The members of the Holy Trinity parish in the city of Rochester, New York State, celebrated on Sunday, October 22, 2017, 15 years from the foundation of the parish and the parish priest’s ordination, Fr. Daniel Adrian Ene.
The event was attended by His Eminence Nicolae, the Metropolitan of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas, and several priests from the US Eastern Deanery.
The liturgical program began on Saturday evening, with the celebration of Great Vespers, and continued the second day with the Divine Liturgy.
Together with His Eminence Nicolae served Fr. Daniel Ene, Fr. Nicholas Buga from the Holy Trinity parish of Philadelphia, PA, Protos. Vincentiu Temirov from St. Demetrios the New Monastery in Middletown, NY, Pr. Ionuţ Voicu from the Life-Giving Fountain parish of Long Valley, NJ and Fr. Bogdan Amieroaie from Romania. In the sermon, the hierarch interpreted the Holy Gospel on the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost: God is looking for each one and is saving us from the greatest suffering, God then sends us to be the witnesses of His blessing in the world.
As a token of appreciation for the pastoral-missionary activity performed by Father Daniel Ene during his 15 years of service, His Eminence offered him the American Metropolitan Cross. The hierarch then congratulated the parish community for the achievements accomplished during the 15 years since its founding.
The parish priest and the faithful offered to His Eminence an icon representing the three patrons of the church: the Holy Trinity, St. Apostle Andrew and St. Theodora of Byzantium. After the Divine Liturgy, the clergy and faithful attended a brotherly agape prepared by the members of the parish community.
The initiatives to establish the first church of the Romanian community in central and western New York began in December 2001. On December 21, 2001, the church incorporation was signed. On January 26, 2002, the first general assembly of the church was held. On October 12, 2002, it took place the ordination to priesthood and the installation as parish priest of Deacon Daniel Adrian Ene by Archbishop Nicolae.
The parish church was purchased on July 30, 2003 from the Willowbrook Christian Church community. The consecration of the Holy Trinity Church took place on October 9, 2011.
Photo credit: Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas
