Fr. Ovidiu Moldovan - Calgary

30 Years in Service to God
A Celebration of Faith and Ecclesial Recognition

The Second Sunday after Pentecost—a day of special spiritual significance dedicated to the calling of the first Apostles and the commemoration of all Romanian Saints—brought double joy to the Orthodox community in Calgary, Alberta. The faithful of Holy Trinity Parish gathered in large numbers to celebrate an exceptional anniversary milestone: the 30th anniversary of the pastoral ministry of their parish priest, Fr. Ovidiu Moldovan.

To crown this festive occasion, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada, was present among the faithful. His pastoral visit brought blessings and spiritual joy to the entire community.

Although Holy Trinity Parish does not yet have its own church building—despite the sustained efforts of the parish community and initiatives undertaken through the Department for Romanians Abroad (DRP)—faith knows no boundaries. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated in a spirit of profound hospitality at St. Simeon the Myrrh-gusher Serbian Orthodox Parish in Calgary, with the blessing of His Eminence Mitrofan, Serbian Orthodox Metropolitan of Canada.

The prayerful atmosphere was enriched by the participation of a distinguished group of clergy from the Romanian Orthodox parishes of Edmonton, Calgary, Kelowna, and Airdrie: Fr. George Bâzgan Administrative Vicar Emeritus, Fr. Lucian Moldovan, Fr. Ciprian Pavel Roman and Fr. Cristian Ioan Bujor.

The liturgical responses were offered by a choir from Calgary under the direction of Mr. Șerban Comănescu, joined by members of the Cathedral Choir of Edmonton (Sts. Constantine and Helen and St. Paraskeva Cathedral). Together, Romanians, Serbians, and faithful of other nationalities from Calgary, Airdrie, and Edmonton formed one heart united in prayer.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian delivered a homily based on the appointed Scripture readings of the day, highlighting several essential themes for contemporary Christians.

Reflecting on the Epistle to the Romans, the Bishop explained that God shows no partiality. Everything He allows in our lives carries a profound and transformative purpose: “God’s judgments are always righteous because He knows all things from eternity. Everything that happens in a person’s life occurs with His permission. The trials of today’s world are allowed precisely to awaken in us compassion and responsibility toward those who suffer.”

The Bishop also spoke about deeds as the visible expression of faith, warning against a merely formal Christianity: “It is not those who hear the word of God who are righteous before Him, but those who put it into practice. Baptism is the true and profound foundation of human transformation, yet salvation requires a personal and free response through good works.”

He further reflected on the meaning of the Church as a communion of believers. Speaking about the calling of the first disciples—Saints Peter, Andrew, James, and John—the Bishop of Canada reminded those present that: “The Church is the community gathered around Christ. This bond becomes visible at every Divine Liturgy. Christ is present in the midst of the ecclesial community first through the reading of the Gospel—the Word of God—in the first part of the service, often called the Liturgy of the Word; and then, in the second part, through His Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist, shared by the faithful who are present.”

The hierarch also emphasized the enduring relevance of holiness in our time, recalling the newly glorified Romanian saints recently added to the Church calendar—including confessors from the communist era, monastics, and Christian mothers—as evidence that the work of divine grace continues unceasingly: “We see that the Church is alive in every generation.”

A particularly moving moment of the celebration was the recognition of the lifelong pastoral ministry of the parish priest and his family. In appreciation of his 30 years of sacrificial service, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian elevated Fr. Ovidiu Moldovan to the rank of Iconom Stavrophor, while also presenting him with the Diocese of Canada’s Diploma of Merit.

Presbytera Elena Moldovan was likewise honored with the Diploma of Merit and the Centennial Medal in gratitude for the fidelity, love, and dedication with which she has supported the life and ministry of the parish.

Fr. Ovidiu Moldovan then addressed words of thanks to the Bishop for this high distinction, to the concelebrating clergy for their shared service, and to all the faithful who transformed this Sunday into a living page of history for the Calgary community.

The celebration concluded in a warm family atmosphere during a festive agape meal lovingly prepared by the women of the parish. It was a day marked by gratitude, fellowship, and hope that, under the guidance of the newly elevated Iconom Stavrophor, Holy Trinity Parish and the Romanian Orthodox community of Calgary will continue to grow and, in the near future, build their own permanent house of worship.