Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada Celebrates its Patron Saint

From November 28-30, the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada celebrated its Patron Saint, the Apostle Andrew. The events began on Thursday at 6 p.m., when a council of priests, under the patronage of His Grace Ioan Casian, the first Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada, celebrated the Sacrament of the Holy Annointing at the Episcopal Cathedral “Saint George the Great Martyr and the Holy Martyrs Epictetus and Astion” in Saint-Hubert, QC.

The following day, also here, His Grace celebrated, starting at 6 p.m., the Vespers with Litia in honor of the Apostle Andrei and of Saint Andrei Șaguna, the Metropolitan of Transylvania. Then, on Saturday, November 30, starting at 8:30 a.m., the Matins service was celebrated, followed by the Divine Liturgy. Along with His Grace, served: Archpriest Emeritus Father Mircea Panciuk, Protosyncell Maxim Morariu PhD, Ecclesiarch of the Cathedral, Diocesan Inspector, Father Constantin Traian Petre and Father Adrian Manea. The responses were offered by Fr. Deacon Valentin Boțu. The event, which was attended by a large number of faithful from Montreal area, was followed by the Te-Deum service, during which His Grace Father Ioan Casian, together with the clergy and the believers, offered prayers of thanks for the blessings bestowed by God upon the Episcopate. Then, in his sermon, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian spoke about the exemplary lives of the two great saints of the day and thanked God for all the gifts bestowed upon the Romanian Orthodox in Canadian lands.

“The Saint Apostle Andrew and the Saint Andrew Şaguna are worthy examples to follow, who come to tell us about how, when we firmly believe in God and the work of His grace, nothing is impossible. Let us not hesitate, therefore, to follow their example and ask for their help in prayer,” he emphasized.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the faithful present had the blessing of venerating a part of the relics of the Holy Hierarch Andrew Şaguna, Metropolitan of Transylvania, offered as a gift to the Diocese by His Eminence Father Laurențiu of Transylvania. Praised be the Lord for all his gifts!

Protosyncell Maxim Morariu PhD.