Met Seraphim of Piraeus: Saints were not superhuman, just strengthened by God

Metropolitan Seraphim. Photo: orthodoxianewsagency

During the hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday, July 27, Metropolitan Seraphim delivered a sermon in which he emphasized that saints are not superhuman but people strengthened by the grace of God.

Referring to the words of Apostle Paul to Timothy,“Suffer hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ,” the archpastor noted that this exhortation initially seems paradoxical, as it "does not announce to him some magnificent and exceptional conquests," but "urges him to accept every kind of cruelty, every kind of trial, every kind of pain, every kind of suffering."

According to the bishop, such sacrifice is not a sign of weakness, but true discipleship in Christ.

Metropolitan Seraphim highlighted that Christ Himself was persecuted, and His disciples cannot follow a different path: “The world, enslaved by evil and lies, hates the light.”

He noted that even the miracles of the Lord were often called demonic deeds – such a “perverted reality” becomes a denial of the truth.

“The saints were not superhuman,” said the metropolitan, emphasizing at the same time that “the element that kept them strong, brave, that gave them the ability to endure these tortures” was “Grace, that is, this blessing of God, this power of God, this unique and unrepeatable and immaculate attribute of His.”

Speaking of Saint Panteleimon, Metropolitan Seraphim noted that "every person for him was a Christ. He offered his medical art" "along with his spiritual strength, the grace he drew from his communion and his love with Christ."

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that, according to Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus, the reinstatement of Filaret and Maletich is invalid.

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