On October 20 and 21, 2018, on the occasion of the celebration of the fall feast of their church, the parishioners of the Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Parish in Philadelphia had the joy and honor of having in their midst His Eminence Nicolae, Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of the United States of America and Metropolitan of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas.

In addition to the protection of the Most Holy Trinity, our church also has a second patron feast that the priests and faithful chose when the church was re-consecrated, on November 1, 2015. Built in 1815-1816, the church originally belonged to the Episcopalian community, being dedicated to the Apostle and Evangelist John (the Theologian). In 1913, by a happy coincidence, it was taken over from the Episcopalians by the Romanian Orthodox community in Philadelphia, made up mainly of believers from Ardeal and Banat. More than 100 years later, at its (re) consecration, it was chosen, with the blessing of our hierarch, that, in addition to our main patron, the Most Holy Trinity, we should also add that of the Holy Confessors and Martyrs of Ardeal: The Venerable Fathers Visarion and Sofronie, the Holy priests Ioan of Galeş and Moise Măcinic, and the Holy Martyr Oprea Nicolae, who sacrificed themselves for the defense of the Orthodox faith in Transylvania, and are commemorated in the Orthodox calendar on October 21st. It was a tribute to the first Orthodox parishioners, those Transylvanian and Banat pioneers who, through their worship, have acquired and embellished this holy place, turning it into an Orthodox one.

On Saturday evening, His Eminence served the Great Vespers with a Pan-Orthodox clergy, composed of the two priests of the church, Fr. Nicolai Buga and Fr. Timothy Avram, as well as several guests: Father Archimandrite Christopher Grecu, Father Emmanuel Pratsinakis of the Greek Orthodox Church, an old friend of our community, and Fr. Milorad Orlič, the parish priest of the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas in Elkins Park, PA. The evening ended with a brotherly agape prepared by the two priest wives, Mrs. Rodica Buga and Mrs. Simona Avram.

On the second day, Sunday, October 21, H.E. Metropolitan Nicolae celebrated the Divine Liturgy with the two priests of the church, Father Emanuel Pratsinakis, and Father Archimandrite Christopher Grecu. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, a memorial service for the founders and ministers of the church and for the Union Makers of 1918 took place.

In his sermon, His Eminence interpreted the message of the Gospel of the Day (Luke 8: 25-39) about the healing of the demonic in the Land of the Gergesene. These days, when humanity is at a crossroad, we, the Romanians, are called more than ever to confess our Orthodox faith not only through words, but also through deeds and a responsible attitude towards the future of our people and our Christian family. It is so important to follow the example of the now-healed, demonic, whom Christ has commanded, "Return to your house and tell what great things God has done for you!" And who "went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him" (Luke 8:39).

The feast ended with the banquet offered by the Holy Trinity Parish in honor of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae in the Church Hall, thus continuing in a true "liturgy after the liturgy", the atmosphere of joy and brotherly love during the service. In the afternoon, HE Nicolae met with members of the Parish Council.

We have separated ourselves from the His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae with the regret that the two days of celebration have passed too quickly, but also with the hope that next year he will be able to visit us on the occasion of our main feast, the Feast of the Holy Trinity.  

Parish Priest,
Rev. Fr. Nicolai Buga