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His Grace Bishop Iustin of Maramureș and Sătmar spoke on Sunday about what he described as disturbing trends at certain music festivals in Romania, saying that “Christ bothers” some of the participants at these events.
In a sermon delivered at the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Baia Mare, the bishop lamented that such events resort to degrading the Holy Cross and the Saviour.
“We must be concerned, frightened, and shaken: how does God allow that at the festival in Cluj they mock the Holy Cross of Christ, turn it upside down, deride it, and commit blasphemies? Why don’t they do this with Buddha, Confucius, or Muhammad? Only with Christ — because Christ bothers them. But Christ has mercy on them… It doesn’t affect Him, it affects them,” Bishop Iustin said.
The bishop added that parents are responsible for the environment their children encounter.
“You let your children go there, and also to that seaside festival, frightening and with demonic elements. I’m not saying it’s diabolical, but it has demonic elements. Yes, there are artists with a good presence, but there are also demonic elements. To mock what is sacred in the midst of a Christian people — I’m not even saying Orthodox — is unacceptable.”
“Alongside these shows, there are drugs, alcohol, and debauchery. Minors go there too, but the parents are to blame, not the children,” he said.
Bishop Iustin stressed that the Church has a duty to speak about such dangers in society.
“We Orthodox are indulgent. We act like a mother — until they hit the wall, until they come to you in a coffin. We, the Church, must call out these things. The Church must not lose its message and prophetic voice,” he said.
He noted that life used to be “cleaner” in the past and that today’s youth should be supported rather than condemned for society’s ills.
“The disco in my time and in yours was like today’s ‘Golden Chrysanthemum’ festival — a sort of romance festival. Life was clean, different. It was simply a joy, a dance between young people. There were no drugs and no things like there are today. So we don’t blame the young people, but we must pray for them and help them. Show them love and concern,” Bishop Iustin concluded.
Photo: Diocese of Maramureș and Sătmar
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