Elder Ephraim of Vatopedi: "We hope in the face of the Virgin Mary"

The Service of Salutations to the Lady Theotokos, during which the 3rd Station of the Akathist Hymn was recited, was celebrated by the Abbot of the Vatopedi Monastery, Elder Ephraim, on Friday, March 17, 2023, at the Holy Monastery of the Most Great Archangels of Pelion.

Listen to the Third Station of the Greetings, recited by Elder Ephraim of Vatopedi:

Elder Ephraim of Vatopedi was at the Monastery for a few days, with which he is spiritually connected, as he happens to be the spiritual director of the female monastic Brotherhood practicing there.

In his speech addressed to the Brotherhood and the pilgrims, the Elder referred to the person of the Lady Theotokos and the connection of the faithful with the Virgin Mary, as an intercessor with the Lord. The Virgin Mary, the Elder noted, with all that she experienced, with the supreme event being the sacrifice of our Lord on the Cross, as she suffered humanly while seeing her Son on the Cross, becomes a model of patience in pain and trial for every faithful Christian.

Many people wonder, with what is happening, why God allows one thing or the other, and this is a logical question, but if a person sees the life of the Virgin Mary and the Saints, he will see that human life goes through pain, "why? The person who suffers is not wronged, because we have eternity, the life of a person does not stop here in the grave, but continues into eternity, so let us ask our Virgin Mary to help us, to cover us, and when God allows a trial, to give us the corresponding strength so that we can run to Her, to the Lord, and through this trial, to go to the good place of Paradise."

Listen to Elder Ephraim's speech: