Church profits from belief in miracles

Large numbers of people are making pilgrimages to the northern Romanian city of Iaşi this October to worship Saint Paraskeva, the patron saint of the region of Moldavia. The daily Adevărul berates the Orthodox Church for making a profit from this belief in miracles: "The Church remains an institution that rather than dealing with life's problems makes a profit from them. Instead of making pilgrimages more popular it should help people save their money. It should teach them how to overcome their problems through their own efforts. Instead of trying to maximise its profits by selling icons and prayer books it should preach about the miracles that education can do for people. In all sections of Romanian society one can observe the desperate attempts of people to achieve their goals by any means possible, anthing rather than their own effort and discipline. Even the Lord has been brought into this sinful equation. We charge around the country, jostling and trampling on each other's toes for the sake of touching an icon who will perform a miracle and solve all our problems overnight. … Nowadays in Romania it seems easier to stand in the queue waiting for a miracle than to take an active part in making it happen."

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