His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel presented Wednesday His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada with particles of the holy relics of the Romanian Saints Gregory the Teacher and Constantine Brâncoveanu.
Patriarch Daniel also offered Bp Ioan Casian a fragment of the vestment with which the holy relics of Saint Demetrius the New were covered.
The gifts were received at the Romanian Saints’ Hall of the patriarchal residence in Bucharest.
‘It is a moment of deep spiritual meaning for our communities in Canada,’ Bishop Ioan Casian said in an interview with Radio Trinitas.
Referring to the mission carried out in Canada, His Grace noted that ‘it is a new diocese with a fresh new spirit that consists of old parishes.’
Bishop Ioan Casian pointed out the desire of the Romanian communities in Canada to keep their ties with the Mother Church through the intercessions and protection of the Romanian Saints.
As Bishop Ioan Casian reported, the relics of St Gregory the Teacher and of Ruler Prince Saint Constantine Brancoveanu will be placed at Saint George Cathedral in St Hubert, Quebec.
The vestment of St Demetrius will be offered to a Romanian parish in Montreal.
‘I am somehow personally connected to Saint Demetrius the New, because it was the feast of St Demetrius when I left Jerusalem 25 years ago. I think he cared for me all these years,’ the bishop added.
Bp Ioan Casian expressed his wish to bring several other particles of holy relics to Canada.
‘We will try to place some of these relics in other parishes. We would also try to bring some other holy relics to establish a communion of Saints in all our Canadian communities,’ His Grace said May 2.
On May 7, 2018, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian will celebrate his first enthronement anniversary as Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada.
Photography: ZL
