The Sacrament of the Holy Anointing at the Episcopal Cathedral

"Saint George the Great Martyr" in Saint-Hubert, QC

With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian, the faithful from the "Saint George the Great Martyr" Episcopal Cathedral in Saint-Hubert, QC marked the entry into Christmas Lent by celebrating, on November 16, 2022, the Mystery of the Holy Anointing. The religious was presided by the hierarch of the Romanian Orthodox from the Canadian lands. The archpriest Father Gheorghe Chișcă from the "Saint John the Baptist" Cathedral in Montreal, protosyncell Dr. Maxim Morariu, the ecclesiarch of the Cathedral, Father Ciprian-Augustin Purcărea from the "Nativity of the Mother of God" parish in Gatineau, Fathers Constantin Lupașcu, Adrian Manea and Marius Bujor also celebrated together with the hierarch.

In the sermon, protosyncell Maxim spoke about Zacchaeus and how God addresses the call to follow him regardless of social condition, education or other similar aspects. He also wanted to emphasize that:

"Zacheu was a lucky mane. He was able to return the things he had taken from others. But we, when we take things like peace, joy, tranquility from our neighbor's soul, what do we put in their place? Perhaps we should pay more attention to this aspect every time we interact with our neighbors," he pointed out.

At the end of the event, HG Bishop Ioan Casian thanked the faithful for the presence in large numbers and spoke about the lent ascetical effort:

"We are at the beginning of Lent. It is a time when we are called to a greater deepening of our spiritual life through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The period of fasting is a pilgrimage that takes us to the meeting with Christ, who, making His home in our souls, through the power of divine grace frees the sky of our souls from passionate thoughts and the darkness of sins. We approach Him through the Holy Mysteries to become Apostles and preachers of His Kingdom through our lives and deeds," the hierarch underlined.

At the end of the service, the hierarch offered to those present for worship parts from the relics of several saints: Constantin Brâncoveanu, Grigorie Dascălul, Andrei Șaguna, Irodion of Lainici, Maximus the Confessor, Ipolit and Patrick.