Schema-Archimandrite Gabriel (Bunge): Christians should live with joy
Schema-Archimandrite Gabriel (Bunge). Photo: Natalia Goroshkova/Orthodox Life
Christians should live in a spirit of joy and optimism, always ready to meet with the Lord. The famous Swiss theologian and patrologist Schema-Archimandrite Gabriel (Bunge) spoke about how believers can be saved in this difficult time on the YouTube channel "Stained Glass: About Faith in Colours".
The theologian is absolutely convinced that today it is much easier to believe, because modern Christians have a huge legacy of saints.
“At the initial stage of the development of Christianity, there was only a small group of believers who were persecuted from everywhere,” recalled Schema-Archimandrite Gabriel. “How difficult it was for these people to realize that Christ is Lord. In addition, most Jews rejected Christianity. These were extreme difficulties! And now, thousands of years later, there are a lot of believers in Christ, a great cloud of witnesses. And what a huge spiritual heritage we have, how many Christian martyrs, monks, hermits, pious people, amazing miraculous power of the relics! The number of Christ's witnesses is growing every day."
He underscored that a true Christian should live in a spirit of joy, no matter what.
“I always say that a believer is not a gloomy type, waiting for the end of the world, the apocalypse, but a rejoicing one. He is optimistic about life, the world, people, no matter what. Everyone realizes that today may be the last day. A Christian is one who is always ready to meet with the Lord. Nobody knows when their last day will come. No science can calculate it mathematically, only the Heavenly Father determines it. Of course, a lot depends on us. Christ reminds that the last days will be very difficult, that even the righteous will doubt, "but when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18: 8). Therefore, we must live in a spirit of joy and not worry about difficult times,” upheld Schema-Archimandrite Gabriel (Bunge).
Earlier, Schema-Archimandrite Gabriel (Bunge) called the situation with the formation of the OCU in Ukraine "pure politics."
Read also
"Stigmatization based on faith": DESS reprimands TSN for story about Muslims
DESS criticized TSN because "the investigation in the "1+1" news story immediately took on an accusatory bias, and the accused themselves were not given a voice."
His Beatitude Onuphry: Through fasting, man returns to Paradise
On Forgiveness Sunday, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry reminded the faithful about Adam's fall and urged them to repent before Great Lent.
Archbishop of Greece speaks about his successor and the Church's future
On the occasion of the 18th anniversary of his leadership of the Greek Church, the Primate gave an interview in which he spoke about relations with the state, the situation in Sinai, and the challenges of the modern world.
In Barcelona, Sagrada Familia’s central tower completed after 144 years
In Barcelona, a glass cross was installed on the Sagrada Familia temple, completing the central tower and bringing the building to the height of 172.5 meters.
On Forgiveness Sunday, His Beatitude Onuphry celebrates Liturgy at Lavra
During Cheesefare Week, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry celebrated the Liturgy at the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, addressed the flock with a sermon, and offered prayers for peace and the preservation of Ukraine's people.
In Hnidyn, St. Nicholas Church of UOC damaged by shelling
As a result of shelling, the St. Nicholas Church of the UOC in the village of Hnidyn of the Boryspil Eparchy was damaged.