Archive Dec. 23, 2009: To the Beloved Faithful

Local Romanian Orthodox priests have been making their rounds through Bucharest neighborhoods over the last two weeks. It is a tradition that the priests walk through their local parishes and provide blessings ‘by donation’ for local families.

This specific notice also mentions that an icon of the birth of the Lord will be brought with the priest to the blessings.

While rooted in the pure roots of village Orthodoxy this simple tradition reflects a much larger concern in the Romanian Orthodox church. Corruption has become endemic. Once-upon-a-time ‘suggested donations’ have become required payments by parishioners. NPR provides an excellent discussion of this disturbing phenomenon at this link http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120290631

It is sad when corruption spreads into a nation’s medical, political and social arenas but it is absolutely heartbreaking when the corruption undermines the church. When the haven of solace becomes a marketplace... an entire people are betrayed. It reminds me of when Jesus entered the temple and saw the vendors. He was outraged and turned over the seller’s tables... His house had become a place where people had to buy their grace... and yet the greatest desire of Jesus’ heart was for people to know that His GRACE is WITHOUT COST and does not take captives... rather His GRACE sets captives FREE!