The local proclamation of Saint Liviu Galaction took place on Tuesday at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Cluj-Napoca. The solemn event coincided with the patronal feast of the Metropolis of Cluj, Maramureș, and Sălaj.
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj, Maramureș, and Sălaj, together with an assembly of ten hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
The homily was delivered by Metropolitan Iosif of Western and Southern Europe, who emphasized the significance and meaning of the Feast of the Annunciation in the history of our salvation, highlighting the fulfillment of God’s word and His revelation to the world through the Virgin Mary.
“The Mother of God is the image of the Church; she is the first Church—we even call her that: ‘Rejoice, sanctified Church,’ for she received the Son of God in her womb. She is the one who united heaven with earth, the one through whom the mystery hidden from eternity, unknown even to the angels, was fulfilled,” said Metropolitan Iosif.
“In her words, ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord!’, all humanity responds to God’s love—and God, in turn, responds to humanity’s longing by sending His Son. The entire Holy Trinity is present in this moment, in the act of conception,” the Metropolitan added.
The solemn proclamation of canonization occurred shortly before the Divine Liturgy’s end. Bishop Iustin of Maramureș and Sătmar read the Synodal Tomos of proclamation, after which Metropolitan Andrei presented the icon of Saint Liviu Galaction of Cluj, while the choir chanted the troparion of the newly proclaimed saint.
The event was attended by numerous faithful from Cluj, military and civil officials, cultural figures, academic representatives, and members of local administrative institutions.
The general proclamation of canonization for the sixteen 20th-century holy confessors had previously taken place on February 4 at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, marking the 100th anniversary of the Romanian Patriarchate.
Photo: Cluj Metropolis / Ionuț Chifa
