Days of Spiritual Joy at the Parish of “Saint Apostle Andrew”
Calgary (April 22–23, 2026)

The Parish of “Saint Apostle Andrew” in Calgary experienced moments of profound spiritual joy on April 22 and 23, 2026. These were occasioned, with the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel and His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada, by the visit of Father Vasile Ioana from the Parish of “Saint Nicholas in One Day” in Bucharest, together with Father Corneliu Dragomir from Vancouver.

The liturgical program began on Wednesday evening with the celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Unction, attended by many faithful who came with hope and faith for spiritual and physical strengthening. In his address to the faithful, Father Vasile Ioana spoke about how every Christian is called to attain holiness in life through participation in the Holy Mysteries, through persistent prayer, and through acquiring an inner freedom from earthly possessions.

On Thursday, April 23, the feast of the Holy Great Martyr George, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the presence of a large number of faithful, who deeply experienced Eucharistic communion and the joy of meeting in Christ the Risen One.

In his sermon delivered during the Divine Liturgy, Father Vasile Ioana highlighted the life and martyrdom of Saint George as a living model of confession and steadfastness in faith. He also emphasized the relevance of “martyrdom” in the life of the contemporary Christian, explaining that today martyrdom means preserving a warm and pure heart in a world often stained by sin, especially in the context of the diaspora.

It was also noted that Romanian Orthodox Christians in Canada offer a living testimony of faith through their social and professional lives, remaining steadfast in Christian values and contributing to the strengthening of the communities in which they live.

The symbolic image of the dragon from the life of Saint George was presented as a representation of contemporary challenges—secularization, consumerism, and the weakening of spiritual life—calling each believer to a conscious spiritual struggle, strengthened by hope in God’s help.

The joy of serving naturally continued during the fraternal agape, becoming a true “liturgy after the Liturgy,” where the faithful extended their communion in love, joy, and gratitude.

Among those present and concelebrating were Father Corneliu Dragomir from Saint Nicholas Parish in Vancouver, Father Ovidiu Moldovan from Holy Trinity Parish in Calgary, as well as the parish priest, Father Vasile Moisi, who, though overwhelmed with emotion, proved to be a welcoming and self-sacrificing host.

We gratefully note that Father Vasile Ioana’s visit to Canada was initiated by Marius Bălan / KlubEvent, and his presence in Western Canada was made possible through the substantial support offered by Father Corneliu Dragomir.

We thank all those involved in organizing these blessed days, as well as the faithful who, through their presence, strengthened the unity and living witness of the Orthodox faith in the diaspora.

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

(notes by Fr. Vasile Moisi / Hegumen Polycarp)