The preaching of the Gospel is a commandment given directly by the Saviour. The Bishops, but also the priests and the deacons - as assistants of the first ones - having all of them an apostolic appointment, through the divine commandment, beside other duties they have been invested with - such as of being the treasurers of the Mysteries which bless all the events of the Christian life - they also have the express duty to preach the teaching of the Saviour and to explain it in such a way so that to clarify and enlighten - through their words - the way of salvation.
Today, more than ever, the teaching of God (the theology) is no longer kept only in schools and under the covers of the books. It needs to be transformed into spiritual food for the people of God, into "bread and water" - as the author of these sermons says - on the line of the patristic teachings, which advise us "to give to any part of you, what it needs".
Taking to heart the words of the great Metropolitan and famous preacher Antim Ivireanu, who said "it's a great wickedness when there is silence in the Church of Christ, either by laziness or by lack of knowledge", we acknowledge that the publication of this book of sermons is not useless.
It is widely known the fact that a sincere and an enthusiastic preaching of the Christian teaching, arisen from the heart of all priests has the gift of refreshing the religious life and of fortifying the convictions any Christian should have about his religion.
Today the sermons of the priests should be acquainted with the current times, with the civilisation and the culture, with the literary and artistic productions, with poetry, philosophy and the science, and should place the explanation of the Holy Gospel only in their context, fearing not that the Holy Gospel would be anacronical and that he is speaking about things he couldn't actually defeat. He should know what are the Christians interested in, and how to answer to their needs not with abstract sermons about unknown or hardly understood issues, but with enlightened sermons, that meets people's needs and also considering their capability of understanding.
For this we should remember the word of the Scripture "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good".
Apparently the sermons of father hierodeacon Visarion Iugulescu are "old" and untimely. However we consider that the republication is not like we would put "new wine in old bottle" but on the contrary, the "old explanations" help and lead us to the renewal of the spiritual life.
That is because, even now, the word of His Reverence is vibrant and magnetic, setting in our souls the flame of the dynamic and regenerating faith and the endless thirst for divinity.
The inspired style and the spiritual depth of the message place you down to the feet of the Good Saviour, Who speaks through His chosen men "with great might" - according to His Holiness Irineu Bistriteanu (The Christian Orthodox Review, 1992, January, pg 2) .
Thus we consider this book - paraphrasing the title of the famous book of sermons written by father Stefan Slevaoca - "another steak of the light of Christ" that should enlighten "anyone who came into this world".
We consider that in it could be found - by selection - the guidelines for preserving the true faith, defeating it from the attacks of sects; in its restfulness our Christian finding the natural stability.
Tasting "the bread and water" offered by the author, we know the comforting truth that utters that " a man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God " (Mathew IV, 4), remembering that "the heavens and the earth will pass away ..." but the actuality and the saving power of the Word of God are always new.
With bishop's blessings,
Bishop of Alexandria and Teleorman
September 14, 2000
On the Extolling of the Holy Cross