A delegation of the Patriarchate of Antioch visited the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest on Monday, Sept. 15, where they were received by Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, general secretary of the Holy Synod.
The delegation included Metropolitan Silouan of Byblos and Botris from the Archdiocese of Mount Lebanon, together with Father Daniel Bedran, a disciple of Saint Sofian Boghiu and priest serving in Córdoba, Argentina, accompanied by his wife, Sylvia Bedran.
Bishop Varlaam introduced the guests to the Patriarchal Palace and wished them a pleasant stay in the Romanian capital.
The delegation members took part on Tuesday in the local canonization of Saint Sofian of Antim.
Metropolitan Silouan expressed his gratitude for the reception at the Patriarchal Palace during what he described as a unique event in the Romanian Orthodox Church.
He recalled the pastoral and artistic work of Saint Sofian Boghiu in the Archdiocese of Mount Lebanon, where the saint painted the Church of Saint George of the Monastery of Deir-el-Harf (1971–1972), the Cathedral in Homs, and a church in Hama, Syria (1978–1979).
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Metropolitan thanked Patriarch Daniel for the blessing to participate in the local proclamation of the canonization of Saint Sofian of Antim.
Photo: Lumina Newspaper / Mihnea Păduraru
