His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian visited
the new church under construction of the historic parish of Boian
On March 22-23, 2025, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian was present in the middle of the historical community in Boian, Alberta.
On Saturday afternoon, the hierarch of Canada met Fr. Gheorghe Petrovan priest-parish and members of the parish of the Dormition of the Mother od God and St. Dimitrie. The stage of the construction of the new church was discussed. The hierarch encouraged those present to continue the work to fulfill this project.
The situation of the Church and Christian life in the contemporary society as well as the obstacles that the believers encounter at the educational or social level were also discussed.
At the end of the meeting, those present visited the new church to see the stage of the works.
Sunday morning the Romanian hierarch was traditionally welcomed with bread and salt by the members of the community. The hierarch performed the Holy Liturgy having along him Fr. Gheorghe Petrovan.
In his sermon the hierarch spoke about the importance of the Great Lent and its character of spiritual pilgrimage. He explained the way the Sundays of this period are associated with the memory of certain important events in the history of Christianity (Sunday of Orthodoxy) or with essential elements or saints that marked the Orthodox spirituality and asceticism (Holy Cross, St. Grigore Palamas, St. John of the Ladder and St. Mary of Egypt).
Referring to the Sunday of the Cross the hierarch said: “The Sunday of the Holy Cross is in the middle of the Great Lent. The cross represented in the teaching of the Holy Fathers of the Church the tree from the middle of Paradise. If Adam and Eve, by tasted from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, receive death due to disobedience to God, the Cross, the new tree of the knowledge of good and evil, on which Christ was crucified, became a source of life. Through the Cross the man participates in the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ crucified sin on the cross and through resurrection restored the human nature. The believer first shares by baptism and then through the other Holy Sacraments but especially through the Holy Liturgy from this saving work.”
Referring to the words of the Savior "If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me" the hierarch said:
“There are three stages in the spiritual life: self-denial or fight against passions, assuming the Cross or embodying the saving work of Christ in one’s own life and the following of Christ or the pilgrimage with Him which means the way which lead to the Kingdom of Heaven.
In the spiritual life, the Holy Fathers speak of three stages in the spiritual ascent: cleansing or purification from passions and acquiring virtues, enlightenment or reception of the different charisms of the Holy Spirit as the contemplation of God in creation, the spiritual understanding of Scripture, the pure prayer and so on. and the perfection by uniting with God, which means the acquisition of love and the purity, the knowledge of the divine light, and the experience of the deified state of the human nature.
The Church helps us in this sense through its grace and sanctifying work, through the teaching of faith and its living tradition. It transforms the life of the faithful man into a new life.”
Next the hierarch spoke to those present about the power of the example: “We need more today than ever of the power of Christian example in society. Living Christian life is one in the Church and in society. That is why we have to offer this example to those around us as our forefathers did.
The community of believers in Boian is a living example of the way in which the Romanians who came at the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of 20th century managed to live the Orthodox faith and transmit it further. It is our turn to do it by fulfilling the project of the new church that testifies about this resilience and strength of faith.”
Next, Fr. Gheorghe Petrovan thanked the hierarch and those present for participation and perseverance.
After the final blessing, those present participated in the brotherly agape organized by the community.
