An impressive assembly of hierarchs, hundreds of priests and thousands of believers came Thursday, 3 November 2016, at the Cathedral in Baia Mare, to bid farewell to Archbishop Justinian Chira. A hierarchal Divine Liturgy preceded the Funeral Service.
His Eminence Teofan, Metropolitan of Moldova and Bukovina, read out the funeral message of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel for Archbishop Justinian.
Through his faithfulness towards the Orthodox faith and the liturgical and canonical tradition of our Church, His Eminence Archbishop Justinian remains in our memory as a champion hierarch, a dynamic shepherd and a pious ministrant. Furthermore, the Voivode of Maramureş was a great patriot, who loved and defended the spiritual and cultural values of the Romanian people.
In his message, the Patrairch of Romania pointed out the fruitful Church ministry of Archbishop Justinian. The passing away of this venerable hierarch means “a great loss and an unspeakable sorrow” for our Church, His Beatitude said.
Next, His Eminence Andrei, Metropolitan of Cluj, Maramureş and Sălaj, and locum tenens of the Diocese of Maramureș and Sătmar, emphasised the qualities of Archbishop Justinian that would maintain his memory eternal after death.
Representatives of the President and of the Government of Romania were also present, and delivered their messages of condolences.
Archbishop Justinian was then buried at St Anna – Rohia Monastery
