Saint John Chrysostom said: “Give me a generation of good Christian mothers and I will change the face of the world!” Throughout the history of Christianity, there have been many mothers who raised their children with love, patience, devotion, wisdom, and hope in God, putting Christian education first.
On the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25th, when the Orthodox Church celebrates the Christian Mother’s Day, AROLA continued its annual tradition of honoring, in front of the entire community, Christian mothers who are examples for those around them.
We have the great honor to announce the winners of the “Mother of the Year” title for 2022:
- Marinela Abele (Holy Trinity, Philadelphia, PA): mother of three children, devoted daughter and strong pillar of the parish, who confesses and partakes regularly, and who always responds with love to the call to serve the Church of Christ and the Romanian community;
- Ana-Maria Azoiței (St. Apostle Andrew, Mississauga, ON): mother of nine beautiful and healthy children whom she raises and educates with much love, patience and fear of God. Pb. Ana-Maria is actively involved in Sunday School, the Ladies' Reunion, and other charitable projects;
- Carmen Cioana ( George Romanian Orthodox Cathedral, St-Hubert, QC): teacher by vocation and a true Christian, intensely involved in the activities of the Church and in those for the youth, who raised her two boys in the Church. They are always present at the Divine Liturgy, helping out in the altar;
- Stela Staver Scull ( John Cassian, San Antonio, TX): mother of two wonderful children whom she educates in the Orthodox faith, and who is distinguished by a warm soul and a boundless devotion to the Church of Christ, by zeal and dedication, compassion, and unwavering faith in all that she does;
- Camelia Vlad ( Ierarh Nicolae and Sf. Prophet Elijah, Vancouver, BC): mother of three beautiful boys, always together in the Church, both for prayer and for work, gladly volunteering at the meals offered to the poor, at picnics, and cleaning/beautifying the Church for the holidays, whenever necessary.
May God protect all mothers and may Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos, help them gain the wisdom needed to raise their children into faithful Orthodox Christians.
AROLA Board
