The “Nativity of the Lord” and “Saint Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist” Romanian Orthodox Parish in Luxembourg celebrated its 30th anniversary in mid-November.
The liturgical program began on Saturday, November 15, with the Sacrament of Holy Unction celebrated by His Eminence Serafim, Metropolitan of Germany, Central and Northern Europe, together with seven priests from Luxembourg, Germany, Belgium, France, and Austria.
The service was followed by a dialogue between the faithful and the hierarch on spiritual life and the challenges of the diaspora.
On Sunday, Metropolitan Serafim celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy together with Protopresbyter Ștefan Anghel, Protopresbyter Ștefan-Casian Lungeanu, Parish Priest Ion Tîrgoală, and seven other clergy from the diaspora.
Gratitude for the support of the Catholic Church
Photo: Facebook / Romanian Orthodox Church Luxembourg
“We thank Good God for these 30 years of existence of our Romanian Orthodox parish,” said Metropolitan Serafim in his homily.
“Thirty years ago, when Father Constantin Duțuc was entrusted with organizing a Romanian Orthodox parish here, there were only a few Romanians in the city of Luxembourg. Today, there are over 7,000, of whom almost 90% are baptized Orthodox.”
“And of these 7,000, only about 2–3% attend church regularly, unfortunately. But this does not mean that the others are entirely without any connection to the Church. Romanians, we might say, are believers by nature. The Romanian people are known throughout Europe and throughout the world as a very devout nation,” the metropolitan added.
His Eminence expressed thanks to the Catholic Church of Luxembourg and personally to His Eminence Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich for making the church available to the Romanian community.
Spiritual Counsel
Metropolitan Serafim also spoke about the Parable of the Good Samaritan, read in all Orthodox churches last Sunday.
“Jesus Christ, who is true God and true Man, lives in the heart of every person in this world. And any good we do, or any harm we do, to our fellow human beings, to the people around us, we do good or harm to Jesus Christ Himself,” explained the Metropolitan of Germany.
“If we understood and lived according to this biblical truth, we would tremble. Many times we are indifferent toward our fellow human beings; we pass them by like the priest and the Levite in the Gospel, not caring about the trouble, hardship, or suffering of those around us.”
His Eminence emphasized that only prayer can make our heart humble and merciful.
Icon offered by Godoncourt Monastery
After the service, the parish choir and children dressed in traditional Romanian costumes sustained a short artistic program. Mother Doroteea Ștefanache, Abbess of the Romanian Orthodox Godoncourt Monastery in France, presented the Luxembourg Parish with an icon of Saint Willibrord, Protector of Luxembourg, painted by Rareș Dascălu.
The saint is depicted carrying on his right arm the Romanian Orthodox Church of Luxembourg.
Icons of Western saints from the monastery’s collection were displayed throughout the celebration.
“Our iconographic project aims to rediscover the saints who lived in the West during the first Christian centuries,” noted Mother Doroteea Ștefanache, coordinator of the project.
Romanian and Luxembourg officials in attendance
The event was attended by representatives of the religious and civil authorities of Luxembourg and Romania, among them: Father Patrick Muller, Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Church; His Excellency Claude Wiseler, President of the Chamber of Deputies; Mr Ulrik Möller, representative of the Council of Christian Churches; Her Excellency Alexandrina-Livia Rusu, Ambassador of Romania to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; and members of the diplomatic staff of the Embassy and Consulate of Romania.
Luxembourg Parish is the only parish in the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Germany, Austria and Luxembourg in which services are celebrated in Romanian, German, and French, responding to the needs of a multilingual community.
The church of Luxembourg Parish is located at 1, rue Vauban, 2663 Luxembourg.
Photo credit: Facebook / Biserica Ortodoxă Română Luxemburg
