His Grace Bishop Mihail of Australia and New Zealand served on Sunday at the Romanian Orthodox Parish of the Holy Brâncoveanu Martyrs in Sydney, Australia. “Let us teach our children our Orthodox Christian faith,” His Grace said.
The hierarch celebrated the Divine Liturgy together with His Grace Bishop Iachint of the Pacific, Assistant Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.
Bishop Mihail recalled the witness of the Holy Brâncoveanu Martyrs and their steadfastness, nurtured through the faith they lived and learned within their family.
“They faced the great trial in which they were promised that they could continue to live. They did not wish to separate themselves from the Eucharistic Christ and His teaching. Instead, Saint Constantine confessed his faith, telling his son Matthew: There is no point in deceiving ourselves any longer.”
His Grace spoke about the moment when Saint Constantine Brâncoveanu and his sons were forced to choose between renouncing their faith and death.
“That is why he urged his youngest son, Matthew, not to accept becoming a Muslim, not to renounce his faith. The boy himself placed his head on the block and said: Strike, for I want to die a Christian,” His Grace emphasised.
Faith is learned within the family
The Bishop of Australia and New Zealand highlighted the courage shown by St Matthew Brâncoveanu: “Extraordinary courage for a 14-year-old child, who followed his father and brothers to the very end because he trusted in the teaching he had received within his family.”
The hierarch also noted that catechetical resources are needed to provide Christian education within Romanian communities in Australia: “This has been my dream ever since I arrived in Australia, because I saw that there was no catechetical teaching available, something that needs to be studied continually.”
“All the questions that may cross someone’s mind can find answers in the teaching of our faith,” His Grace said.
The bishop also spoke of his wish to make the volume The Teaching of the Orthodox Christian Faith available to the local community and to have it translated into English, “so that it may also be available to children, to converts, and to those who join and form mixed families, whether Australians or people of other nationalities”.
The Romanian Orthodox Parish of the Holy Brâncoveanu Martyrs in Sydney was established on 15 August 2008 for Romanian Orthodox faithful living in the south-western part of the city.
The community initially worshipped in rented premises. In 2017, the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand purchased the property in Glenfield where the present church is located. The church was consecrated on 12 August 2018, when it also received the Annunciation as its second patronal feast.
Photo: Facebook / Romanian Orthodox Church Holy Brancoveanu Martyrs Sydney
