With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, on the evening of the Third Sunday of Lent (the Sunday of the Holy Cross), His Grace Bishop Filaret officiated the Akathist of the Holy Passions – Passia, at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Nativity of the Lord in Chișinău. A large number of faithful gathered for this moment of prayer, seeking to spiritually experience the mystery of the Saviour’s sufferings and to strengthen their souls in the light of faith.
The Akathist of the Holy Passions, also known as Passia, is a deeply moving and profound prayer service dedicated to the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ before His crucifixion. Through this service, the faithful relive, in prayer and meditation, the Passion of the Saviour – from His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane to His unjust trial, the carrying of the Cross, and His crucifixion on Golgotha.
The officiation of the Akathist during the Lenten period fosters an atmosphere of deep repentance, providing an opportunity to reflect on Christ’s great sacrifice for the salvation of humanity. Through this prayer, Christians are called to lift their hearts in humility and gratitude, to deepen their piety, and to increase their zeal for good deeds. In the light of the Holy Cross, which is venerated on this Sunday, the Akathist of the Holy Passions becomes a call to bear one’s own cross with patience, faith, and hope in the Resurrection.
At the conclusion of the service, His Grace Bishop Filaret delivered a homily, emphasising the importance of this time of spiritual preparation for the Feast of the Resurrection and the necessity for every believer to embrace the path of salvation with humility and hope.
Source: Căpriana Monastery