Metropolitan Nicolae of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of the Americas celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday at the Romanian Orthodox Protection of the Mother of God Monastery in Allegan, Michigan, where he highlighted St. John Jacob of Neamț’s connection with Romanian Orthodox faithful in North America.
The service marked the monastery’s early celebration of St. John Jacob of Neamț (the New Chozebite), its second patron saint.
During his homily, Metropolitan Nicolae recalled the correspondence between St. John Jacob and Archbishop Victorin Ursache, who shepherded the Romanian Orthodox faithful in America from 1966 to 2001.
Archbishop Victorin had recommended St. John Jacob for ordination as a hierodeacon and later as a hieromonk in 1947, while serving as superior of the Romanian Orthodox Settlements in the Holy Land.
Following his ordination, St. John Jacob was appointed abbot of the Romanian Skete of St. John the Baptist in the Jordan Valley. During the five years he served there, he developed a close spiritual friendship with Archimandrite Victorin.
That friendship continued after Archbishop Victorin left for the United States in 1956, as evidenced by the correspondence the two exchanged.
According to the Metropolis of the Americas, several of these letters, along with poems written by St. John Jacob, have been discovered in the diocesan archives in Chicago.
Some of the letters concern St. John Jacob’s contribution to Holy Places, a magazine published in the United States for several years by Archbishop Victorin to support the Romanian monastic communities in the Holy Land.
The Romanian Orthodox Church commemorates St. John Jacob of Neamț (the New Chozebite) on Aug. 5 each year.
Photo: mitropolia.us
