UP TO THE GATE OF HEAVEN through the carols ......

The Romanian Orthodox Dicoese of Canada organized two carol evenings on the Zoom platform on Saturdays and Sundays, December 18-19, 2021. It is already a tradition for the the Diocese of Canada and His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian to be caroled by the crystal voices of children, young and old from all over Canada.

The event named "Up at the Gate of Heaven" brought together the Sunday School Choirs, joined by various groups, families and individuals. Parish choirs and protopsalts such as Mr. Valentin Boțu (Diocesan Cathedral) and Mr. Cristian Bujor (Holy Trinity Parish - Calgary) completed the evening by making us feel that distances do not exist when Up at the Gate of Heaven we wait and carol for the birth of the Holy Child.

The carolers of the two evenings set out to reflect on the joy of the gift, the joy of being together, the gift of health, the joy of confessing our faith, and by caroling here in Canada. 

I BELIEVE, I CONFESS, I GIVE were the desideratum of the two evenings.

Gathered in groups and arranged according to age and group-bands, that is, the parishioners, the carolers of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada were headed by Rev. Fr. George Bâzgan administrative vicar They began to prepare from the evening of St. Nicholas for the ceremonial course.

Proud of their traditions and roots, Canadian carolers set off on a journey through the Canadian capital, Ottawa, stopping in Toronto, Gatineau, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Mono-Ontario, Windsor and ending at St. George's Diocesan Cathedral, Saint-Hubert.

The Romanian culture has a rich poetic interpretation of the traditions related to the Nativity of the Savior. We have one of the most beautiful popular Christmas and New Year literature. Especially charming, by their naive grace, were some carols which evokes with a rare tenderness the face of the Mother of God.

Among the stops made, one very dear was in Vrancea at the St. Sophia Association. Young people in the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada have taken the initiative to encourage those present online to financially support the projects of this organization that cares for children from disadvantaged families as well as victims of domestic abuse.

Like the Magi, the carolers gave to His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian, the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada, but also put in the souls of all present the gifts of joy in Christ, the warmth of brotherhood regardless of restrictions or distances, the miracle of peace and prayer together, the gratitude of friendship, all in the sounds of the carols that are melting the frost.

Thanking for the carols and for the joy of being together, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian awarded two scholarships “St. Andrei” of the Diocese of Canada to David Cioană (Montreal) and David Neagu (Windsor). "These scholarships for academic excellence are awarded to students of Romanian descent who excel academically and are actively involved in the life of the Romanian church and communities" - said His Grace, pointing out that "education, discovering traditions and youth involvement in the Diocese life are major priorities in the Diocese.”