The 15th Anniversary of the Nativity of the Mother of God’s Parish in Gatineau, Quebec
On the weekend of June 4 and 5, 2022, we had the joy of celebrating, faithful and clergy together with our hierarch His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian, the 15 years since the founding of our parish in Gatineau.
Under the protection of God, with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae, the boldness of Rev. Fr. Teofil Arsene, and the perseverance of Christians in the Outaouais region (Quebec), fifteen years ago, a new Orthodox Christian parish was founded as an example of prayer, living, and working together in Christ.
The program of the anniversary celebration began on Saturday, June 4, with the Divine Liturgy, performed by HG Bishop Ioan Casian, accompanied by Father Teofil Arsene, Father Grigore Țăpuc, Father Daniel Banu and Father Ciprian Augustin Purcarea.
At the time of the sermon, the hierarch spoke to the faithful about the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, which had just been celebrated few days ago, and about brotherly love. Congratulations and words of encouragement for the present and future were addressed to those present.
On Sunday, June 5, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by HG Bishop Ioan Casian with Father Teofil Arsene by his side. At the end, a TeDeum was performed as a thank for the work God has accomplished in this community.
“This Sunday we remember the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council who clarified based on the Holy Scriptures and the inspired tradition of the Church the central fact of our belief that Christ is the Son of God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, - said the hierarch. It is important that we understand this because it helps us to realize what the Church means — that is, the promised paradise or the kingdom of heaven that is mysteriously present but real among us. Christ accomplishes in His person the redemption and the transfiguration of our human nature. He raises it in the bosom of God and from there works upon us the transformation and salvation.
Le père Stăniloae parle du fait qu'après la Résurrection corporelle, le Christ conserve " une plus grande matérialité de son corps " afin que les disciples puissent renforcer leur foi, en levant le doute sur la simple mort du Sauveur en tant qu'homme. C'est l'iconomie de l'omniscience de Dieu pour que l'homme ait tous les moyens de croître spirituellement dans la foi et dans la vie dans l'Église, précurseur de la vie éternelle. Mais après l'Ascension corporelle au ciel, la nature humaine du Sauveur sera davantage spiritualisée et préparée, afin que le Christ puisse, à partir d'elle, poursuivre son œuvre de redressement et de salut de l'homme.
The church is the body of Christ and is filled with the divine grace that springs from His transfigured human nature. He was made one of us to lift us up where God always wanted man to be. Christ calls us to unity. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one and humanity in the image of divinity must be one in the variety of each person. God's creation is not monotonous but full of a wealth unimaginable by man in terms of its beauty and diversity. Man can know and discover it progressively while discovering God.
The Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, inspired by the Holy Spirit, made it clear that the Son of God Christ is the founder of the Church. He is present in grace in the Church and works in her through the Holy Spirit leading her to her purpose.”
The evangelical pericope was a special moment for every believer to meditate on the understanding of Christianity, prayer, and eternal life: “To know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You hava sent” (John 17: 3)
At the end of his sermon HG Bihop Ioan Casian presented to Father Teofil Arsene the American Metropolitan Cross from His Eminence Nicolae, the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of the Americas, and to the Parish and its members from the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada a Diploma of Merit.
“Over time, the Lord and the events have tried our community, but faith, hope and work in Christ have brought us a place of worship with iconostasis, religious vestments, and icons according to our Romanian specificity. The 15 years are celebrated with honor and a new generation of those who founded the parish stand up to continue together the prayer, living and working in Christ - said Mr. Iulian Amohnoaie, one of the founding members of the parish.”
The joy of the feast remains in the memory of all as a step forward, closer to Christ and the kingdom of heaven.
(notes by Iulian Amohnoaie)
