The only Romanian Orthodox parish in Malta celebrated its patronal feast dedicated to the Nativity of St John the Baptist on Sunday with a Baptismal Divine Liturgy, during which two Maltese young men received the Holy Mystery of Baptism.
The event brought together Romanian Orthodox faithful living in Malta, as well as friends of the community, marking the twelfth anniversary of the parish’s establishment in Valletta.
Among those attending the celebration was His Excellency Lino Bianco, former Ambassador of Malta to Romania and a longstanding friend of the Romanian parish in Valletta. He highlighted the bonds of friendship between the two countries.
Fr Alexandru Popescu, the parish priest, emphasised the significance of the patronal feast for the Romanian community in the archipelago and noted that St John the Baptist remains a model of Christian virtue for all people.
A New Life in Christ
A particularly moving moment of the day was the reception into the Church of two Maltese young men, Julian and Nectarios, who were baptised into the Orthodox faith.
Following the service, Julian spoke about his spiritual journey and the path that led him to Orthodoxy:
“I was an atheist. Once I became mature and old enough to see that atheism is nonsense and I knew that God is real, it came to find the true religion.”
“When I started becoming part of the Romanian Orthodox Church and getting to know Father Alexandru, it completely changed my life,” Julian said, expressing gratitude for the support and guidance he received during his period of catechesis.
Julian described the moment of his baptism after months of catechism as “impossible to put into words because it is outerworldly.”
Even though the ‘joy and fulfilment were indescribable,’ Julian added, “It is the biggest dream come true in my life. The more I think about it and the more I talk about it, it gets me emotional, because I feel I am not worthy of God’s mercy.”
The Parish of the Nativity of St John the Baptist in Valletta regularly organises liturgical, pastoral, cultural, and missionary activities dedicated both to Romanians living in the diaspora and to those interested in the Orthodox faith.
Photo: Romanian Orthodox Parish in Malta
