{"id":563244,"date":"2026-03-20T14:49:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T12:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=563244"},"modified":"2026-03-20T14:49:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T12:49:19","slug":"greenland-baptism-cleopas-orthodox-mission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/greenland-baptism-cleopas-orthodox-mission\/","title":{"rendered":"Bishop Macarie baptises Greenland youth inspired by Romanian Saint Cleopas"},"content":{"rendered":"

His Grace Bishop Macarie Dr\u0103goi of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Northern Europe baptised a young Greenlander on Thursday, who received the name of Saint Cleopas (Ilie) of Sih\u0103stria<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The bishop noted that the young man had been influenced by the writings of the Romanian saint and wished to bear his name.<\/p>\n

\u201cAccompanied from Scandinavia by my disciple, Fr Tudor, we continue our missionary ministry<\/a>, celebrating the Divine Liturgy and baptising the local people. The first of the Greenlandic youth baptised now is Cleopas Qillaq, who, at the age of 18, received in holy illumination the name of our Venerable Father Cleopas of Sih\u0103stria – Neam\u021b, whose life and teaching\u2014reading his books in English\u2014greatly strengthened this young Inuit on the path of salvation,\u201d the bishop wrote.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He added that only two Romanians currently live on the island, compared with the situation eight years ago, during his previous visit to Greenland.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe continue this pastoral work with zeal and hope for salvation, preparing for the upcoming services and for meetings with those who seek the light of Orthodoxy in Christ our Saviour,\u201d the bishop said.<\/p>\n