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Minunea de la Iordan - p. Ioan Meiu, p. Teologos

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    As the cross is cast into the Jordan three
    times, and the Jordan is sanctified, many
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    Christians, as evidenced by a video
    I have, observed the river's current —
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    typically strong in winter due to heavy
    rains in Israel — flowing toward the Dead
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    Sea, leading the Jordan toward the
    Dead Sea. And indeed, we could see
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    An Athonite Cell —
    Joys from the Holy Mountain
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    Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and
    to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto
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    ages of ages. Amen. Lord have mercy,
    Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy,
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    Father, say a prayer! Fr. J: O Heavenly
    King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth,
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    Who art everywhere and fillest all things;
    Treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life -
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    come and abide in us, and cleanse us
    from every impurity, and save our souls,
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    O Good One. Amen.
    Fr. T: Our dear ones, we are here with
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    Father John from Jerusalem, with whom
    we previously recorded an episode.
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    You need to know that he is quite busy,
    but we couldn't miss this opportunity.
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    This podcast will likely air around
    Epiphany, so we will discuss everything
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    related to the Baptism of the Lord,
    particularly from the perspective of
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    someone with extensive experience in the
    Holy Land and the significance of the
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    Baptism on-site. Our first question for
    Father John, whom we hold in great
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    affection, is to share his insights
    directly from the source—not from hearsay.
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    We’d like him to explain the well-known
    phenomenon of the Jordan River's reversal
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    during Epiphany. Does this phenomenon
    truly occur? What happens, can you shed
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    some light on it?
    Fr. J: “Lord help, Father Teologos!”
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    I am delighted to reunite here in the
    garden of the Mother of God!
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    We prepare for the significant feast of
    the Baptism of the Lord, the Epiphany,
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    or Theophany, a revelation of God. This
    time calls each of us Christians to
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    reconnect with God through fasting,
    confession, and Holy Communion.
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    Indeed, I might say that it stands as the
    second great feast of Jerusalem.
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    Why the second? Normally, the greatest
    feast is the Resurrection of the Lord,
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    marked by the miracle of the Holy Light
    descending at the Lord's tomb.
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    We discussed this in our first program.
    Normally, the second great feast would
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    be the Nativity of the Lord.
    Fr. T: Obviously. Yes.
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    Fr.J: Which we celebrate in Jerusalem and
    Mount Athos on January 7, with a beautiful
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    service in Bethlehem at the birthplace of
    the Lord. However, in terms of procession,
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    miracle, and the number of Christians, the
    Baptism of the Lord emerges as the second
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    great feast of Jerusalem, following the
    Holy Light. Fr. T: Oh, I didn't know that.
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    Fr. J: And after that, the third great
    feast is the Transfiguration on Mount
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    Tabor. During the night, the Holy Liturgy
    is celebrated, and in the morning, after
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    the Liturgy, many Christians rejoice in
    the cloud that envelops the peak of Mount
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    Tabor, just as it once enveloped the holy
    apostles and from heaven, they heard a
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    voice proclaiming: “This is my beloved Son
    in Whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him.”
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    At the Jordan, the voice of the Father is
    heard again when Jesus Christ enters the
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    river to be baptized by John. Indeed, you
    asked me if this miracle exists.
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    The miracle of the Jordan’s return exists.
    The prophecies speak of this, particularly
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    during the readings from the Old Testament
    on the eve and day of the Epiphany,
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    proclaiming, “The waters saw You and they
    were afraid,” they returned. The moment
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    Christ entered the Jordan, the river which
    flows down to the Dead Sea, – the writings
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    and stories say that – the Jordan turned
    back upstream toward the Sea of Galilee
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    where it stars. I will also tell you the
    exact course of the Jordan.
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    In the years I served alongside His
    Beatitude Patriarch Theophilus III of
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    Jerusalem, I witnessed this miracle
    firsthand. As the cross is cast into the
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    Jordan three times, and the Jordan is
    sanctified, many Christians, as evidenced
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    by a video I have, observed the river's
    current—typically strong in winter due to
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    heavy rains in Israel—and then, of course,
    you can see the flow of water and the
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    current as it goes toward the Dead Sea,
    leading the Jordan toward the Dead Sea.
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    And indeed, I and the Christians who
    participated in this great feast could see
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    how, after the blessing of the waters,
    large whirlpools are forming, reversing
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    the current and flowing upstream for a
    few moments. Fr. T: Seriously? By itself,
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    like that? Fr. J: Yes, by itself. Fr. T:
    Clearly, the power of the Holy Spirit.
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    Fr. J: Of course, we shouldn’t seek these
    miracles – we've talked about it, to
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    witness them physically. It is a proof, an
    assurance of God, of His presence through
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    the Holy Light, through this moment of the
    Jordan’s return, or the cloud on Tabor.
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    Certainly, they strengthen our faith. Yet
    we must emphasize that spiritual feeling
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    and know that the presence of the Holy
    Spirit is felt very strongly then at the
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    Jordan. Fr. T: It’s good you mentioned
    that. Fortunately or unfortunately,
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    there’s this tendency in the church to
    outbid miracles, leading to two extremes.
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    Fr. J: Yes, and especially in Jerusalem.
    Unfortunately, you all know that many
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    videos circulate, including one that has
    been around for years. It shows the Stone
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    of Anointing, the place where Christ was
    anointed with oils before being laid in
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    the tomb. This ritual was inherited from
    the ancient Egyptians during Israel's
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    captivity in Egypt, the practice of
    anointing and embalming. And this Stone
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    of Anointing is reddish in color.
    Christians constantly apply myrrh to
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    this stone and the light hits it in a
    certain way, making it appear red.
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    Many have filmed it, claiming to be blood
    on the Stone of Anointing, and these
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    videos reach us in Jerusalem, prompting us
    to discern their truth. This is not true,
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    in this case it is not true. It is merely
    the myrrh reflecting on the reddish
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    marble, leading people into a frenzy over
    the supposed miracle in Jerusalem. No.
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    There are many miracles, but we must
    approach them with caution.
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    Fr. T: Obviously.
    Fr. J: Even if we feel or experience
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    something there, it is wise to consult
    knowledgeable fathers of the Holy
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    Sepulchre and ask them if what we witness
    is indeed real. Fr. T: So, folks,
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    seek information from credible sources.
    That’s why I have father John here,
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    to share firsthand and spiritual insights
    about what truly happens there.
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    The miracle at the Jordan is genuinely
    divine, while others are merely viral
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    sensations on WhatsApp or, God knows,
    fabrications. I firmly believe that we
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    embrace Orthodoxy for its therapeutic
    power, for the experience of grace,
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    and for our healing—not for the sake of
    miracles alone. We do not seek spectacle.
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    Where does this miracle occur? What is
    the exact location? I understand there are
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    two sites, is that correct?
    Fr. J: Yes. The sources of the Jordan are
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    at the base of Mount Hermon in northern
    Israel, near the border with Lebanon.
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    The spot where the Jordan springs forth
    is truly remarkable. Water bursts forth
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    from the base of the mountain with great
    force. Fr. T: I didn't know that.
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    Fr. J: There are indeed two springs. In
    Aramaic, they are called Iar Den, and
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    these two sources unite as if reflecting
    the dual nature of Jesus Christ—human and
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    divine—flowing forth in beautiful,
    powerful waterfalls from Mount Hermon.
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    Fr. T: So a substantial flow.
    Fr. J: A very substantial flow, especially
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    now in winter. The water is pure and
    excellent for drinking, much like the
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    waters of the Holy Mountain, and it feeds
    into the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of
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    Galilee is nourished by the Jordan River.
    There are other springs in the Sea of
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    Galilee because it’s worth noting that the
    Sea of Galilee is not a saltwater sea but
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    a freshwater lake. From the Sea of
    Galilee, the Jordan continues on its
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    journey toward the Dead Sea. Of course,
    this site of the Lord's Baptism, near
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    Jericho – as the writings say – is a
    valley where the water is murky, rich in
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    sand due to the surrounding desert. If we
    travel back thousands of years, we find
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    the Israelites emerging from Egyptian
    bondage. Moses remained on Mount Nebo
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    in Jordan, denied by God the blessing to
    enter the Promised Land, only able to
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    behold it. When the Israelites first
    glimpsed the Promised Land, the impact
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    must have been profound. After wandering
    for forty years through the desert, from
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    Egypt to that place, they were met with a
    vision of natural abundance. At the time
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    when they saw the Promised Land from this
    Mount Nebo, it was a forest filled with
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    animals, as the Jordan River flowed
    through a delta, nourishing the Jericho
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    region. And it was a forest of cedars,
    with towering trees, lush vegetation,
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    and diverse wildlife. Fr. T: So a place
    flowing with milk and honey.
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    Fr. J: So that's exactly how it looks
    then – milk and honey in this area,
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    being made fertile by the river. In fact,
    without the Jordan River, this area
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    would have been uninviting—a mere
    wasteland devoid of water.
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    Without fresh water you couldn't do
    anything in this area, the Promised Land
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    would not exist. Fr. T: I am utterly
    surprised by this. Why? Because
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    I have seen the Jordan, and right now, you
    could cross it on foot, I mean, it is...
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    Fr. J: The river is about 20 meters wide
    and 1.5 to 2 meters deep. Of course,
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    if it rains in this area during this time
    of year, the flow increases. But we must
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    remember that during the time of the
    Savior, the flow was much higher.
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    Today, much of this fresh water is used
    for irrigation. And Israel – they draw
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    fresh water through pipes and use it for
    irrigation, Jordan too. The Jordan serves
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    as the boundary between the two countries,
    and both utilize this water for irrigation
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    and the greenhouses they have built along
    its banks. There is, of course, a stream
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    that flows into the Dead Sea, but it does
    not raise its water level because,
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    in summer, the fresh water evaporates
    quickly due to the intense heat in this
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    area. Consider that summer temperatures
    near the Jordan can reach 50°C during
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    the day. From an archaeological
    perspective, we know that the original
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    site of the Lord's Baptism is slightly
    within present-day Jordan.
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    Remains of a church built by Empress
    Helen, a Byzantine church, have been found
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    there, marking the spot where Christ was
    baptized. However, this site is very close
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    to the current course of the Jordan.
    Why do I say this? Because thousands
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    of years ago, this area was a delta in a
    desert of sand. The Jordan River has
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    changed frequently and easily, especially
    during floods. Two thousand years ago,
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    during the time of the Savior, the Jordan
    flowed slightly toward what is now Jordan.
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    The baptism likely occurred there, not in
    present-day Israel. But it is that area,
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    and we sanctify the Jordan, remembering
    symbolically and spiritually that Christ
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    entered these waters. Just as the Divine
    Liturgy is celebrated, with countless
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    holy sacrifices on holy altars not only in
    Jerusalem or on Zion where the Last Supper
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    took place. The same here, at the Jordan.
    Even if there is a difference of a few
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    hundred meters or kilometers between where
    we sanctify the Jordan today and where it
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    flowed two millennia ago.
    Fr. T: Indeed, and we see that God listens
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    and validates us...
    Fr. J: And He shows mercy, of course.
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    And it is truly a beautiful celebration,
    with many pilgrims arriving from across
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    the Orthodox world.
    Fr. T: Are baptisms performed there today?
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    Fr. J: Yes, I’ve performed baptisms
    myself. Not only we enter the Jordan
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    River, sanctifying it and blessing
    Christians with its water, we sing the
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    chant of the Lord's Baptism, but we’ve had
    baptisms there by the river just like we
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    had when we were children.
    Fr. T: Glory to God!
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    Fr. J: We are even preparing to baptize a
    young man who studies in Israel. He is
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    half Russian, half Jewish, and he wishes
    to become a Christian because he loves
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    Jesus Christ. This was his strongest
    argument for wanting to embrace
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    Christianity. Right when I return to
    Jerusalem, we will perform his baptism
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    in the Jordan River. Meaning, with all
    that baptism means: exorcisms,
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    triple immersion in the Jordan river,
    anointing with the Holy and Great Chrism,
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    and Holy Communion. Fr. T: Glory to God!
    You will be like Saint John the Baptist.
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    Fr. J: Saint John the Baptist lived in
    this rugged area of the Jordan, where
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    he baptized Jesus Christ.
    Fr. T: He's your patron saint, isn’t he?
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    Fr. J: My patron saint because I was
    tonsured on January 7, the feast day
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    of Saint John the Baptist, and I know that
    he’s your patron saint too because you |
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    resembles him a bit, like that, tougher.
    Fr. T: A little bit because I also have
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    Saint John the Theologian. Yes, we need to
    be a little bit... Do you feel the grace
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    of Saint John the Baptist there? And his
    presence. Fr. J: Considerably!
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    Primarily of Saint John the Baptist, but
    think that in this valley of the Jordan –
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    the border between Israel and Jordan
    today – thousands of saints lived.
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    Fr. T: Yes! Fr. J: Through this place,
    the people of Israel passed, entering
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    with the Ark of the Covenant, coming from
    Egyptian bondage and heading towards
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    Jerusalem the first time they set it up at
    Shiloh somewhere near Jerusalem.
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    Fr. T: Did they pass through there?
    Fr. J: They passed through the Valley of
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    the Hozeva and crossed the Jordan right at
    the spot we are sanctifying today.
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    The waters separated As the Ark of the
    Covenant crossed the Jordan. It was a
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    foreshadowing of what was to happen —
    Christ entering the waters of the Jordan.
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    Not far from there, Elijah was taken up to
    heaven in his chariot of fire, and Elisha,
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    with Elijah’s mantle, parted the waters
    of the Jordan as he crossed into the
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    wilderness. Fr. T: It seems that place is
    Fr. J: The same place where Naaman the
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    Syrian was healed by dipping seven times
    in the Jordan. Fr. T: Glory to God!
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    So much holiness, great holiness!
    Fr. J: Obeying Elisha to enter the Jordan
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    in order to be cured of leprosy. It was
    also there that Mary of Egypt crossed
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    the Jordan, seeking repentance for her
    sins in the wilderness. Our patron saint,
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    John the Baptist, lived there too. And so
    did our contemporary saint, John Jacob
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    the Hosevite, whose whole relics are in
    the Monastery of Hozeva. He was the abbot
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    of our Romanian church by the banks of
    the Jordan. Fr. T: Please, tell us!
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    Fr. J: Yes, we have three churches in
    Jerusalem, as I mentioned in the previous
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    program. One is the Romanian
    Patriarchate's representation at the
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    holy sites in Jerusalem. The Romanian
    establishment in Jericho, founded in 2000,
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    marks a newer addition, as a cornerstone.
    That year, all Orthodox patriarchs
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    gathered in Bethlehem to celebrate 2000
    years since the birth of Jesus Christ,
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    during which the cornerstone for the
    Jericho establishment was laid.
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    That’s when the foundation stone for the
    Romanian Jericho establishment was laid.
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    The two churches—the ones at the Jordan
    and Jerusalem—were both established in
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    1935 when their foundations were laid.
    So, we have these three churches.
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    In two of them the Divine Liturgy is
    served daily, and we hope to restore
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    the third, the Romanian Hermitage at the
    Jordan, located on the Israeli bank where
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    about eight Christian monasteries stand.
    Unfortunately, all were closed in 1967
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    during the Six-Day War between the Arab
    coalition and Israel. Mines and bombs were
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    planted throughout the Jordan Valley,
    including in the walls of the monasteries,
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    to prevent any enemy from entering Israel.
    For 50 years, access to that area was
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    impossible. In recent years, this area has
    been cleared of mines, and we are set to
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    take over the monastery for renovation,
    rebuilding it so that the flame is lit
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    there too, a Romanian candle for the
    Romanian people. It is a profound blessing
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    for us, as Romanians, to have this church
    by the Jordan River, the very place where
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    John the Baptist lived, where the Lord was
    baptized, and where a saint served as
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    abbot for nearly six years. Our saint,
    John Jacob of Hozeva, served as abbot
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    there for nearly six years.
    Fr. T: One of the last abbots, since you
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    mentioned there was a period when it was
    closed. Fr. J: Yes, he was abbot there
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    right around the 1950s.
    Fr. T: Glory to God! I didn't know that...
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    Fr. J: This area holds a rich spiritual
    heritage. Many monasteries thrived in the
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    early centuries of Christianity and
    thousands of monks and hermits lived
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    there. Tragically, they were all killed,
    and the churches and monasteries
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    were destroyed during the first Persian
    invasion in 614. The second invasion
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    in 620 obliterated what little remained
    from the first. Fr. T: I understand that
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    only the Church of Bethlehem remained.
    Fr. J: It is the sole church built by
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    Empress Helen. Your mention of Bethlehem
    is timely as we prepare for the Nativity of
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    the Lord. The only church built by
    Empress Helen that is still standing,
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    she wanted to build churches in all the
    places where Jesus passed.
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    It is the one in Bethlehem, which is also
    a UNESCO World heritage site.
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    It is 1,700 years old. While Emperor
    Justinian the Great made some improvements
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    the original structure was entirely built
    by Empress Helen. Tradition holds that
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    when the Persians entered on horseback—
    an act intended to desecrate churches
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    and altars—they found exquisite mosaics on
    the walls. Recently uncovered when
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    the church was rebuilt, this Byzantine
    mosaic depicts the Magi presenting gifts
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    to baby Jesus, as recounted in the Gospels
    And they asked, “Who are these figures
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    dressed in the garments of our ancestors?”
    The Christians replied, “They are your
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    forebears, who brought gifts to the
    baby Jesus. The star brought them."
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    Astonished, the Persians declared,
    “Interesting, we shall leave this church
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    intact.” Thus, it was spared from
    destruction, that being the argument.
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    Fr. T: Glory to God! God's Providence
    Fr. J: The Church of the Holy Sepulchre
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    was destroyed by the Persians in 614. What
    stands now was built by Empress Melisende,
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    the Crusader Empress, in 1614.
    Fr. T: Really? So it's not from the
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    Byzantine period? Fr. J: No. Inside, the
    Holy Sepulchre showcases a blend of
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    architectural styles. Gothic, Byzantine,
    Armenian, these reflect the four major
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    Christian confessions that serve there:
    Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Armenians,
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    and Copts—the Christians from Alexandria
    —who have a small altar behind the Holy
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    Sepulchre. Fr. T: I see, and that reflects.
    You mentioned that you celebrate the
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    Nativity on January 7 like we do.
    But the Nativity of the Lord is on
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    December 25, how? Fr. J: It is actually
    the same date. The difference lies in the
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    Gregorian and Julian calendars. Many
    Christians don’t grasp why we celebrate,
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    for example, the Nativity of the Lord
    twice. I myself will celebrate the
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    Nativity of the Lord in Romania
    on December 25 and then return to
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    Jerusalem, where we prepare for the
    Nativity in Bethlehem. Christ was born
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    only once, obviously. He rose only once.
    We see that the calendar is also common
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    for the countries that have this change
    from the old calendar to the new calendar.
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    The Ecumenical Patriarchate, Greece, and
    Romania adhere to the new calendar,
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    while Russia, Mount Athos, Jerusalem,
    and Serbia follow the old. Yet, we all
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    share the Resurrection of Christ.
    The Triodion and Pentecostarion stand as
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    testaments against those who seek to
    divide the true faith and the unity of the
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    Church, reminding us that Christ rose
    but a single time. Regarding the Nativity,
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    as I was saying, Christians on the new
    calendar celebrate it on December 25,
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    while those on the old on January 7;
    Fundamentally, these dates converge.
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    Only a service book, the Menaion, differs
    in how we commemorate the day and
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    the saint.Consider Mount Athos, which
    follows the old calendar but remains under
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    the canonical authority of the Ecumenical
    Patriarch of Constantinople, who has the
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    new calendar.
    Fr. T: Yes, and he is our direct bishop.
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    Fr. J: Indeed, he is our direct bishop,
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    showing no division, hatred, or schism—
    unlike Peter of Alexandria, who saw
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    the Savior with the torn shirt. We have
    not torn anything because we have
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    preserved unity through the ordination of
    bishops, tracing back to the apostles.
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    Fr. T: Obviously.
    Fr. J: Or from the apostles onwards.
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    In fact, this is what connects us and a
    prime example is Mount Athos, which has
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    preserved the old calendar yet remains
    under the canonical authority of the
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    Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
    They, having many churches worldwide,
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    follow the new calendar. And they
    demonstrate unity. Fr. T: Yes, exactly.
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    Fr. J: And obedience, which is essential
    in the Church. Fr. T: Essential, and I
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    believe this is the core issue with
    the calendar, brethren. It’s not about
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    thirteen days plus minus, it’s about using
    this astronomical matter as an excuse
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    to break away from obedience and to
    fracture the Church. Brethren, do not
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    fracture the Church! Don't break the
    Church! I want to tell you an incident
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    with Saint Paisios the Hagiorite. There
    was a man who wanted to break away
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    from the Church's authority, to rebel
    against his lawful bishop. He was drawn
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    to the Old Calendarists and carried two
    books in his pockets: one from his bishop
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    and another from the Old Calendarists,
    who convinced him to leave the unity of
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    the Church. The people from the metropolis
    warned him, saying, “Do not do this;
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    it is wrong,” but he was resolute in his
    belief. He decided, “I will go to Mount
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    Athos and ask Father Paisios—St. Paisios,
    yes—because he will give me the answer
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    I seek.” He hoped that, following the
    Julian calendar and being a saint,
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    Father Paisios would affirm his decision.
    Upon arriving at Mount Athos, he entered
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    Saint Paisios’s cell without even stating
    his name or opening his mouth. St. Paisios
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    immediately said, “That book from the
    metropolis in your pocket is good;
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    the other one, burn it. Go! Leave! So I
    want to say that the Holy Spirit spoke
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    through Saint Paisios, emphasizing that
    the unity of the Church must come first;
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    there is no alternative.
    Fr. J: It is a very good argument because
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    we all love Saint Paisios the Hagiorite.
    And there is another similar story, true,
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    with Elder Joseph the Hesychast,
    Saint Joseph the Hesychast. He faced
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    great turmoil when the calendar changed.
    Many disciples sought his counsel,
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    yet he was uncertain whether to follow
    the new calendar or not.
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    Fr. T: With the monasteries, because he
    was at a cell and there were many zealots
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    there at the cell. Fr. J: And he heard a
    voice in his heart that told him:
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    obey the Constantinople! Fr. T: Exactly.
    My Church is at Constantinople.
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    It was the Mother of God. Saint Ephraim
    the Katounakiotis found himself in a
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    similarly challenging predicament. His
    abbot, a simple man suffering from nervous
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    ailments, father Nicephorus said, "Well, I
    have this calendar and I stick to it
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    and that’s it." And St. Ephraim saw
    something like an air that hindered grace.
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    During every Liturgy, he witnessed the
    descent of grace upon the Holy Gifts,
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    yet felt this obstruction. Only through
    tears could he serve the Divine Liturgy
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    and witness the transformation of the
    Gifts. And after he came with the Church,
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    with Constantinople, so with the lawful
    bishop of the place, it was gone.
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    Struggling internally with this conflict,
    he had a vision. He stood on a high cliff
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    by the sea when a piece of rock broke away
    and fell into the sea. In a remarkable leap,
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    he jumped from the crumbling cliff that
    was crashing into the roaring waves,
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    only to land safely on solid ground, free
    from danger. And he questioned,
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    "What is this?" Then he truly heard the
    voice of the Mother of God, "The grace
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    says this is the Church; those who have
    rejected it are the old calendarists."
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    Fr. J: We know, Father, that God has
    often made concessions to us, His people.
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    Fr. T: Yes, exactly.
    Fr. J: To show His love for us.
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    The same happened with the calendar.
    Initially, it was a matter of astronomy,
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    then politics have possibly played a
    role in this distinction. Yet, Christ
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    has revealed the truth through the
    wonderful saints contemporary with us.
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    Fr. T: Obviously.
    Fr. J: Because contemporary saints
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    were needed to demonstrate this.
    He showed us the right path.
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    And in the Church, obedience is essential,
    father, because we cannot hold on to
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    the others. In our secular society, where
    the influence of platforms like TikTok
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    brainwashes our youth, destroys their
    brains and so on, the importance of
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    obedience cannot be overstated. Education
    at home, at church, catechization of
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    young people – these are essential things.
    Fr. T: Indeed, because loneliness is
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    a foretaste of hell. Fr. J: Loneliness
    comes from the devil. And young people
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    ask us, it comes to my mind now, “well,
    yes, but doesn’t “monk” mean being alone?
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    “Because you’ve distanced yourself from
    the world, father,” they say to me.
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    I am not alienated because I live in the
    heart of Bucharest, or in the center of
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    Jerusalem, I’m anything but alienated.
    True, I don't have a biological family,
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    but I have a greater family than my
    spiritual children because they are
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    my family. Fr. T: That's right.
    Fr. J: The spiritual family.
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    Fr. T: And you are united with all through
    God. Fr. J: The term "monk" – "monachos"
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    in Greek – means alone, alone with God.
    A person can never truly be alone.
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    There’s no other way. You are either with
    God or with the devil. Fr. T: Obviously.
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    Fr. J: What’s happening in society today
    shows that the devil is taking a heavy
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    toll by destroying our youth. I urge
    young parents to remember how their
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    grandparents and parents raised them.
    They should raise their children the same
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    in the fear of God and instill a love for
    the traditions we still hold dear in
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    Romania. Fr. T: Yes... Glory to the Lord!
    Fr. J: We possess these traditions even
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    more than the Greeks do.
    Fr. T: Indeed, much more, yes.
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    Fr. J: Not to mention the Israelis.
    They are quite secularized.
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    Fr. T: Let's remain optimistic!
    Fr. J: We are, but we must also be
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    realistic. Fr. T: Yes, that's right, a
    realistic optimism.
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    Fr. J: That’s what our beloved Father,
    His Eminence Justinian of Maramureș,
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    the voivode of Maramureș used to say,
    “Father John, neither optimists
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    nor pessimists. Realists.”
    Fr. T: So help us God!
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    Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers,
    Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
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    have mercy on us! Amen
Title:
Minunea de la Iordan - p. Ioan Meiu, p. Teologos
Description:

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Video Language:
Romanian
Duration:
34:41

English subtitles

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