03.03.2025
Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan Welcomed to Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, welcomed members of the Dublin Romanian Orthodox community to Choral Evensong yesterday afternoon (Sunday March 2). The preacher was Metropolitan Josef, Metropolitan of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Southern and Western Europe. Metropolitan Josef is also an Ecumenical Canon of the cathedral, having been appointed by Archbishop Michael Jackson and installed in February 2024.
A large number of Romanian Orthodox Priests and parishioners joined the service and the choir of the Dublin Romanian Church sang the Motet, ‘The Doors of Remembrance’.
In his sermon, Metropolitan Josef explored the theme of forgiveness. He said that forgiveness must be sought with sincerity and not lightly. He suggested that when seeking forgiveness there was a battle between pride and humility. A proud person, who thinks the world revolves around them, considers any remark as an affront while a humble person seeks forgiveness taking on their shoulders the sins of others, he said.
“This is the daily struggle for every Christian – to strive not to assume that they are at the centre of the world and the world revolves around them. The Christian focus is on forgiveness and humility,” he stated.
Metropolitan Josef said God wanted our hearts to be compassionate and that a sign of compassion was forgiveness. “Until we have forgiven everyone, we will not be able to taste freedom. It is all dust if we have not sacrificed our hearts for forgiveness,” he added.
Before the service concluded with a blessing by the Metropolitan, Dean Dermot Dune thanked him for his wisdom in preaching and thanked the members of the Romanian Orthodox community for coming to the service. He hoped that the link between the two churches would continue to grow.
