On Sunday, July 14, 2019, the clergy and faithful of Ss. Constantine and Helen Cathedral of Chicago had the opportunity of joy for a double event: the anniversary of the ordination to archpriesthood of HE Metropolitan Nicolae and the opening of the exhibition "The Face of the Romanian village ".
The day began with the Divine Liturgy served by HE Metropolitan Nicolae and the clergy of the Cathedral. At the time of the sermon, HE Nicolae explained the Gospel of the day, the healing of the Centurion’s servant in Capernaum: "The care for his servant united with the faith of the Centurion in the healing power of Jesus’ word has awakened the appreciation that such much faith was not found even in Israel. The Centurion had a spiritual intuition that the healing power of the Saviour is from God, which is why he dared to ask for healing only by word... The Gospel text shows us the value of this faith for his own salvation, for it is not enough to be a member of the chosen people, the Jewish people, or the new chosen people of Christians to acquire the Kingdom of Heaven. You need faith proved by good deeds toward you neighbor".
HE Metropolitan Nicolae also recalled the commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon (451) and of St. Nicodemus the Hagiorite, a great translator and 18th-century typographer.
Then, with emotion, he remembered the event of the consecration to archpriesthood on July 14, 2002, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist of Montreal, Canada. HE Nicolae evoked the bright figure of Patriarch Teoctist who presided at the service of ordination and enthronement as Archbishop, then recalled the names of the other Romanian and American hierarchs participating in the event. The hierarch underlined the importance of the presence of Patriarch Teoctist at the event for the clergy and faithful of the Archdiocese who received at that moment a new archshepherd. On behalf of the clergy and faithful of the Cathedral, Father Vasile Mureşan, Eparchial Inspector, expressed a word of congratulations to HE Metropolitan Nicolae.
After the Divine Liturgy, all those present were invited to the banquet prepared on this occasion by the community's ladies. HE Metropolitan Nicolae presented the exhibition "The Face of the Romanian village". The exhibition could be opened in Chicago with the blessing of HB Patriarch Daniel and the goodwill of the workers from the Basilica Press Center of the Romanian Patriarchate. HE Nicolae mentioned that this exhibition consists of 50 photographs prepared by 14 photographers who wanted to put in light the faces, occupations and traditions of the Romanian village in this homage year. Some of these pictures have arrived in Chicago and will be presented with other opportunities in the parishes of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of the United States of America.
The event was also attended by Mr. Tiberiu Trifan, Romanian Consul General in Chicago, together with his wife. Mr. Trifan is a close friend of the community of Ss. Constantine and Helen Cathedral and always present at its events.
