A long-awaited historic event
Romanian immigration to Canada started around the middle of the nineteenth century and we can talk about four waves of migration; first one before the world wars, second one in between the two world wars, the third one after the Second World War and the last one, starting with 1990 right after the fall of the Communist regime in Romania.
Regardless to what generation does one belong there is an undisputed truth that went throughout the centuries uniting all the Romanians, our forefathers faith. Many suffered because of the loss of our mother country, or parents, brothers, relatives, friends and social status. Getting rid of any subterfuge everyone started to ask themselves the right questions about their identity realizing what is actually defining them: the faith in God and the values deriving from it. This faith and its values have been strongly preserved with great sacrifice in the Romanian Orthodox Church and that is why is justified the search of the Romanians in Canada, regardless from what generation are coming from, for a church in which they can find „The very stone which the builders rejected” to build around it everything that fell apart with the exile for some, or exodus for some others who recently migrated to this country. From the very beginning, throughout Canada, churches were crowded and there was a shortage of priests to serve at the altar.
The establishment of the new Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada, a long-awaited historic event, took place in our times according to God’s will.
The hopes of the Romanian Orthodox faithful from this part of the world (three times bigger than Europe) who awaited for several generations this event came true through the enthronement of His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian as the first Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada. This took place on May 7th, 2017 at St. George church of Saint-Hubert/Montreal. Let us see how events unfolded.
2) Arriving of the delegation
On Thursday, May 4th 2017, the delegation of the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate arrived at St. George parish of Saint-Hubert/Montreal. Part of the delegation were His Eminence Nifon, Archbishop of Târgoviște, honorary Metropolitan and Patriarchal exarch, Fr. Michael Tița, Patriarchal counselor and head of the Patriarchal administration’s protocol, Fr. Ionuț Ghibanu, eparchial vicar and deacon Florin Sandu together with His Eminence Nicolae, the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of the Americas. His Eminence Metropolitan Iosif of Central and Western Europe came the next day.
Te-Deum service followed and was served by His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian. Priests and parish delegates from Canada were in attendance.
3. Visit of Ottawa, the capital city of Canada
On Friday, May 5th 2017, the delegation together with our hierarchs were received by His Eminence Monsignor Luigi Bonazzi, Apostolic Nuncio of Vatican in Canada. Ideas about Christian realities from the two countries were exchanged. After this the delegation visited St. Matthew’s of Ottawa and St. Mary’s of Gatineau Romanian Orthodox parishes were Fr. Grigore Tapuc and, respectively, Fr. Teofil Arsene, the parish priests, welcomed the guests and talked about the history of the two parishes. The Romanian Embassy in Ottawa offered a reception in honor of our hierarchs.
- Participation at the establishment of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada events and the enthronement of its first bishop.
On Saturday, May 6th, the delegation served the Divine Liturgy followed by Te-Deum and memorial services. Later on took place the work session of the first Eparchial Assembly of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada. Greeting messages and reports were read and then members of the Diocesan Council and Eparchial Consistory were elected. The delegate for the Metropolitan Consistory was also elected. The day concluded with Vespers served by His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae.
Sunday, May 7th the Divine Liturgy was served by His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae, His Eminence Metropolitan Iosif, His Eminence Metropolitan Nifon together with the members of the Patriarchal delegation and His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian. There were also invited to serve His Eminence Metropolitan Sotirios from the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto, His Grace Bishop Iov from the Moscow Patriarchate Representation to Canada, His Grace Bishop Andrei from the Ukrainian Orthodox Diocese and His Eminence Archbishop Irenée from the Archdiocese of Canada (OCA). At the end of the Divine Liturgy took place the enthronement of His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian as the first ever Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada. According with the Orthodox Church tradition presentation of the Symbols of a Bishop followed. The Tomos of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Metropolitan Grammata were read. Representatives of some other Sister Churches and Romanian state officials in Canada were also in attendance. The day concluded with a festive banquet.
On Monday evening, May 8th the delegation of the Romanian Patriarchate flew back to Romania.
