On the feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs: St. Basil the Great, St Gregory the Theologian and John Hrisostom, on 30 January 2016, the Metropolitan Cathedral from Timişoara celebrated its historical patron feast. On this occasion, the Divine Liturgy was officiated by His Eminence John, Metropolitan of Banat, together with His Grace Vasilije, Orthodox Bishop of Srem (Serbian Patriarchate) His Grace Paisie of Lugoj, Assistant bishop to the Archbishopric of Timişoara.
Clergymen from the Archbishopric of Timişoara concelebrated while numerous officials and hundreds of faithful were present in the Cathedral.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan John thanked His Grace Vasilije for the joy conveyed to the clergy and the faithful of Timişoara by his presence at Metropolitan Cathedral on its patronal feast. Also, the Metropolitan of Banat emphasized the special spiritual connection between the Romanian Orthodox Christians and their Serbian brothers, followers and keepers of the same teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom they have lived harsh times in the history of orthodoxy on these lands.
In his turn, His Grace Vasilije thanked for the invitation to concelebrate the Divine Liturgy in the city guarded by St Hierarch Joseph the New of Partoş, a saint loved both by the Romanian and Serbian faithful. His Grace added an urge to prayer and unity in these harsh times for the Christians all around the world.
The cultural and religious events dedicated to the Three Holy Hierarchs started in Timişoara with a theological conference at which took part theologians professors, students and pupils of the two Theological Institutions of the city. The religious program dedicated to the patronal feast of the Metropolitan Cathedral debuted in the eve of the feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs with Great Vesper officiated by His Grace Paisie in the presence of His Eminence John and His Grace Lukijan, Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Hungary and Administrator of the Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Timişoara.
