A Romanian Orthodox church in Clichy, in the Paris metropolitan area, was consecrated on Saturday by an assembly of bishops led by Metropolitan Iosif Pop, who described the place of worship as “a new window to heaven.”
The “Descent of the Holy Spirit” Church was purchased in 2022 by parish priest Aurel Grigoraș using personal funds and later arranged for Orthodox worship.
The consecration service took place in the presence of parishioners and local officials, and was officiated by Metropolitan Iosif of Western and Southern Europe, Archbishop Casian of the Lower Danube, Bishop Nectarie of Ireland and Iceland, and Assistant Bishop Marc of Neamt of the Western Europe Archdiocese.
“Every time a new church is opened, we rejoice greatly, because it is a new window to heaven through which God receives His people. Not only does He receive them, but He welcomes us into His house and nourishes us,” Metropolitan Iosif told Trinitas TV.
Ecaterina-Maria Constantinescu, Consul General of Romania in Paris, praised the unity of the parish community.
“We are concluding Bright Week in the most beautiful way possible—with the consecration of a church. It is a great joy to see a new place of worship in our community and consular district. This means Romanians are uniting, that they do not want to forget where they came from, and that they want to remain close to one another,” she said.
A moment of joy for the community
Denis Larghero, mayor of Meudon, the municipality that includes Clichy, also attended the event.
“It is truly a delight, a joy for us, and a place where we, too, as members of the community, can share in the beauty that Orthodoxy offers,” he said.
“This is an exceptional moment, also because a mayor rarely has the opportunity during a mandate to take part in and rejoice at the consecration of a church,” he added.
In memory of a daughter
The church was purchased by the parish priest in memory of his daughter, who died at 43.
“This church was originally built by the Marbot family, who lost three minor children. God willed that I should purchase it in 2022, following the death of my daughter at 43. So it was bought in her memory, just as it was originally built in memory of the Marbot children. I believe this is the work of God, without doubt,” Fr Aurel Grigoraș said.
“I was deeply grateful that, perhaps toward the end of my life, I could offer something to our Church. I deeply love Romanian Orthodoxy. Father Professor Dumitru Stăniloae was my doctoral mentor—he blessed me, granted my doctorate, and was the most important guide in my academic life,” he added.
The church also received the patronage of Saint Dumitru Stăniloae, the confessor priest.
The “Descent of the Holy Spirit” Parish, founded in 1980, is the second-oldest Romanian community in the area after the Metropolitan Cathedral in Paris.
Photo: Trinitas TV
