{"id":491742,"date":"2024-08-13T12:51:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-13T09:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=491742"},"modified":"2024-08-13T12:51:00","modified_gmt":"2024-08-13T09:51:00","slug":"romanian-priest-in-valletta-meets-with-maltas-president-extends-invitation-for-parish-10th-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/romanian-priest-in-valletta-meets-with-maltas-president-extends-invitation-for-parish-10th-anniversary\/","title":{"rendered":"Romanian priest in Valletta meets with Malta’s President, extends invitation for parish 10th anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"

Father Alexandru-George Popescu, the parish priest of the Romanian Orthodox community in Valletta, was received<\/a> on August 7 by Her Excellency Myriam Spiteri Debono, the President of Malta, at the San Anton Presidential Palace.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The President graciously accepted the invitation to attend the ten-year anniversary of the Romanian Orthodox Parish in Valletta, which will be celebrated with a service officiated by Bishop Siluan of Italy on September 29, 2024.<\/p>\n

During the meeting, Father Popescu presented the President of Malta with an icon of Saint George the Trophy-bearer, to whom Her Excellency expressed great devotion.<\/p>\n

“This year, under the patronage of the President, the children of our community will perform several Christmas carol concerts at various schools in Malta,” Father Alexandru-George Popescu told Basilica.ro.<\/p>\n

Romanian children traditionally carol the Maltese presidential family during Christmas, and this year, they have been invited to sing carols for the entire presidency staff in the Russian Chapel of the Presidential Palace.<\/p>\n

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Valetta’s Presidential Palace Chapel, where Queen Marie and her mother, Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, once prayed. Photo: Valletta Parish<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The chapel of the Presidential Palace in Valletta is where Queen Marie of Romania and her mother, Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, once prayed. The chapel once served as a place of worship for Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia and her daughter, the future Queen Marie of Romania.<\/p>\n

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Duke Alfred of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia and their four daughters \u2013 the future Queen Marie of Romania, Beatrice, Alexandra and Victoria Melita \u2013 at San Anton Palace in Valletta, Malta (circa 1892). Photo: Historia.ro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Queen Marie, the granddaughter of Queen Victoria of Great Britain and Tsar Alexander II of Russia, first arrived in Malta when she was 11 years old. In the “Story of My Life,” the sovereign calls Malta “the paradise of our childhood” and San Anton Palace a “beloved place.”<\/p>\n

Romanians in Malta<\/strong><\/h1>\n

The relationship between the Romanian Orthodox community in Malta and the presidential institution is special: the children from the parish have already sung Christmas carols<\/a> in Romanian, Maltese, and English at the Presidential Palace twice.<\/p>\n

Last year, former President George Vella and First Lady Miriam Vella attended the Agape Vespers<\/a> on Easter at the Romanian church in Valletta. The former president has repeatedly stated that Romanians are an example of integration into Maltese society.<\/p>\n

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The children’s choir of the Romanian Orthodox parish in Valletta sang carols for the former President of Malta on 22 December 2022. Photo: Theofania.ro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The former president has repeatedly stated that Romanians are an example of integration into Maltese society.<\/p>\n

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Miriam and I enjoyed a lovely performance by Romanian Orthodox children living in Malta singing traditional Christmas carols in Maltese, English and Romanian at San Anton Palace. In a few words, I stressed that this is the way we like to see integration happening in Malta. pic.twitter.com\/QJ2wmQwvfb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 George Vella (@GeorgeVellaMT) December 22, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n