COLLOQUIUM
ST. JOHN CASSIAN
Spiritual guide, example of monastic humility
and model of Christian dialogue between cultures
On the afternoon of the Sunday of February 28, the day of remembrance of Saints John Cassian and Gherman, the Orthodox Diocese of Canada organized, on the Zoom platform, a colloquium entitled St. John Cassian, a spiritual guide, example of monastic humility and model of Christian dialogue between cultures.
The theme, divided into three main chapters, was presented by:
His Eminence TEODOSIE – Archbishop of Tomis: John Cassian – elements of a spiritual outline: monasticism, mission and friendship; P.C. Protosingel IUSTIN PETRE, the abbot of St. John Cassian monastery of Dobrogea: Discernment and awakening in the writings of St. John Cassian; Fr. GEORGE BAZGAN, administrative Vicar: St. John Cassian – the ancestral Romanian monk godly man and teacher of the Universal Church.
Being on a visit to Texas, Father Archdeacon Mihail Bucă - the protopsalt of the Patriarchal Cathedral and the founder of the psaltic group TRONOS of the Romanian Patriarchate- sang the troparion of St. John Cassian, thus setting a good atmosphere for an evening of great spiritual benefit.
His Grace, Bishop Ioan Cassian, addressed a word of thanks to the distinguished guests from Romania, who agreed to participate live (at a very late local time), expressing his joy at having them as guests of the Romanian community of Canada, even if virtually. Then, His Grace made a general overview of the life of St. John Cassian, showing the itinerary of the life of his personal protector and also of the Diocese, who left the ancient Tomis, "the first city of Romanian Christianity," for Bethlehem, then to the wilderness of Egypt, to Constantinople and Rome, ending his missionary, apostolic and earthly journey in Marseille, where he founded two monasteries with the monastic rules of the Christian East. "St. John Cassian was a monastic theologian of perfection with a good grasp of theological concepts and of the authentic understanding of the way we can ascend to holiness. He is the most quoted author in the West in the monastic realm," said His Grace Ioan Cassian. He continued with a brief comment on St. John Cassian's Troparion and then gave the floor to Father Nicholas Codrea of Windsor, the event's moderator, who made a brief biographical presentation of each guest before giving them the floor.
His Eminence, Archbishop Teodosie spoke eloquently and with great pathos about St. John Cassian, in whose steps he often follows in his mission as a Hierarch: "If by origin he belongs here, in Scythia Minor of yesteryear, by his thinking, his writings, and his founded monasteries, St. John Cassian belongs to the entire Christianity" said the distinguished guest.
Speaking of the friendship between St. John Chrysostom and the two friends, St. John Cassian and Gherman, His Eminence stated: "St. John Chrysostom saw in these two ancestral Romanian Fathers, men of great faith and spirituality. That's why he changed their minds, encouraging them to receive priesthood."
Referring to the writings of St. John Cassian, the speaker continued; "His writings are of such obvious depth and truly have what appropriate in every period of the history of our Church. The monastic rules promoted by St. John Cassian are still valid today. St. John Cassian is perhaps the most faithful exponent of Christian spirituality, which he emphasized in his writings as one, both in the East and in the West."
His Eminence Teodosie concluded his presentation, followed with great interest by all the participants, with warm congratulations addressed to His Grace, Bishop Ioan Cassian on his nameday, and with a patriotic message for all Romanians in Canada: "I carry in my heart and in prayer all the Romanians who live in the land of Canada, but with your mind, heart, faith and love, you are still Romanians and belong to Romania. We must belong to our country and our people, for at the second coming of the Lord, each nation will bring the offering of its sons.
Let us remain the sons of our nation in faith, in love, in communion of the saints, in uninterrupted joy with Christ."
Then it was the turn of Fr. Protosingel Justin Petre, the abbot of St. John Cassian monastery of Dobrogea, who spoke of Discernment and Awakening in the writings of St. John Cassian.
As the one who lives and serves in the land of origin of the ancestral Romanian monastic and theologian, Father Justin spoke with obvious emotion and due piety. Quoting St. John Cassian, Fr. Justin said, "Discernment is the ladder of all virtues, their guard, and their measure. Through discernment we can direct our good thoughts to what is holy." In the analogy with the watermill, said the speaker, St. John Cassian shows how important discernment is: "As long as the water flows, the wheel continues to spin, but it depends on the miller's will to grind wheat, barley, or tares. It is the same with the mind, through discernment, it knows what to banish and what to retain." Father Abbot then spoke of the virtue of awakening, explaining that this is "the state of clarity, of sharpness of mind, of continuous presence that we acquire by cleansing our hearts of evil and passionate thoughts." In the thinking of St. John Cassian, Discernment and Awakening are complementary virtues,” the speaker said.
The presentation of Father George Bazgan was focused on the writings of St. John Cassian: About the settlements of the Cenobites (monasteries) and about the remedies of the eight main sins; Collations or conversations with the Fathers; About the Incarnation of God, against Nestorius.
The speaker made a succinct analysis of these books, pointing out with quotations the teaching of this great monastic and godly man about the spiritual warfare in which those who wish to reach as high as possible in the moral and spiritual ascent, must engage in: "We will never be able to rise to the highest peak of true innocence, if what is most noble in us (the heart) ends up defiling the cleanliness of our body" (On the settlements of the Cenobites).
As the one who lived for ten years with the Fathers of the wilderness of Egypt, St. John Cassian gives us a glimpse into the pure and holy way of living of the hermits who "led their lives in the contemplation of God, to whom they devoted all their thoughts"(Spiritual Talks), said the speaker.
Father George also presented to those present the side of the apologetic theologian of the right doctrine of St. John Cassian, as evidenced by the book About the Incarnation of the Lord, against Nestorius, as well as that of the monastery-founder in the south of present-day France, in Marseille, monasteries with monastic rules brought from the Christian East, which earned him the admiration and honor from the entire Christian Church.
In conclusion, His Grace John Cassian thanked all speakers, as well as the many participants at this event in honor of St. John Cassian.
Fr. George Bazgan