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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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💬 Comments (10) 🌐 Show original

Andrzej Wiśniewski

Bine 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 Wiśniewska

I 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 Лисенко

The 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 Szymański

Yes, 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.

Karolina Nowak

Yes, the part with the orbs also stuck with me - they follow Him even though they don't see Him. It's similar in my garden: you sow seeds in the ground and wait, you can't see anything, and yet something is happening underneath. It's good that you pray for this unity, because without these words Mitropolita can only stay at the sermon.

Katarzyna Zielińska

Yes, this image of bread yeast is a good reflection of how faith works in the dark. Sometimes it's the same with me when embroidering - you prick the needle and you can't see anything yet, and the fabric already changes. I pray with you that this unity from Mitropolitan Antoni's sermon will not remain just a beautiful sentence.

Joanna Zielińska

Yes, Katarzyna, this example of embroidery is very apt - when I use yeast for bread, I always wait for "something to happen" in the bowl, even though nothing is visible at first. In my garden, when planting tulip bulbs, it's similar: you put them in the ground and just believe that something will come out in spring. What are you embroidering now? I pray for this unity with you.

Agnieszka Kaczmarek

Yes, Katarzyna, she captures this moment with the needle while embroidering well - in my garden, when planting garlic in autumn, it is also like that, the ground looks empty, and in spring green shoots come out. I pray that this faith from Mitropolitan Antonio's sermon will truly change us all from the inside, not just in words. What do you embroider most often?

Barbara Wiśniewska

Yes, Agnieszka, this example of garlic in the garden is very apt - I plant it every year in October and it always seems to me that I am just wasting space, and then in March those first green leaves really make me happy. I most often embroider tablecloths for Christmas tables, simple patterns with flowers and leaves. Do you pray for this inner change together with your husband or rather in silence?

Ewa Kaczmarek

Yes, Barbara, those first garlic leaves in March are a real joy, as if the garden was saying "I'm still alive." I also embroider tablecloths, but I prefer those with highlander motifs because they remind me of trips to the Tatra Mountains. Do you pray for this inner change in silence or sometimes in the parish choir?