St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Calgary Hosted Multiple Church Events

Between March 27–29, 2026, St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Calgary, Alberta, Canada hosted several Church events: the pastoral visit of His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian, a regional clergy meeting, and a Church music workshop as part of the “Church Music and Liturgical Chant” course initiated by the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada at the beginning of March.

The program began Friday evening with the Akathist Hymn of the Annunciation, celebrated by the bishop of Canada, surrounded by a group of priests: Fr. Vasile Ioan Moisi (the host parish priest), Fr. Ovidiu Moldovan, Fr. Cristian Ioan Bujor, and Fr. Ciprian Roman. The responses at the chanter’s stand were offered by course participants, giving them the opportunity to be actively involved in worship from the very first day. At the end of the service, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian spoke about the importance of the liturgical period of Great Lent and its specific religious services. He encouraged both clergy and faithful to structure liturgical life according to the three major periods of the Church year - Triodion, Pentecostarion, and Octoechos - each with its own character, in order to live, deepen, and concretely understand spiritual life and the Church’s liturgical rhythm, rooted in divine grace.

The bishop also congratulated Fr. Ovidiu Moldovan on his 30 years of priestly service and presented him with an icon of the Last Supper as a sign of appreciation.

On Saturday, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian held a regional clergy meeting with priests from Calgary, Saskatoon, Kelowna, and Howser. Also present was Fr. Călin Dorin Mărincaș, dean for Western Canada. Various pastoral, missionary, administrative, and canonical matters related to parish life in the region were discussed.

That same day, a Church music and liturgical typikon workshop took place. Participants included members of the parish choir, coordinated by Mr. Șerban Comănescu with the support of Mr. Cosmin Baciu, along with course coordinators Mrs. Mădălina Enache and Nun Ana Bulgariu. Together, they analyzed the current state of liturgical singing, discussed directions for improvement, and addressed practical aspects of enhancing liturgical service. A central focus of the workshop was the preparation of Sunday services - Vespers, Matins, and the Divine Liturgy - for the Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt.

This gathering marked the beginning of a series of workshops aimed at supporting the liturgical and musical formation of those involved in Church chanting, while also offering a space for fellowship and reflection on spiritual and ecclesial life.

The workshop highlighted the importance of proper liturgical formation and the responsibility of serving at the chanter’s stand, emphasizing that this is not merely a musical act but a true ministry within the Church, closely connected to the altar. It also gave participants the opportunity to learn, share experiences, and grow stronger in their service.

The Church Music and Liturgical Chant course will continue throughout the year in an online format, bringing together participants from various parishes. This initiative, supported by a dedicated group of organizers and instructors, aims to strengthen Orthodox communities in the diaspora by fostering conscious, coherent, and vibrant liturgical service.

The day concluded with the celebration of Great Vespers in an atmosphere of prayer and communion. Reflecting on the life of St. Mary of Egypt, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian emphasized two key teachings: the transformative power of repentance, which can turn even the greatest sinner into a model of holiness, and the essential role of the Holy Eucharist in spiritual life, offering inner healing and growth for the believer.

On Sunday, the bishop celebrated the Divine Liturgy together with Fr. Vasile Moise, Fr. Ovidiu Moldovan, Fr. Ciprian Roman, and Fr. Florin Porumb, in the presence of parishioners and workshop participants. In his concluding sermon, the hierarch highlighted the spiritual richness of the Church services during Great Lent and their role in shaping and authentically living the faith.

Drawing from the Sunday readings - from the Epistle to the Hebrews and the Gospel according to Mark - the bishop spoke about Christ’s redemptive sacrifice and the Christian calling to be cleansed from “dead works” in order to serve the living God.

He especially emphasized the importance of consciously living the liturgical time: “The liturgical time of the Church is not random; each period has its own meaning and spirit through which God works and reveals Himself to us in different ways.”

Referring to the power of Christ’s sacrifice, he added: “The blood of Christ, shed on the cross, cleanses our conscience from dead works and opens the way to our true calling: serving the living God.”

Another key point of the sermon was the ultimate purpose of Christian life: “Purification from sin is not an end in itself, but preparation to fulfill our vocation—to serve God with our entire life.”

From the Gospel, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian also highlighted Christ’s model of humility: “Whoever wants to be first must be the servant of all. This is the true measure of service in the Church.”

He also warned against a merely declarative faith: “It is useless to speak about faith if it is not visible in our deeds. True faith is confessed through one’s life.”

A strong emphasis was placed on living out Christian identity in contemporary society:
“We are called to bear witness, not to be ashamed of our faith, but to live it and show it concretely  in our families, in our communities, and in society.”

In closing, the bishop presented St. Mary of Egypt as a powerful example of repentance and spiritual transformation, emphasizing that every person is called to holiness, regardless of their past.

At the end, those present received the final blessing and participated in a fellowship meal prepared by the women of the parish.

(notes by Nun Ana Bulgariu)