On November 15 and 16, 2024, the faithful of the parish of Saint Matthew the Apostle and Saint Great Martyr Hristina in Ottawa celebrated the patron saint of the church and the 5th anniversary of the consecration of the Church. A special joy on the patron saint day was occasioned by the presence in our midst of His Eminence Nicolae, the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of the Americas, as well as His Grace Ioan Casian, the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada, together with a sobor of priests and deacons from the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
On Friday, November 15, in the evening, the two Hierarchs were welcomed at the church, with bread and salt according to the beautiful Romanian tradition, by faithfull from Ottawa, Gatineau and Montreal, who, full of emotion, offered flowers as a sign of joy and gratitude for the high visit. This was followed by the Holy Unction service celebrated by the two Hierarchs together with numerous invited priests.
On Saturday, November 16, on the feast of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, the Divine Liturgy was held, during which the theologian Iulian Virgiliu Amohnoaie was ordained to the deaconate.
In his sermon, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae emphasized the importance of the Holy Apostle Matthew as the author of the first Gospel in which “he gathered the words and teachings of the Savior with a very specific purpose: to tell his compatriots that Christ is the Messiah, the son of Abraham, the son of David, it being well known that all the Jews knew that the Messiah would be of the lineage of David.” Our Lord Jesus Christ is shown as the Son of God and the One who exactly fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament.
The solemnity of the Divine Liturgy was completed by the responses of the parish's Incognito choir conducted by Mr. Iosif Viorel Onuț. After the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae expressed his joy at the reunion with the priest and the faithful of the parish, five years after the consecration of the church, bringing glory to God and offering as a gift an icon of the Mother of God.
Next, His Grace Ioan Casian read the decision of appointment as Dean of the Eastern Canada Deanery of the V. Rev. Fr. Grigorie Țăpuc and performed the ordination service to the rank of Dean. At the same time, the pectoral cross and the anniversary medal were offered in recognition of the pastoral activity. His Grace also awarded anniversary medals and diplomas as a sign of gratitude and appreciation to several families and members of the parish, who were constantly involved in the mission of the church.
Father Dean Grigorie Țăpuc, the parish priest of the community, warmly thanked the hierarchs, priests, deacons and all participants in this special event.
After the Divine Liturgy, a festive meal was held, prepared by the AROLA ladies' committee from the parish. The agape ended with the prayer and blessing of the hierarchs.
Glory to you, Lord, for all the gifts!
Recorded by,
Emanuil Augustin Huluță, Vice-President of the Parish Council
