Uniting faith with deed!
Soul-building works and feast with joys
But my faith tells me
That it won't last long
Through a secret miracle
Your cross will conquer.
(Precious)
On Saturday April 29, 2023, the Romanian Monastery of the Elevation of the Holy Cross and St. Ephrem the New in Mono, Ontario, celebrated its second patronal feast. Despite the cold and rain, the crowd of believers from the Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa area joined His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian together with the priests Rev. Fr. Viorel Țencaliuc - archpriest, Protosyncel Maxim Morariu, Rev. Fr. Lucian Azoiței, Rev. Fr. Emanuel Tencaliuc, Rev. Fr. Călin Toderiță, Fr. George Dragan, Deacon Valentin Boțu, as well as Hieromonk Polycarp Athenagoras, the priest of the monastery who was a welcoming host to all the pilgrims.
The liturgical chants were provided by psalteries Andrei-Cătălin Ghebaru, a member of the "Thronos" Patriarchal byzantine group and Cosmin Mardare from All Saints Parish, Toronto.
The monastery is located in a particularly picturesque natural setting and throughout the year receives with great warmth and hospitality tens and hundreds of Romanian pilgrims and not only settled in Canadian lands. Spring, summer or fall pilgrimages have already started to be a tradition in the Toronto area. An ambitious and enduring project is underway at the monastery, the construction of a summer pavilion, which is part of what the servants and supporters of the monastery call - building for eternity.
Along with the priests from the area and the Romanian Canadian pilgrims was also His Excellency Mrs. Oana Raluca Gherghe Consul General of Romania in Toronto together with Mr. Consul Florentin Tito Gherghe.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the hierarch made a brief presentation of the wonderful works that are happening at the monastery, of the fruitful activity carried out by Hieromonk Polycarp Athenagoras. Fr. Maxim Morariu - exarch of the monasteries of the Diocese read the decision of His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian to appoint Rev. Fr. Polycarp as hegumen of the monastery. Axios!
In the closing remarks, the hierarch called for reflection on the life of St. Ephrem and the significance it has for us today:
"A monastic model of humility and obedience, of working in the service of God, of hiding from this world and living in the spirit of God, St. Ephrem is a mentor and guide for the monastic life. His protection introduces us to this profound work of humility in the service of Christ."
The celebration was concluded with a fraternal agape organized by the monastery with the help and support of several benefactors and merciful pilgrims of this holy site who united faith with deed.
