At the Holy Liturgy in the Church of St. Nicholas in the Old Town of Kotor, today on the feast of the Holy Martyrs Cyric and Julita, the Gospel was read, which tells about the Savior's work in the Gergesin area and about the healing of the rabid (Sunday After the Holy Trinity, SUNDAY FIFTH) (Nedelje Po Svetoj Trojici, NEDELJA PETA ).

Archpriest Oliver Subotić spoke, who said that it is a frightening fact that after the great miracle of Christ, the people from the mentioned region asked that He leave there, as well as that the same thing would happen to the Lord if He came among us today and did something similar.

"We say frightening, because everyone knew about those two men." They were passing through that road and could not pass through that area because of how dangerous they were, how much they attacked people and were a danger to anyone who wanted to pass through that area. And instead of saying "let's bring this Miracle Worker, let's bring Christ to our city to our place to bless our houses, heal the sick, to help all those who have problems", because it is impossible that they did not have problems, torment and anxiety, and instead of doing that, because surely any normal person would do that, they ask Him to leave their area.

Why? Well, because he destroyed the dishonorable gain they were taking. Let's not forget, pigs were unclean animals according to the Old Testament. They were not allowed to be kept there, but those pig farmers, who knows who they were and how it was done and the profit they lost, because those demons went into the pigs and they plunged again towards that lake, they all drowned. The Lord actually allowed it so that we could see what the enemy of our salvation would do with us if He did not forbid him. He would kill us all. Therefore, the Lord allows it for our sake, for the sake of our salvation, to see such a sight, so that we would be afraid, so that we would belong to the Lord, ask Him and always be protected by His grace. And that is precisely why they are begging Him to leave their area," says Fr. Oliver.

The same thing would happen to the Lord if he came among us today and did something similar.

"If you don't believe me, I'll give you an example." Imagine if the Lord would come today and heal all those people who suffer from passion, drunkenness, gambling, betting, smoking... Everything from which that capital lives, which acquires dishonorable gain. Imagine how the members of that capital would turn to Christ. If all of a sudden those betting shops, those casinos were emptied, if there were no more people around us who are slaves to any passion sponsored by corporate capital. What would you say to him? You're good, but get out of here. You are destroying our source of income. The same thing would happen today. At the same time, these pig farmers from 2,000 years ago, they were far more honorable people and did not insult Christ. They asked Him to leave that area. And what is happening today? Well, look at the opening of the Olympics in Paris. Ridicule of Christian sanctuaries. Open mockery of Christian holy places by corporate capital to the extent that not even one of perhaps the most beautiful works of art - "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci - was spared. It went so far that even Elon Musk reacted. A man who is not a Christian, who is perhaps at best an agnostic, who respects Christianity because Christianity has the highest ethical system. He says that this is unacceptable as it is offensive to Christians, but we ourselves are guilty of it, and I will tell you why. Because we do not hold on to our faith and our Christian vocation, to our honor. If we were to hold a global view, basically everyone, including us Orthodox and Roman Catholics and Protestants, would say "we will not buy the products of those companies that sponsored that event, unless they apologize and if they don't condemn that performance"; "we will not watch the televisions that broadcast that performance unless they condemn it"; "we will not buy the newspaper that reported that performance, unless they condemn it".

So we don't have toughness, we don't have character and that's a problem. A big problem of our time and of modern Christians.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us be people of firm faith, of firm character, that we respect our faith, that we value our Christian vocation, that we praise the Lord God and that we never let God's name be blasphemed, amen, God grant," said Fr. Oliver.

In the gallery, along with photos from the Church of St. Nikola, look at those from the Holy Liturgy in the Church of St. Vasilije Ostroški in Dobrota.

Cover photo - SPCO Kotor archive