His Beatitude Patriarch John X Presides Over the Sunday Liturgy at the Patriarchal Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand, Lebanon
You can some photos at the end of the text.
Balamand, Lebanon, January 21, 2024
His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and MECC President for the Orthodox Family, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand, assisted by His Eminence the Most Revrend Metropolitan Antonios (Houran) in the Service. The Ceremony was attended by the Rt. Reverend Archimandrite Gerasimos Kabbas, Abbot of the Patriarchal Monastery of St. George Al- Homeyra, Rt. Reverend Archimandrite Georges Yaacoub, Abbot of the Patriarchal Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand, Rt. Rev.Archimandrite Jack Khalil, Dean of the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology in Balamand, and several Fathers, Priests, Deacons, and the choir of the Institute who served during the Liturgy.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Patriarch John X reflected on the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Colossians (3: 4-11), recited during the Liturgy, continuing until Colossians (3: 12-15). In these passages, the Apostle outlines the Christian way of life and the essence of the struggle that every believer undertakes after being baptized.
His Beatitude emphasized that the spiritual journey initiated in the baptismal font must continue for us to grow and reach the full stature of Christ. The Apostle reveals God's purpose for humanity: to be with the Lord in His glory, as stated, "When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory" (Colossians 3:4).
His Beatitude Patriarch John X explained the process of our growth in grace, echoing Paul's words in Colossians, urging us to cast off sins such as fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, covetousness, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and obscene talk. Instead, we are to clothe ourselves with humility, meekness, patience, forbearance, and love…
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