His Grace Bishop Ioan Cassian consecrated

the Annunciation Chapel in Howser, British Columbia

On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, on the occasion of the feast of St. Stephen the Great and St. John Maximovici, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian consecrated the Annunciation Chapel in Howser, BC. Along the Romanian hierarch of Canada, Hieromonks Ștefan Nuțescu and David Gălbează from Lacu Hermitage (Mount Athos), Protosinghellos Cosma Giosanu, abbot of St. Neagoe-Vodă Basarab Hermitage (Argeș, Romania), Fr. Ciprian Pavel Roman from St. Nektarios Mission in Kelowna, British Columbia and Hieromonk Polycarp Athenagoras, hegumen of the Monastery of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and St. Ephrem the New in Mono, Ontario were part of the event.

The celebration was attended by believers from Calgary, Vancouver, Kelowna, Penticton and other cities who were glad to participate according to the traditional typica to the consecration of the chapel dedicated to the Annunciation.

After the conclusion of this special service, all those present participated in the Holy and Divine Liturgy officiated by the hierarch of Canada together with the present clergy.

At the end of the service, HG Bishop Ioan Casian spoke to the faithful about the festive moment of the consecration of the chapel:

"We are glad to see a large number of Orthodox believers of different ethnicities at this important moment for us as a Church. The consecration of a Church represents the laying of a new foundation to help the spiritual growth of believers. A new consecrated Church means a new temple of prayer, a new house of God, where Christians can pray and live the transfiguring experience of the Holy Spirit. It is the place where the Holy Liturgy, the Holy Mysteries and the entire sanctifying work of the Church will be performed. It is the place where man learns faith and through it what it means to be a creature of God. The Church teaches us that becoming in the image and likeness of God is not a simple matter. It involves effort, faith, humility, obedience, and receiving with a wide open heart the divine grace of Christ.

Every Church is a laboratory of holiness. It forms man through teaching and life in the image and likeness of God. Through consecration, the Church becomes a space where the Orthodox Christian knows he can find God, feel His presence and help, see His work more closely and better understand His inspiration."

Speaking about the two saints of the day, the hierarch said:

"Today we celebrate two saints who in two different ways fulfilled their mission as Christians. St. Stephen the Great, the King of Moldavia, defended those lands from the invasions of other peoples, and after each battle he founded or rebuilt a church. St. John Maximovici is a more recent great missionary hierarch and preacher of the faith in Asia, Western Europe and North America. There are two models that can inspire us and show us the way in which we can live the Christian-Orthodox faith.

Let's remember these examples that can help us in strengthening our mission in the society in which we live."

At the end HG Bishop Ioan Casian offered a Diploma of Merit and the festive medal of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada to Hieromonk Ștefan Nuțescu from Schitul Lacu (Mount Athos) for the contribution and spiritual guidance he had inspiring the building of this place. The hierarch offered the same distinction and medal to the main founder of the chapel Mr. Daniel Damian together with his family - Cristina, Janet, Sofia and Nicholas - and emphasized their diligence and sacrificial dedication together with that of the Orthodox believers present, who lovingly supported the construction and arrangement of this place of prayer.

Hieromonk Polycarp Athenagoras, coordinator of the Communication Department of the Diocese, sent a warm wish "Many Years" from the clergy and faithful of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada to HG Bishop Ioan Casian on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of receiving the grace of the episcopate. Afterwards, those present sang hierarchical hymn "Many Years, Master!" offering a bouquet of flowers for this blessed anniversary from the clergy and faithful of the Diocese.

Next, all those present at the event entered in the Holy Altar, kissing the Holy Gospel, the Holy Cross and the Holy Table. They all received icons reminding homage year 2024.

At the end all believers enjoyed the festive agape lovingly prepared by the believers who joined Daniel and Cristina Damian’s family.

Glory to God for everything!