Condolence Message on the Passing into Eternal Life of
Protopresbyter Emeritus Father George Chișcă
With deep sorrow in our hearts, we have received the news of the passing from this life, during the night of Friday to Saturday (August 7–8, 2025), of Protopresbyter Emeritus Father George Chișcă.
With hearts weighed down by grief, yet also upheld by the Christian hope of the Resurrection, we join in prayer and spiritual remembrance upon the repose in the Lord of Father George Chișcă — a faithful servant of Christ, a worthy shepherd of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist and Saint Calinic of Cernica in Montreal, and a steadfast pillar of faith and Romanian identity in the North American diaspora.
Father Chișcă's life was a continuous offering at the altar of the Church and amid the community. Arriving in Montreal in 1969, carrying within him the theological zeal formed in the schools of Romania and further deepened in Canada, Father Chișcă chose to remain among the Romanian faithful abroad, offering not only liturgical service, but also comfort, spiritual guidance, cultural presence, and national consciousness. He was among those who understood that the priest’s mission extends beyond the Church walls — into the homes, hearts, and histories of the faithful.
Over more than 50 years of uninterrupted ministry, he was both witness to and builder of a community united in faith. Under his pastoral care, the Parish of Saint John the Baptist and Saint Calinic of Cernica grew into a Cathedral — a sanctuary of worship and a spiritual beacon for generations of Romanians in Montreal. Through his love for the Church and its people, Father Chișcă built not just an institution, but a living, open, and enduring spiritual family.
He remains in our memory not only as a priest, but also as a confessor of Gospel values, a man of dignity in the face of difficult times, and perseverance amid challenges. He was always a man of dialogue, of firm and wise counsel, and of devoted service, placing the well-being of the community above all personal interest.
In these moments of great sorrow, we offer sincere condolences and words of fatherly comfort to the bereaved family, to the faithful of the Cathedral in Montreal, and to all who knew, loved, and respected him. The news of his passing leaves a void in our hearts, yet also a bright and lasting memory of a man of God who completed his earthly journey with dignity and unwavering faith.
We pray that our Good and Loving God will receive him into His Heavenly Kingdom and place his soul among the heavenly saints, as a good and faithful servant.
May his memory be eternal, from generation to generation!
With archpastoral prayer and blessing,
† Ioan Casian
Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada
