His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian: ‘Let us depart in peace’ is the call to bring

the joy of Christ into the world.”

On the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, the community of the “Saints Constantine and Helen” and “Saint Paisios of Neamț” Mission in Oakville, Ontario, experienced moments of profound spiritual joy on the occasion of the parish feast dedicated to Saints Constantine and Helen.

On the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, the community of the Saints Constantine and Helen and Saint Paisios of Neamț Mission in Oakville, Ontario, experienced moments of profound spiritual joy on the occasion of the parish feast dedicated to Saints Constantine and Helen.

The Holy and Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada, together with Father Marian Iacobuț, in the midst of the faithful gathered for this festive day.

In his sermon delivered at the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Romanian hierarch spoke about the Ascension of the Lord, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, and the responsibility of confessing the faith in the life of every Christian, connecting these themes with the feast of Saints Constantine and Helen and the commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council.

The hierarch emphasized that the period between the Resurrection and the Ascension was one of strengthening the Apostles’ faith, reminding the faithful that the Savior Christ appeared to them for forty days “in order to strengthen them in faith and confirm His Resurrection foretold during His earthly life.”

Speaking about the disciples’ confusion before the Resurrection and their need to be strengthened through the grace of the Holy Spirit, the hierarch stated:“They needed the power of the Holy Spirit to strengthen them in faith and to send them forth to witness to and proclaim the Gospel and the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Drawing from the words of Saint Paul the Apostle addressed to the shepherds of the Church, the Bishop of Canada highlighted the responsibility every Christian bears within the life of the Church:

“If, in the Epistle read today, Saint Paul the Apostle draws attention to the responsibility bishops have in their pastoral ministry within the Church, in his other epistles he also speaks about the role of parents, children, and, in general, the family in the life of the Church and the example they must provide. Therefore, responsibility for the work of the Church belongs not only to the clergy but also to the faithful together, each according to their own level of responsibility. Thus, the duty of proclaiming the joy of encountering Christ the Lord and sharing in communion with Him belongs to all of us.”

In this context, the hierarch offered an interpretation of the liturgical exhortation, “Let us depart in peace,” explaining its missionary meaning:

“This invitation is addressed to all the faithful: with the peace you have received in the Divine Liturgy, go beyond the doors of the church and proclaim it in the city, community, or country in which you live.”

An important part of the sermon was dedicated to the Feast of the Ascension and its theological significance. His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian explained that through the Ascension, Christ raises human nature to the throne of God’s glory:

“Christ returns to the glory He had before the foundation of the world, but this time together with our transfigured humanity.”

Connecting the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicaea with the parish feast, the hierarch recalled the decisive role of Saint Emperor Constantine in the life of the Church:

“The first part of the Creed that we still recite today was formulated at the First Ecumenical Council in the year 325, held during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great. Likewise, the calculation of the date of Pascha that we use today was established at the same council.”

His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian also emphasized the historical and spiritual importance of Saint Emperor Constantine, who granted freedom to Christians and brought an end to persecutions:

“Under Emperor Constantine, Christians were given the freedom to build churches and to confess their faith without fear.”

In the final part of his address, the hierarch evoked the example of Saint Blandina of Iași, a confessor of the faith during the communist persecution, presenting her as a contemporary model of faithfulness to Christ.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the faithful were invited to a festive meal organized on the occasion of the monastery feast, giving thanks to Saints Constantine and Helen for the protection and help bestowed upon the community in Oakville. The atmosphere of fellowship and fraternal joy crowned this day of celebration, lived in prayer, gratitude, and unity.

(notes by Nun Ana Bulgariu)