This year, Saint Paisius Velichkovsky of Neamț will be proclaimed a spiritual protector of the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate in Romania, an administrative-territorial unit canonically dependent on the Romanian Patriarchate.
The initiative belongs to the new vicar, Priest Nicolae Lauruc, who said he was encouraged in this endeavour by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.
“We have asked His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, and we want to take Saint Paisius as our protector,” Father Nicolae Lauruc announced at the Te Deum service officiated last December.
Saint Paisius Velichkovsky, originally from the city of Poltava, today in Ukraine, is commemorated this year throughout the Romanian Patriarchate, on the 300th anniversary of his birth. Also, this year, together with St. Paisius of Neamț, the Romanian Orthodox Church commemorates the Hesychast saints Symeon the New Theologian and Gregory Palamas.
The idea was approved earlier this year at the priestly assembly of the vicariate.
“Because this year is so important, it was decided by mutual agreement to take Saint Paisius as our heavenly protector of the vicariate”, vicar Lauruc told Basilica.ro.
He noted that part of this approach is establishing a distinction dedicated to the saint, namely, the Patriarchal Order of Saint Paisius of Neamț.
“The Patriarch’s blessing has greatly encouraged us Ukrainians, who cannot receive any material help from our country of origin. For us, all the help comes from God and only through the Romanian Patriarchate,” the vicar noted.
“The proclamation of Saint Paisius as patron of the Ukrainian Vicariate in Romania will take place this summer, at the latest in July,” Father Lauruc said. In addition, the vicariate intends to organize an event at Neamț Monastery with a symposium where all Ukrainian clergy in Romania will participate.
The announced events came to the attention of the Ambassador of Ukraine to Romania. Visiting Sighetu Marmației last Thursday, His Excellency Ambassador Paun Rohovei expressed his desire to participate in the proclamation of Saint Paisius as the protector of Ukrainians in Romania.
During his meeting with Fr. Nicolae Lauruc at the vicariate’s headquarters, referring to the words of Patriarch Daniel, the Ukrainian Ambassador stressed that the influence of Saint Paisius in Romania is comparable to the achievements of Saint Peter Mogila in Ukraine.
Photo source: Facebook / Ukrainian Vicariate in Romania
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