Sermon of His Grace, Bishop Partenij of Antania, Abbot of the Holy Bigorski Monastery, Delivered during the Vigil on the Feast of the Icon “It Is Truly Meet,” Following the Gospel Reading of the Divine Liturgy
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!
We offer our heartfelt gratitude to the Queen and Mother, who once again this year has blessed us to gather in an all-night vigil, standing in prayer before her venerable and miraculous Image, known as “It Is Truly Meet,” which we commemorate today. By her abundant mercy, our Monastery has been honored to receive the blessing of hosting this beloved and revered icon of the Most Holy Mother of God in our katholikon.
This sacred icon, before which we now stand in prayer, came to our Monastery shortly after the devastating fire of 2009, as a powerful maternal consolation to our wounded hearts. Through her arrival, the gracious and Most Holy Mother, ever ready to hear our sorrows and sincere prayers, filled our hearts with joy and strength, inspiring us with courage and spiritual fortitude to undertake the demanding task of restoring the burned-out wing of the monastery. The icon came to us as a profound blessing from the Garden of the Theotokos—Mount Athos—where the original wonderworking icon “It Is Truly Meet” has been preserved for over ten centuries. There, in the revered Protaton Church in Karyes, she blesses all of the Holy Mountain, and as the blessed Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra expressed, that sacred place serves as her earthly throne.
Thus, after an identical copy was made, bearing a wax imprint of the original metal cover, we were blessed to have it touched and sanctified by the original “It Is Truly Meet” icon. Following this, we attended a vigil for the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos at the Monastery of Simonopetra, alongside its esteemed Abbot, Elder Elisaios, and the brotherhood. Finally, we brought the icon here as a source of comfort both for the monks and for the faithful, who longed to see the holy sanctuary of Saint John restored. And truly, through the prayers of our Most Holy Theotokos, who is the protector of monastic life, and through the sacrificial efforts of the brotherhood, the Monastery was quickly restored to its former beauty, enriched with the addition of a new wing.
I must confess that my heart has been deeply attached to this sacred icon “It Is Truly Meet” since my youth. As a child, I had the blessing of praying before this tender and graceful image of the Theotokos in my family home. It was a simple paper print of the icon, framed in modest wood and placed in a traditional icon stand—a familiar sight in many Macedonian households of the past—where a small vigil lamp burned constantly. From my early years, I prayed before the Queen of Angels, and despite my unworthiness, she graciously heard my prayers.
When I made my first pilgrimage to Mount Athos, the first holy site I encountered was this very icon, “It Is Truly Meet.” At that time, it was customary for all pilgrims to begin their Athonite journey in the town of Karyes, where they would venerate the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos at the Protaton Church. I will never forget the impression that my first encounter with this miraculous icon left on me—it was as if I had met the Theotokos herself in person. That encounter remains etched in my heart to this day. As I approached the icon, I felt as if I were drawing near to the very presence of the Most Pure Mother of God. Other pilgrims shared the same experience, confirming the undeniable truth that the icon “It Is Truly Meet” carries an extraordinary grace, revealing the powerful presence of the Mother of God, who continues to perform countless miracles through it.
Beloved in Christ, the Most Holy Theotokos is truly present among us through her miraculous icons, through which she sends us abundant grace. She hears our prayers. She knows our sorrows and sufferings. She heals our weaknesses. Even tonight and this morning, as we stand before her holy, maternal image, she blesses us, listens to our petitions as a loving Mother, and gently soothes our hearts with her tender motherly love. Therefore, let us open our hearts to her and pray fervently until the end of this Divine Liturgy, so that we may remain steadfast in our faith in her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and walk gracefully through the challenges of this life, becoming witnesses of Christ in the world.
For our salvation greatly depends on the sharing of Divine grace—whether we offer it to others and whether we pray for it on behalf of our neighbors, our brothers and sisters in God. The mission of every Christian is to serve as a signpost pointing toward the Heavenly Kingdom, toward Christ. In a world deeply disturbed by sin, humanity finds itself trapped in confusion, fear, and melancholy. For this reason, now more than ever, the world needs a living witness to Christ, who alone holds the answers to all ontological questions and the solutions to all existential problems. Consequently, we who have been granted the knowledge of the Ever-Living One bear the responsibility to pass on that knowledge to others by living a life worthy of our Christian calling.
We all know that to live as a true Christian is by no means easy, for it requires us to carry a cross. Yet the Holy Church also assures us that the Theotokos, our Mother, unconditionally and lovingly helps us to bear our life’s cross. With her by our side, we feel like children under a mother’s protection. She has brought us salvation by giving birth to Christ in the world. With her “Yes,” her voluntary sacrifice, and her perfect purity and love, she opened the door to our salvation.
I urge you this morning to ask the Most Holy Mother to give strength and grace to this holy brotherhood that strives in spiritual labor here, that all the monks may remain faithful followers of Christ to the end, steadfastly bearing the monastic habit they have taken upon themselves. I say this because monastic life is by no means easy. Indeed, the monks have the greatest honor, but they also carry the heaviest cross. As the venerable Elder Paisios once said, monks are always on the front line of battle for the Church; they are the spiritual radio operators communicating with God. Therefore, whenever you pray for yourselves and for your loved ones, do not forget to also pray for the monks, for they play a crucial role in the life of the Church.
May the Most Holy Theotokos, whose grace-filled presence we all feel this evening, remain ever with us, granting us the strength to be active Christians until the end of this life, so that we may all, together with her, enter the longed-for Heavenly Kingdom.
Amen!
