Putna, Romania, July 3, 2026
Photo: basilica.ro
His Eminence Metropolitan Ephraim of Aleppo of the Patriarchate of Antioch celebrated the Divine Liturgy on July 2 at Putna Monastery in Bukovina, Romania, marking the feast of the monastery’s founder and patron, St. Stephen the Great, reports the Basilica News Agency.
The Metropolitan was delegated to Putna by His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch, who had himself visited the monastery ten years prior. Concelebrating with Met. Ephraim were Archimandrite Melchisedec, abbot of Putna, archdiocesan counselors and deans from the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți, abbots and clergy of the eparchy, clergy from the Romanian community in the Chernivtsi region, and priests of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Photo: basilica.ro
In his homily, the Metropolitan said that Stephen the Great “remained in history not only because he was a military leader, but because he was a man convinced that the strength of the nation flows from the strength of faith, and that the defense of the land cannot be separated from the defense of holiness.”
He added that it was “not only St. Stephen’s sword that saved Moldavia, but also his spiritual life,” and that “the Church honored him as a saint not because he never sinned, but because he knew how to repent, to return to God, and to place his life in the service of Christ.”
Met. Ephraim also drew a distinction between patriotism and nationalism, noting that St. Stephen’s attachment to his land “didn’t come from national fanaticism,” but from a sense of Divine mission. He called on Christians today not to flee their homelands in discouragement but to “be light where God has placed us.”
Photo: basilica.ro
The Metropolitan also spoke about the Diocese of Aleppo, describing the Church of Antioch as “witness and martyr”—a phrase attributed to Pat. John. He recalled the war that began in 2012, the devastating 2023 earthquake, and the ongoing uncertain situation for Christians in the region, which has driven large-scale emigration. Met. Ephraim himself was enthroned as bishop of Aleppo in 2021, succeeding His Eminence Metropolitan Boulos Yazigi, who was kidnapped in 2013 during the Syrian conflict.
Abbot Melchisedec noted in his remarks that St. Stephen the Great’s example teaches forgiveness: after defeating the usurper Petru Aron, the voivode made peace with the boyars who had supported his rival, calling them back to the country under a promise of full pardon.
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