The rededication of the great church of the Văratec Monastery

On Sunday, October 9, 2022, Văratec Monastery dressed in festive clothes. HG Bishop Ioan Casian participated in the rededication of the place of worship together with six other hierarchs - HEm Teofan, Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bucovina, HEm Ioachim, Archbishop of Roman and Bacău, HG Ignatie, Bishop of Huși, HG Antonie, Bishop of Bălți , HG Andrei, Bishop of Covasna and Harghita and HG Damaschin Dornean vicar-bishop of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți.

The consecration took place following consolidation and restoration works. The works were done during the time of Mother Abbess Iosefina Giosanu from the Văratec Monastery's own funds and through financial support granted by the State Secretariat for Cults, the Neamț County Council, the Local Council of the Agapia commune, donors and benefactors of the monastery.

In the homily given at the Gospel, HG Bishop Ignatie spoke about suffering:

"Man will never be able to put into words the experience of suffering he experiences to those around him. And whenever he tries to convey what he feels and suffers, he will realize that he is powerless. Words are so pale and fail to express it. That is why the Lord allows us, in our human nature, to feel that we are in the deepest moments alone in front of our own suffering, because only He can heal and cure us, as He healed the widow of Nain from her suffering. And the sadness of the death of her only son was lost in this joy of the resurrection."

In the speech at the end of the Divine Liturgy, HEm Metropolitan Teofan spoke about the importance of the moment and about the spiritual work of prayer fulfilled by the nuns from Văratec:

"These days two centuries have passed since this beautiful monastery was consecrated. Time passed, centuries passed, the church needed restoration, beautification and here is the church of the Văratec Monastery in the adornment of the first garment, a bride adorned for the Heavenly Bridegroom, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Two hundred years of obedience, non-agony and purity of body and soul for the nuns who lived here. Two hundred years of humble contemplation, two hundred years of prayer poured out for their souls and for the world. Two hundred years in which many sighs addressed to the Living God were heard in the secret of the heart. Two hundred years of fighting against the temptations that come from the flesh, the world, and the devil. Two hundred years of striving for the acquisition of the inner man, the spiritual man, who approaches the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity […]. It is appropriate to give thanks to God for this day, for the Divine Liturgy performed today, for the gift of Communion with His Body and Blood, for all this beautiful gathering, for this blessed procession, headed for the Mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven."

At the end of the service, Stavrophora Iosefina Giosanu, the abbess of the monastery, was awarded the patriarchal cross and the congregation received a special diploma of merit. Thanks were sent to HB Patriarch Daniel and Hem Metropolitan Teofan for their help and to the hierarchs, officials and all the faithful for participating in the event.

(according to notes from the report of the event for the Doxologia by Marius Flaviu)

Fotografii : https://eprb.ro/ips-parinte-ioachim-participat-la-resfintirea-bisericii-mari-manastirii-varatic