On 26 April 2015, His Eminence Nicolae, Romanian Orthodox Archbishop of the Americas, His Grace Timotei Prahoveanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest, delegate of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and His Grace Ioan Casian of Vicina, Assistant Bishop to the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas celebrated the consecration service of the Romanian parish church dedicated to “Saint Great Martyr George” and to “Saint Pious Dimitrie the New” in Las Vegas city, State of Nevada, United States of America, as “Lumina” newspaper informs.
To end with the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Timotei Prahoveanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest conveyed those present the blessings of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel and congratulated all those who contributed to the raising of the Romanian church of Las Vegas and of the settlement nearby it. His Grace has also urged the Romanians living in Las Vegas to strengthen the love relationship among them and always be close to this new holy place of worship observing the Romanian faith and traditions.
He offered the church, on behalf of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, a vestment that used to cover the holy relics of Saint Pious Dimitrios the New in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Bucharest, an icon of Saint Dimitrios, and several books of rite. He has also awarded the Order of “Saint Andrew the Apostle, Protector of Romania” to Mrs Lia Roberts and to Mr Panta Stanciu. After the Divine Liturgy, diplomas of honour were awarded to several Romanian parishioners from Las Vegas, who founded the church.
Over 300 persons attended, among whom Iulian Buga, Romanian Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador in Washington.
The foundation stone of the church was laid on 4 June 2006 by His Eminence Archbishop Nicolae on a plot of land donated to the eparchy by Mrs Lia Roberts in 2001. The parish complex coordinated by parish priest Mihai Balan was raised on 715 m2 wide surface and it consists in a church, a social room accommodating 350 persons at tables, classrooms for Sunday school, and administrative spaces.
