Metropolitan Bishop Simeon, founder of the Bulgarian Orthodox Diocese of Western and Central Europe consecrating his life traveling round the world to provide spiritual care for Orthodox Bulgarians blessing his flock
Being a Subdeacon allows me to serve and assist bishops. This evening I was able to be with Metropolitan Bishop Simeon of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. It was a beautiful experience to be with someone so loving and full of the grace of God.
This evening he visited the Pan-Orthodox Vespers service at Holy Trinity Cathedral here in Phoenix. Just being with him and seeing his face up close for the short time reaffirmed why I did become Orthodox. I have been in the presence of big Christian speakers in the past but never was I so impressed as this evening. Just the little things he did were very respectful to the church and to all the people he met. After he was done speaking he wanted to give everyone something. Today was the Sunday of Orthodoxy so he opened up his satchel and had an envelope full of small wallet sized Icons of Christ and others of the Theotokos. He stood for several minutes handing one to each person and some would have prayer requests. He remembered each one of them. Unfortunately he ran out of Icons to give and he was so saddened by this that he asked his assistant several times if there were any more to hand out. He then promised the ones that did not get one that he would send a bunch to the church when he got back home. Not once did he mention that these were a “love gift” and expected a donation in return. He just gave just like God gave us His grace and was sad when there was no more to give. He then gave of himself and continued blessing each person until the church was empty.
No big powerful sermon, No manipulation, just a humble man sharing the love of Christ. Thinking back when I was training in missions for YWAM one of the things shared was “lifestyle evangelism”. Being an example to the people that you are reaching for Christ. The families and people whom I have met in Russia, Romania and here in the US who are committed Orthodox believers have witnessed to me and continue to witness to me that it is just being simply loving without expecting anything in return have been more real to me than I have ever seen before I converted.
Love in Christ,
Subdeacon Charles-Michael
