Last Saturday, the Romanian Orthodox community in Ottawa, Canada’s capital, celebrated the 5th anniversary of the consecration of their parish church, dedicated to Saint Matthew the Apostle and Saint Christina the Great Martyr.
The feast day of Saint Matthew was marked with a festive Divine Liturgy, celebrated by Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas and Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada.
During the service, theologian Iulian Virgiliu Amohnoaie was ordained a deacon.
Honoring Saint Matthew
In his sermon, Metropolitan Nicolae emphasized the significance of Saint Matthew as the author of the first Gospel, explaining:
“He recorded the words and teachings of the Savior with a particular purpose: to tell his fellow countrymen that Christ is the Messiah, the son of Abraham, the son of David, as it was well-known among the Jews that the Messiah would come from David’s lineage.”
New Dean and Community Recognition
At the conclusion of the service, Bishop Ioan Casian announced the appointment of Father Grigorie Țăpuc as Dean of Eastern Canada, presenting him with a pectoral cross and a commemorative medal in recognition of his pastoral contributions.
The bishop also awarded commemorative medals and certificates of appreciation to several families and parish members for their dedicated involvement in the church’s mission.
Father Grigorie Țăpuc, the parish priest, expressed gratitude to the hierarchs, clergy, deacons, and all attendees of the anniversary celebration. He invited everyone to a fraternal agape meal, a cherished tradition in Romanian communities.
Photo: mitropolia.us
