LIVIU PETCU: The Fathers of the Romanian Paterikon, on compassion and serving the sick

Serving God is not fulfilled exclusively by directly referring to Him, in prayers, in the services of the Church and the observance of the Divine Commandments, but more so in compassion and serving, under different forms, our neighbours who are sick. From the perspective of the Romanian pious, whose lives and worthy acts are briefly presented in the Romanian Paterikon, there is no better sign of recognition of a faithful man and of a person who loves Christ than serving our brothers and caring for their salvation and there is nothing else that provokes God’s wrath than one’s disregarding one’s duties toward their neighbours.In this article, we intend to present coherently both the ways in which the Romanian pious served the sick, with self-sacrificing love that stands unequalled, serving even persons suffering of contagious diseases, and their advice regarding suffering and caring for people enduring illness. Their teachings and guidance, still applicable today, actually stand as a form of spiritual therapy as they address a multitude of questions, spiritual dilemmas and concerns. Reading their texts, we comprehend that the love of these pious men was so intense that they had an inclination toward, and an empathy and understanding for every person, and their endurance in suffering, hardship or difficulties was supported and strengthened by Christ, by faith in Him and the remembrance of the eternal blessings of His Kingdom.