repeated that each gift is its own, just like in a family - someone sings in the choir, someone counts, like me.

Десислава Николова

It is good that the Bishop begins exactly from the Apostle Paul - "we have different gifts according to grace". The example of the world where we all do the same thing is very clear to me, as if we all sing with one voice in a choir and there is no one to read. It's the same in our garden - one catches the tomato, another the onion, another the flowers. Thanks for the text.

Методи Атанасов

It is good that the bishop starts with the Apostle Paul and then gives the example of the same abilities - I imagine what it would be like if we all did the same thing in accounting. In our church we also often say that everyone brings his gift, like in a choir - one sings, another reads. Thanks for the text.

Тодор Кирилов

Well said about the garden, Desislava - really, if everyone only plants tomatoes, the onions and flowers will be neglected. The Bishop well emphasized that the different gifts do not make us less equal before God, on the contrary - we complement each other. And you, in your garden, which culture suits you best lately?

Мариана Попова

You're right, Desislava, exactly this example with people and a garden stuck in my head - as if we all tried to sew only dresses, and no one made shirts or tablecloths for the altar. In my garden, mostly tomatoes and peppers do well, and onions keep sprouting. When exactly do you plant yours?

Богдана Николова

I agree, Metodi, that's right - if all we did in accounting was doing balance sheets, who would be taking care of the patients in the hospital? In our church, as in the Princely Choir, everyone knows their place - some sing, others light candles. I'm curious, what gift do you think you bring to the community?

Цветанка Колева

Methods, that's right - if everyone in accounting did just the same thing, the company would be out of business in a month. In our church in Sofia, I also see how one arranges the icons, another cleans, another carries the prosphora - each with his small gift. And what gift do you think you bring the most in your life outside the church?

Атанас Николов

That's right, Tsvetanka, it's the same in accounting - if we all do only the balance sheets, no one will see the invoices on time and the company will be stuck. In our church in Sofia, I mostly fix the electrical installations and candlesticks when something comes loose. And you, what is your greatest gift outside the church, apart from arranging the icons?

Тодор Иванов

That's right, Athanasius, in accounting it's like in the church - everyone has to know their place, otherwise everything gets confused. I, on the other hand, in Plovdiv most often fix the garden around the church and take people fishing when they need transport. And how long have you been fixing the electrical installations in the Hagia Sophia?

Васил Костов

Bogdana, that's right - if everyone just sang in the choir, who would clean the candlesticks after the service or prepare the prosphora? In our group, I am most often in the kitchen, I cook for the holidays, and I also bake fish when we gather after mass. And what gift do you see yourself bringing to the church?

Стефан Марков

I agree, Bohdana, just as you say about people in Kniazhevskiy - everyone knows their place and the work goes on. As for me, in our Varna community, I most often drive people after work or help with heavy things on mountain outings. And what do you most like to do in the church?

Богдана Митева

Todor, that's right - each with his own gift, as the Apostle Paul says. In Plovdiv, I sew curtains and tablecloths for the altar of our church, and then my husband and I often invite the parishioners to tea at home. How long have you been doing this garden around the church?