The installation ceremony of His Grace Emilian of Crișana as Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Arad took place Sunday after the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the Nativity of St John the Baptist Cathedral in Arad.
Hundreds of believers from Banat region attended July 16 the ceremony.
His Eminence Ioan, Metropolitan of Banat, presided over the Divine Liturgy in the concelebration of His Eminence Timotei, Archbishop of Arad, Their Graces Bishop Lucian of Caransebes, Bishop Sofronie of Oradea, Bishop Nicodim of Severin and Strehaia, Bishop Galaction of Alexandria and Teleorman, Bishop Siluan of Hungary, Timotei of Prahova, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest, Paisie of Lugoj, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Timisoara.
During the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Lucian addressed the faithful with a homily in which he reflected on the healing the paralytic at Capernaum related in the Gospel of Matthew (9:1-9). He noted that Jesus Christ is the physician of our bodies and the spiritual director who heals our souls from the sins that make our life more difficult and hinder our spiritual progress.
After the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Timotei of Prahova read out the Synodal act of confirmation of His Grace Emilian as Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Arad.
His Eminence Metropolitan Ioan presented Bishop Emilian of Crișana with the episcopal mantle, pectoral cross, engolpion, kamilavka, and crosier.
On behalf of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, Bishop Timotei of Prahova presented His Grace Emilian with a blessing cross, as a sign of appreciation for the activity carried out in the Church, and as an urge to pastor with much zeal the faithful in the Archdiocese of Arad.
The ceremony was attended by the state secretary for religious affairs, Mr Victor Opaschi, state and local officials, clergy and lay people.
The Archbishop of Arad, His Eminence Timotei welcomed his new Assistant Bishop noting the good ties between the Archdiocese of Ramnic, where His Grace Emilian served as assistant bishop for several years, and the Archdiocese of Arad.
In his turn, His Grace Bishop Emilian of Crisana referred to his eighteen-year episcopal activity and addressed thanks to all those who contributed to his spiritual and intellectual education.
During its July 4 session, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church elected His Grace Emilian of Loviște as Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Arad, with 43 votes out of the total 46 valid votes cast. His Grace Bishop Emilian will bear the new title “of Crișana”.
