Days of celebration for the Diocese of Canada and for Romanians

On Wednesday, November 30, the Romanian Consulate in Montreal organized, on Romania's National Day, a reception attended by His Grace Ioan Casian, the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada. It was a festive moment and a good opportunity to share with Mrs. Consul Cristina Marinescu as well as with representatives of the Romanian community in the Montreal, Quebec region, plans and actions that the Diocese of Canada is carrying out within its departments as well as within the newly established St. Maxim Cultural-theological and catechetical training center.

In the continuation of Wednesday evening, the feast of St. Ap. Andrew and the National Day of Romania, were marked in the Diocese of Canada through an Evening of conferences, song and poetry held via zoom. Priests and believers from across Canada participated in a Te Deum service offering prayers of thanks for all the blessings received.

Then followed the exceptional conferences held by Fr. George Bâzgan - St. Apostle Andrew and the Christening of the Romanians and Protos. Maxim Morariu, PhD - Preamble of the Great Union - The cultural border and the deportation of Transylvanian priests during the First World War.

Prior to the moment of poetry and song prepared by the Education Department of the Diocese of Canada, St. Ap. Andrew merit scholarships were awarded. These scholarships are for Orthodox students in their first or second year of college or university. This year the following were awarded: Maria Elisabeta Cabaua – St. George and St. Andrei Șaguna Cathedral, Windsor (ON), Celine Tarcea - St. Prophet Elijah and St. Nicholas Parish, Surrey (BC); Andrei Chirilov - St. Matthew the Apostle and St. Hristina, Ottawa (ON); Jonathan Lungu - St. George and St. Andrei Șaguna Cathedral, Windsor (ON).

A delegation of the Diocese of Canada led by HG Bishop Ioan Casian responded to the invitation of Mrs. Oana - Raluca Gherghe - Acting Consul General of Romania in Toronto and participated on Thursday, December 1st in front of the Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario to the reading of a statement in honor of Romania and the Romanians by MPP Natalia Kusendova Bashta. The ceremony continued with the raising of the Romanian flag on the flagpole in front of the Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, in the presence of the representatives of the parliament, the consular corps, HG Bishop Ioan Casian, Rev. Inspector Petre Busuioc, Rev. Archpriest for Canada Centre Viorel Țencaliuc, Hieromonk Policarp (Athenagoras), Fr. Lucian Azoiței as well as members of the Romanian community present.

The evening of the 1st ended with a reception offered by the Consulate General in Toronto attended by local authorities, the consular body accredited in Toronto, clergy, representatives of the business, academic and cultural environment of the province of Ontario.

(notes by Carmen Ognean)