Consecration of a new Romanian Church in New Jersey

Sunday, May 1, was a feast day for the Romanian Parish Life-Giving Spring and St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Long Valley, New Jersey. The consecration of the place of worship of the community there was celebrated as an accomplishment of the project of the 100th anniversary from the Romanian Great Union (1918). After several years of hard work of Rev. Fr. Ionuț Voicu Georgian together with the faithful of the parish, the project was completed in the form of a church in Maramureș style.

Three hierarchs took part in the consecration: His Eminence Nicolae, the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of the Americas, His Grace Iustin, the Bishop of Maramureș and Sătmar and His Grace Ioan Casian, the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada. Many other priests and believers joined them in the service.

The religious celebration began with the service of the consecration of the Church and continued with the Divine Liturgy.

In his speech after the reading of the Holy Gospel, HG Bishop Iustin spoke about St. Thomas and the role he played in strengthening his faith and that of all through his need to prove the reality of Christ's resurrection personally too like all other Apostles. The Holy Apostles were ordained on the Sunday of the resurrection in the sense that they receive the mission of forgiving sins.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, HEm Metropolitan Nicolae in his sermon spoke about the significance of the service of the consecration of the Church. The Church is a space that separates us from the secular world, from the world without God. It makes us feel the reality of God's presence among us.

The Patriarchal Cross was awarded to Rev. Fr. Ionuț Voicu Georgian and several metropolitan distinctions were given to lay members.

The fraternal agape was followed by several speakers taking the floor.

HG Bishop Ioan Casian said: “It is a blessed feast day for the community here. It is a significant moment and the fulfillment of an effort of several years. And this fulfillment is seen in the feeling of celebration and joy that we see. Romanians from several states around New Jersey, to which we in Canada have joined, the priests and the faithful I represent here, make up the Church.

I remember the years when I was a priest in New York, coming and serving on Saturday for the community here. Here is this group of kind-hearted people, whom I have partially found even today, to whom many others have joined with their pastor, who have accomplished God's work in the best way possible.”

The hierarch further recalled the 5th anniversary of the enthronement as Metropolitan of the Americas of His Eminence Nicolae and, later this year, the 20th anniversary of his ordination as a bishop.

The agape program was sprinkled with a rich artistic program and at the end diplomas were awarded to those who participated in the founding of the church.