The installation of a new parish priest at the "Nativity of the Mother of God" Church

in Gatineau (QC)

Saturday, 12th of November, on the feast day of the „Holy Martyrs and Confessors from Nasăud” the Romanian Orthodox parish in Gatineau put on a festive robe. His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian celebrated the Divine Liturgy here and installed Father Ciprian Augustin Purcărea in the office of parish priest.

Together with His Grace and with Father Ciprian celebrated Father Grigorie Țăpuc from "Saint Matthew the Evangelist and Saint Christina" Parish in Ottawa. Rev. Protosyncell Maxim Morariu PhD, the exarch of the monasteries of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada, also attended the service.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the hierarch evoked the Saints from Năsăud and spoke about the importance of the message transmitted through their martyrdom. The hierarch of the Romanians in the Canadian lands also wanted to emphasize the fact that:

"Although they are circumscribed to some clearly delimited spaces and times, like the saints from Năsăud who lived in Transylvania in the second half of the 18th century, the Saints are universally accepted. The message they send is a universal one, and the values ​​they defended at the cost of their lives are authentic and imperishable!”

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, Rev. Protos. Dr. Maxim Morariu read the hierarchical decision appointing as parish priest Father Ciprian Augustin Purcărea, and HG Bishop Ioan Casian symbolically offered him the Gospel, the Cross, and the keys of the holy place.

The new parish priest thanked HG Bishop Ioan Casian for the new mission entrusted to him and to the faithful for the warm welcome. Father Ciprian also emphasized the fact that in a secularized world the Church represents the necessary anchor for those who want to lead a spiritual life and that through the holy services we are called to make the transition from "I" to "we", by cultivating love for the other. Praise be the Lord for all!