Saturday May 11th the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada celebrated two years since the enthronement of its first ruling Bishop Ioan Casian. In a liturgical context, members of the clergy of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada served the Divine Liturgy at St. George's Cathedral in Saint-Hubert, Quebec. Concelebrating together with H.G. Ioan Casian were Rev. Frs. Daniel Sandu, Olimpiu Marginean, Ion Ceauşu and Teofil Arsene as well as deacon Ciprian Purcărea.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy the hierach of Canada said:
We are today at an anniversary moment. It is about two years since the enthronement of the first Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada. This means for any diocese a moment of joy and concrete missionary action. Beyond the natural joy of fulfilling a desirable ideal, it means a practical and transparent approach to the missionary call as individuals and community at the same time.
Administrative organization involves harmonization and a sense of increased responsibility as a Christian community within Canadian society. It means more attention to the way in which parishes and monasteries of the diocese will approach the missionary imperative in a new and different cultural and missionary context.
This anniversary is a moment of joy and reflection; joy for what has begun, and reflection on what needs to be done. There will be moments over the years when an understanding of the Church's mission as enlightened by prayer and reflection will be the basis for a more effective missionary action. For now we are at the beginning of this process here and now.
The generation now must have the awareness of the enormous step they have done. Still further reflection, understanding and action remain. It is the role of each generation to propose its most intimate, dear and honest values to the world, with the certainty that they have both the trait of tradition that crosses the test of time and the courage of novelty adapted to contemporary times.
The two years of actual activity meant both a joy in seeing the missionary work that every member of the clergy or believer accomplishes, as well as the shortcomings and administrative inertia that cause some difficulties and delays in the missionary work to which we are called. With God's help, the good things will increase, and the shortcomings will be overcome, all through an apostolic work having the action and the audacity of the Holy Spirit. Without it everything will remain a secular and social initiative. The Church is more - a working together or synergical acting of man and God in a spiritual, social and administrative way. Without this the missionary vocation of the Church remains incomplete and limited.
Thereafter, Bishop Ioan Casian thanked everyone - priests, deacons, helpers, donors and worshipers from the monasteries and parishes of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada for prayers and efforts in this regard.
The participants at the end shared an agape meal.
