The Mother of God is the lively icon of the Church

January 2015

On the second day of Christmas, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God. On this day, the Romanian Orthodox Church also remembers St Pious Nicodemus the Sanctified of Tismana Monastery.

In his sermon delivered in the chapel of the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, referred to the Synaxis of the Mother of God, and eulogized the particular personality of St Pious Nicodemus the Sanctified of Tismana.

The Most Holy Theotokos is particularly venerated because the great event of the Incarnation and the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ took place through her, by her consent, knowing that God respects the freedom of each person, His Beatitude noted.

The Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church emphasized the fact that the dignity of motherhood is the fundament for the great veneration of the Theotokos, and her veneration of is beyond the veneration ascribed to the Cherubim and the Seraphim. The special veneration of the Theotokos is mostly reflected in the liturgical texts and hymns.

In his homily, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel also referred to the life and the impressive activity of St Pious Nicodemus the Sanctified of Tismana.

In this day we also commemorate a very important saint for the life of our Church, namely St Pious Nicodemus of Tismana. He is a venerable father with a holy life who organized the Romanian monasticism during the 14^th century, and worked many wonders during his life. Together with his hierodeacon he passed through fire, and neither their vestments, nor their hair were burnt by the flames, thus showing their true faith. Furthermore, St Nicodemus healed a demon-possessed young girl, who was a relative of the King of Hungary. Even from the time of his life, Nicodemus was considered a saint and has worked wonders even after his death. This great saint of Oltenia region, and of the entire Romanian people, is celebrated this day together with the Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God; his countenance is painted in many churches, but especially in Oltenia; and many monastics carry his name. This saint is a great intercessor for the Romanian people before the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity, His Beatitude said.

Source: