Monument to national poet Mihai Eminescu installed at St. Nicholas and St. Elijah Parish Church in Port Kells, Surrey

On Tuesday, May 31, 2022, in the garden of St. Nicholas and St. Elijah Parish in Port Kells, Surrey, B.C., in an atmosphere of great joy, the granite plinth and bronze bust of the poet Mihai Eminescu was installed. The statue of the great national Romanian poet was made possible thanks to the exemplary mobilization of the parishioners who, together with their parish priest, financially supported and carried out this project.

Rev. Fr. Corneliu Dragomir, the parish priest of the church, gave us some details about the realization of this project of an important cultural and identity significance for the parishioners and for the entire Romanian community, both in the British Columbia area and throughout Canada.

"The idea of the monument materialized through the generous offer of the prototype made by Mr. Gheorghe Alupoaiei for Sts. Emperors Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Edmonton. The offer came in the form of an encouragement from Rev. Fr. George Bâzgan, Administrative-Vicar, together with the Behrens firm's liaison, to whom we offer our heartfelt thanks. The initial wish was to make a reinforced concrete post, clad with granite, but at the insistence of a parishioner, Mr. Marius Nechita, a native of the same area as the poet Mihai Eminescu, the post was made of solid granite. A tropical green granite from India was chosen."

Rev. Fr. Corneliu Dragomir reports that he encountered some difficulties in carrying out the project, due to the measures taken during the Covid 19 pandemic and the transport container crisis, which delayed the work and transport. Also, the whole community went through great emotions when, "once in Canadian waters, the Vim Kingston ship carrying the plinth had a fire on board, went into a storm, losing part of the cargo on board (...) After a few months' stay in Nanaimo Island and the trucker crisis, with God's help, the engraved granite plinth arrived safely at the parish."

All the while, the community and its priest prayed to God and the church's patron saints for protection and help in completing the project. Today, they are happy to see the monument installed in the church garden.

In his speech at the installation of the monument, Rev. Fr. Corneliu Dragomir was inspired by poet Octavian Goga's moving speech at the inauguration of the first monument to Mihai Eminescu erected after the founding of Great Romania, at Sânicolau Mare, in Banat, on 11 October 1925. "Octavian Goga's words at that time seem to be dedicated to today", Father Dragomir confesses.

The whole community is looking forward to the unveiling of the monument, which will take place on the Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, as part of a festive event entitled "The Lighthouse of the Pacific". The unveiling of the monument will be followed by an open-air celebration with poetry, instrumental and choral music and speeches on the work of the poet Mihai Eminescu. A fundraising event - called MBA (mortgage burning action) - will also take place during the same event. The money donated by participants will be used to pay off part of the community's bank debt for the church building.

Let us praise God for everything!