Palm Sunday at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Sibiu. Consecration of willow branches and prayer for Passion Week (photo)

The Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem was solemnized at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Sibiu through a Holy Liturgy officiated by His Eminence Father Laurentiu, Archbishop of Sibiu and Metropolitan of Transylvania.

The faithful gathered to participate in this liturgy, carrying with them blessed willow branches. Along with the Most Reverend Father, teachers and servants of the Metropolitan Cathedral were also present.

The “Timotei Popovici” Choir of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Sibiu, under the guidance of the university lecturer Dr. Dan Alexandru Streza, maintained the spiritual atmosphere through the liturgical responses.

At the appropriate time, IPS Father Metropolitan Laurentiu gave a sermon in which he explained the spiritual significance of the feast of the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem.

“This Sunday of the Entry into Jerusalem of our Savior Jesus Christ is a royal feast that marks the end of the Sundays of Great Lent and symbolizes our preparation for Holy Passion Week. The holiday is also often called Palm Sunday, because flowers represent signs of the revival of nature, thus heralding the approach of Christ’s Resurrection and our spiritual renewal. Flowers, through their beauty and fragrance, express our love and gratitude towards Christ. That is why we carry them in our hands on this day, along with green tree branches. The Gospel of this feast presents us with the moment of Christ’s anointing in Bethany, after the resurrection of Lazarus, and then his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, thus preparing us for his saving passion and crucifixion. Christ’s entry on a donkey’s colt is a picture of divine humility, showing that He descends to the humblest condition of man in order to raise him to the highest height of his perfection. In all His activity on earth, Christ was the supreme example of humility and obedience to the will of the Father, thus showing us the way of salvation”.

Finally, His Holiness Father Metropolitan Laurentiu urged the faithful to follow the spiritual path of Passion Week through fasting and prayer, participating in the holy services of these special days in the Christian calendar.