His Grace Bishop Macarie Drăgoi of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Northern Europe is these days on a missionary visit to the Romanians in southwestern Norway.

A first stop in this spiritual agenda was in the town of Kristiansand. Thus, on March 16, 2018, His Grace Macarie dedicated himself to the confession and tutoring of believers eager to enhance themselves spiritually. On Saturday, March 17, in the same Romanian parish, the Romanian hierarch served the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom and the remembrance of the departed, surrounded by a group of priests and deacons. On this occasion he ordained the deacon Mihai Liculescu as priest. Thus, to the joy of believers, the parish of Kristiansand now has its own priest.

On March 18, 2018, His Grace Macarie was in Stavanger, where he celebrated the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great. Referring to the 4th Sunday of the Great Lent, dedicated to St. John Climacus. The Romanian hierarch resembled the ascetic effort of the Great Lent with the climb on the virtue ladder.

“This blessed period of the Great Lent resembles a ladder of spiritual and bodily efforts, which we ascend because, at its end, the Savior Jesus Christ is waiting for us with open arms. When we are on the ladder we mustn’t look down or delay too much in the middle because it may cause confusion or dizziness. When we are on the ladder we have to look up at the destination. Looking upwards, we have the courage to climb and overcome this dizziness of the calling of the world, without forgetting the purpose for which we are on this ladder of endeavors. So, my beloved ones, as we call upon the Apostle Paul, we must lift our hearts up and have our eyes gazed at Jesus. When we look at Jesus, we are no longer surrounded by confusion, doubt, or dizziness. We climb smoothly to Christ who is waiting for us with open arms“, said the hierarch of the Romanian Orthodox in Scandinavia.

Father Bishop Macarie dedicated the rest of his day to young people in the local branch of the St. Stephen the Great Center for Youth as well as to the parish school in Stavanger. Believers could also enjoy the opportunity to worship the icon of Mother of God The Mistress of the Fjords carried in these days by the hierarch and the priest priest Cristian Silviu Comânescu in the communities in southwestern Norway. The Romanian hierarch has also brought the Bible and several spiritual books to the priests in this part of Norway to be donated to the nearby penitentiary libraries.