Feast of the Patron Saint of the Warsaw-Bielsko Diocese
On 10 September 2024, the Diocese of Warsaw-Bielsko celebrated the feast of its patron saint, St. Job, Abbot of the Pochaev Lavra.
This year’s festivities occurred at the parish of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker in Grodzisk, in the Siemiatycze Deanery.
The feast day began with a welcoming ceremony for His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and all Poland and the visiting bishops. At 9:00 a.m., the Divine Liturgy began, presided over by Archbishop Grzegorz of Bielsko, assisted by Bishop Paweł of Hajnówka, Bishop Warsonofiusz of Siemiatycze, and numerous clergy.
A special sermon was delivered by Fr. Remigiusz Sosnowy, vicar of St. John Climacus Parish in Warsaw. The preacher emphasised the significance of names in the Bible, as they reflected the character of those who bore them. Regarding St. Job, his name, which in Polish translates to “iron,” symbolises his character.
Saint Job’s strength of spirit was cultivated from a young age through asceticism, humility, and obedience. His iron-like character allowed him to excel during the challenging times for Orthodoxy in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
After the Divine Liturgy, a doxology took place before the icon of Saint Job, followed by an address from Metropolitan Sawa. The Hierarch emphasised that every baptised person has a patron saint who, residing in heaven, watches over each of us. Similarly, the Warsaw-Bielsko Diocese has a great patron saint in St. Job, who cares for the clergy and faithful within the diocese. Reflecting on the life of the Abbot of Pochaev, His Eminence highlighted St. Job’s dedication to Christ and the Church, presenting him as a model for all generations, especially in today’s times.
“We are currently living in very difficult and complex times, as secularisation seeks to infiltrate every possible sphere of human life. Today, it is not enough to merely call oneself Orthodox or a priest, but one must fully dedicate oneself to Christ and demonstrate faith through practical actions,” stated Metropolitan Sawa.
The hierarch also devoted considerable attention to the importance of raising the younger generation. Concluding, His Beatitude extended festive greetings and thanked everyone involved in organising the celebration in Grodzisk.
During the celebrations, the Warsaw-Bielsko Diocesan Clergy Choir, directed by Protodeacon Marek Maciuka, performed. Representatives of local authorities and parishioners also attended the festivities.
Photos: Fr. Tarazjusz Diachuk
Source: orthodox.pl
