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Romanian Herald
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11
Orthodox Spirituality
THE FAITH
VOL. X X I I - N o . 2 DETROIT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARIE 1972 ANUL X X I I - N o . 2
SFINŢIREA ICONOSTASULUI
E bine sd se ştie...
DIN WINDSOR E bine să se ştie că Biserica Ortodoxă Romănă din
Năzuinţa mai veche de a înzestra cu un nou Nord şi de Sud, care, din cauza îmbolnăvirii sale Statele Unite şi Canada fiinţează din anul 1929 cănd, prin
iconostas Catedrala "Sfântul Gheorghe" din în ultimul moment, n'a putut participa. hotărîrea Congresului de la Detroit, ea s'a organizat în
Windsor, Ontario a fost amânată până în anul La festivitatea sfinţirii şi la banchetul de \Episcopia Misionară Ortodoxă Romănă în America şi s'a
1967 când, cu ocazia raportului anual, Reuniunea inaugurare au participat credincioşii Catedralei \aşezat sub jurisdicţia canonică a Patriarhiei Române.
Doamnelor, având ca preşedintă pe Dna Ana "Sfântul Gheorghe" şi ai parohiei "Pogorîrea Până în prezent, scaunul ei numără trei episcopi
Serediuk, a hotărît să depună suma de $1,500.00 Duhului Sfanţ" din Windsor, oaspeţi din rontiac
canonici: Episcopul Policarp Moruşca, Episcopul Andrei
pentru fondul noului iconostas, iar o comisiune şi Detroit, Michigan, din Chicago, Illinois, East
Chicago, Indiana, din Hamilton, Ontario precum moldovanu şi Episcopul Victorin Ursache. Numai aceştia trei
de doamne, formată din Ana Serediuk, Helen
Donisan şi Dorothy Nickolson, a fost ^împuterni- şi din alte centre româneşti. \s'au bucurat de harul succesiunii apostolice prin hirotonii
cită să administreze acest fond în numele Sfanta Liturghie a fost oficiată de Prea \valide şi au fost recunoscuţi ca atare de Sfântul Sinod al
Reuniunii, conform deciziunilor Consiliului Paro- Sfinţiţii Episcopi victorin şi Mark Lipa, înconju- \Bisericii Ortodoxe Române şi de toate Bisericile apostolice şi
hial şi Adunării Generale. raţi ae un sobor de preoţi în frunte cu P. C. lautocefale din întreaga lume.
Această hotărîre a Reuniunii Doamnelor a Arhimandrit Bartolomeu V. Anania, iar răspunsu- Episcopia Misionară Ortodoxă Romănă în America
fost luată în prezenţa Prea Sfinţitului Episcop rile liturgice au fost date de Corul catedralei, sub păstrează şi astăzi exact aceeaşi titulatură ca în anul 1929,
Victorin, a P. C. Arhimandrit Bartolomeu V. conducerea Dlui John Dragomir.
lacelaşi sigiliu şi aceeaşi dependenţă canonică, cu singura
Anania, decanul Catedralei în 1967-1969, şi a P. După terminarea Sfintei Liturghii, P. C.
Ideosebire că din anul 1950, prin hotărîrea Sfăntului Sinod al
C. Pr. Mircea Panciuk, paroh, fiind sprijinită de Arhimandrit B. V. Anania a tâlcuit credincioşilor
simbolul catapetezmei în Biserica Ortodoxă şi \Bisericii Ortodoxe Române, ea a devenit Episcopie
Consiliul Parohial condus de preşedintele Cons- lautonomă, cu dreptul de a-şi alege episcopii, de a se conduce
tantin Gus Radu. sensul icoanelor, ilustrând învăţătura de credinţă
din cele mai vechi timpuri până în zilele noastre. \după statutele proprii şi de a-şi administra proprietăţile, fără
Donaţiile pentru iconostas, ca sculptură, şi
pentru icoane, ca pictură, au început să abunde. In continuare s'a citit lista donatorilor pentru mici un fel de amestec din afară.
In Mai 1969, colecta pentru fondul noului noul iconostas, care au fost invitaţi în faţa E bine să se ştie că sfâşierea Bisericii Ortodoxe Romăne
iconostas depăşea suma de $8,000.00, aşa că Sfântului Altar, în frunte cu preşedintele
\în America datează din anul 1952, când acţiunile ambiţioase
potrivit hotărîrii Adunării Generale din Ianuarie Consiliului parohial, Dany Stănutzr ••
'
\ale fostului protopop loan Truţia au creat o a doua episcopie
1969, s'a intervenit la Episcopia Misionară Prea Sfinţiţii Episcopi Victorin şi Mark lipa bz au aşezat în fruntea ei pe un aşa-zis vicar care nu a fost
Ortodoxă Română în America, pentru a comanda iau oficiat
onciai apoi slujba sfinţirii catapetezmei si in Iniciodată numit de Episcopul titular Policarp. "Vicarul"
noul iconostas la atelierele Patriarhiei Române, cadrul unei procesiuni formată din P. C. Arhim.
B. V. Anania, P. C. Protopop G. Moraru, P. C. \Valerian Trifa s'a auto-intitulat "episcop" şi continuă să stea
conform unui proiect prealabil, îmbunătăţit
ulterior, iar lucrarea a fost repartizată spre Prot. George Nan, P. C. Protos. Felix Dubneac, \în fruntea episcopiei desidente în mod necanonic şi ilegal;
executare chiar sculptorului Grigore Dumitrescu, autorul picturii icoanelor din iconostas şi din necanonic pentrucă atât cele două "hirotonii" ale sale căt şi
autorul proiectului. biserică, P. C. Arhim. Paulin Popescu şi P. C. \ schisma sa faţă de Biserica-Mamă nu au fost niciodată
Dărnicia şi elanul credincioşilor, au depăşit Diacon Constantin Ciolac, au fost sfinţite si toate \validate de vreo autoritate bisericească superioară, şi ilegal
aşteptările. In cursul anului 1969 au fost icoanele nou pictate pe panouri de pânză şi pentrucă el nu a fost niciodată ales episcop de vreun Congres
patronate de credincioşi toate icoanele, iar aşezate în spaţiile decorate ale pereţilor oisericii. bisericesc al românilor americani, nici măcar de acela al
donaţiile pentru iconostasul propriu zis, progre- Un serviciu de Te-Deum, ca mulţumire lui Episcopiei pe care o conduce . După rânduielile bisericeşti^
sau;. Sculptorul Grigore Dumitrescu trimitea Dumnezeu pentru realizarea aoftfcCi măreţe opere vicarul (care înseamnă locţiitor temporar) se numeşte de
fotografii cu stadiul lucrării, care i-au confirmat de artă, a fost oficiat apoi cu pomenirea către episcopul titular; numai episcopul se alege.
încrederea Consiliului parohial şi a Comisiunii ostenitorilor pentru această lucrare.
iconostasului. In Iunie 1970, noua catapeteazmă Reuniunea Doamnelor, care a jertfit pentru E bine să se ştie că Episcopia Misionară a fost şi este
era gata de expediat spre Canada. noul iconostas o donaţie în valoare de $4,600.00, singura organizaţie religioasă a românilor americani, care
După depăşirea dificultăţilor de expediere şi a oferit în auditoriul Catedralei un banchet de reprezintă şi poate reprezenta Biserica Ortodoxă Română pe
îndeplinirea formalităţilor de recepţionare a inaugurare a noului iconostas, care a fost onorat continentul american. Episcopia dezidentă nu poate face
lucrării, de comisia alcătuită din P. C. Arhiman- cu prezenţa unor distinse personalităţi, ca: aceasta, ea aflându-se sub jurisdicţia directă a Mitropoliei
drit Sofian Boghiu, pictor, Dămăceanu Ion şi Excelenţa Sa, Ministrul Herb Gray, din partea Ruse şi recunoscând Patriarhia Moscovei drept Bise-
Rucăreanu Ion, sculptori, membri ai Fondului guvernului federal, Dr. Mark * Mac Guigam, rică-Mamă.
Plastic, şi Traian Suteu şi Dumitru Anania, membru în parlamentul federal, Bernard New-
ingineri, care a avizat cu înaltă competenţă asupra man, membru în parlamentul provinciei Ontario, E bine să se ştie că situaţia canonică a lui Valerian Trifa
calităţilor artistice, tehnice şi materiale, iconosta- primarul oraşului Windsor Dl Wans Brough, Rev. nu putea fi rezolvată de nici o altă autoritate bisericească din
sul a fost expediat spre Canada în Iunie 1971 şi a Prof. Dr. H. Hill, de la Universitatea din Windsor, lume, ci numai de Sfântul Sinod al Bisericii Ortodoxe
aiuns la Catedrala "Sfântul Gheorghe" din P. C. Pr. Peter Vasiliadis cu un grup de credincioşi Române, Sinod în care Episcopul Victorin e membru de
Windsor, în ziua de 28 Septembrie 1971. ai parohiei greceşti din Windsor, Dl Eugene drept şi de fapt.
După o serie de consultări tehnice, care au Popescu, preşedintele Uniunii si Ligii, şi Dl Tom E bine să se ştie că, în această calitate, Episcopul
avut loc în Adunarea Generală şi în Consiliul Scorobets, preşedintele Consiliului parohial al Victorin a dorit cu sinceritate să-l ajute pe Valerian Trifa,
parohial, răspunderea instalării noului iconostas a parohiei "Sfântul Gheorghe" din Pontiac, Mi-
chigan, precum şi alţi oaspeţi. făcând propuneri concrete pentru refacerea unităţii religioase
fost încredinţată Dlui Constantin Gus Radu. Toţi a românilor ortodocşi din America. In această acţiune, Prea
membrii Consiliului şi toţi credincioşii cu putere, Prezentările. recomandările şi introducerile la
Sfinţia Sa a fost sprijinit de colaboratorii săi, de Consiliul şi
cu pricepere şi cu dragoste de frumos şi-au unit cuvânt au fost făcute de Dl Constantin Gus Radu,
forţele, spre a aşeza cât mai temeinic noua operă în calitate de maestru de ceremonii şi preşedinte Congresul bisericesc| într'o vreme cănd se credea că
de artă în complexul Catedralei. al Comitetului aranjator al serbăriL samosfeatismul lui Valerian Trifa şi adeziunea sa la
Astfel, bătrânul artist Nistor Donald a ajustat Cuvântările rostite de înalţii oaspeţi guverna- Mitropolia Rusă ar fi doar nişte accidente ale trecutului.
cu toată grija icoanele pictate; meşterul John mentali, de către Prea Sfinţiţii Episcopi Victorin E bine să se ştie că actuala înăsprire a relaţiilor dintre
Aldea a retuşat cu fineţe unele reparaţii; Dany şi Mark lipa, de Rev. Prof. Dr. H. Hill si alţi Biserica Ortodoxă Română în America şi eparhia dezidentă
Stănutz, transformat în fierar şi sudor, a pregătit vorbitori, au fost subliniate cu însufleţite aplauze. se datoreşte nu numai refuzului lui Valerian Trifa de a-i
barele metalice de ancorare în colaborare cu Sam Banchetul de inaugurare a fost o plăcută
Erina; Nick Penzari a fixat icoanele în locurile părăsi pe ruşi şi atacurilor sale calomnioase, ci şi faptului că,
manifestare de eleganţă, îndestulare şi deplină în ultima vreme, Valerian Trifa a dat dovezi publice ca-şi
rezervate pentru aceasta în panouri, iar o echipă mulţumire sufletească ce se putea citi pe feţele
de braţe vânjoase mânuind echipamentul metalur- tuturor participanţilor. menţine adeziunea la erezia samosfeată şi-şi consideră ca
gic necesar, a perforat şi instalat întregul schelet definitivă schisma faţă de Biserica Ortodoxă Română.
ae susţinere. John Donisan, Vintilă Popescu, Realizarea noului iconostas a implicat însă
multe eforturi. De aceea, sentimentele de E bine să se ştie că atât erezia samosfeată, dubla
Marin şi George Punga, Cony Giofu, Eremia
Fortais, Elie Dejan cu Feciorii săi, George Tonita, recunoştinţă au fost exprimate, cu acest prilej, hirotonie şi schisma naţională sunt probleme directe şi
Ilie Suchiu, John Fortais, Vichente Stanciu, Nick tuturor acelora care au contribuit la împlinirea personale ale lui Valerian Trifa şi că ele nu-i angajează pe
Maxim, Charles Lee, P. C. Diacon Constantin acestui vis al parohienilor. preoţii şi credincioşii de sub jurisdicţia sa decât în măsura în
Ciolac şi alţi credincioşi ai bisericii, se întreceau Astfel, au fost adresate mulţumiri publice care aceştia aderă la ele în mod liber, conştient şi deliberat.
parcă in dulgherie şi fierărie, în montarea Episcopiei Misionare Ortodoxe Române în E bine să se ştie că Episcopia Misionară continuă să
schelelor şi fixarea panourilor. America şi în primul rând 'Prea Sfinţitului creadă că, în ciuda tuturor învrăjbirilor, unitatea religioasă a
Episcop Victorin, care a mijlocit executarea
Catapeteazma venise în opt panouri solide, lucrării prin Patriarhia Romană, la un preţ romanilor ortodocşi din America se va realiza totuşi, atunci
care s'au cerut doar asamblate pe orizontală şi moderat faţă de valoarea ei ($9,400.00 cu când va voi Dumnezeu şi când desidenţii vor deschide ochii
verticală. Consultările cu oameni ae specialitate ca transportul până în Canada). şi-şi vor da seama că, prin ruşii din Mitropolie, au fost
Peter Tonita. George Bolohan, inginerii George De asemenea, faţă de cancelaria Sfintei aruncaţi în izolare bisericească şi nedemnitate naţională.
Olteanu si Dumitru Nicolae, au rezolvat toate Episcopii au fost exprimate sentimente de E bine să se ştie că ziua aceea va veni.
problemele de rezistenţă, iar datorită priceperii recunoştinţă, pentru insistenţa cu care a urmărit
lucrătorilor, s'a realizat instalarea noului iconostas E bine să se ştie.
executarea lucrării şi a stabilit condiţiile de livrare CREDINŢA
într'un timp record şi cu respectarea recomandă- şi transport în toate amănuntele, printr'o
rilor făcute de Comisia de recepţionare de la corespondenţă bogată şi intervenţii repetate, până
Bucureşti. la sosirea iconostasului în Canadg.
Sfinţirea noului iconostas a avut loc, într'un
cadru deosebit de solemn, în ziua de 16 Ianuarie
1972 şi ea a încununat toate jertfele şi eforturile
In chip deosebit, s'au adus mulţumiri
Patriarhiei Române pentru tot ajutorul acordat şi
pentru intervenţiile necesare privind condiţiile de
Church In Edmonton
The time when we had to clean solid oak pews, rich red carpeting,
credincioşilor Catedralei "Sfântul Gheorghe", export ale iconostasului. the hall after it had been rented and beautiful Bohemian Crystal
spre deplina lor mulţumire sufletească. împlinirea aspiraţiei de a avea un nou out, set up chairs, all the icons, and Chandelier.
Prea Sfinţitul Episcop Victorin, la rugămintea iconostas în Catedrala "Sfântul Gheorghe" din the make-shift altar for church The church is the crowning of a
Comitetului special pentru aranjarea festivităţilor, Windsor şi care să fie în acelaşi timp o strălucită services, is over. No more taking success story that started over
a invitat la sfinţirea noului iconostas pe Prea operă reprezentativă a artei bisericeşti din down chairs and getting the hall twenty years ago. In 1947, the
Sfinţitul Episcop Mark Lipa al Diocezei Ortodoxe România, nu poate fi apreciată decât ca o ready to be rented to the play- Leduc Oilfields were discovered and
Albaneze, membru în Standing Conference, şi pe adevărată binecuvântare a lui Dumnezeu, Căruia school on Monday. many people including the Ro-
Prea Sfinţitul Episcop Theodosios de Toronto, al îi mulţumim cu toată smerenia. Now we unlock the front door manians of the Boian district came
Arhiepiscopiei (Jrtodoxe Greceşti din America de CRONICAR and before us are the light coloured (Cont. to Page 31
Februarie 1972
Pagina 4
CREDINŢA
Church In Edmonton
to find better fortunes in Edmon cross on the spot where the Holy
ton. In 1 9 4 8 the Romanians organ- Table of Oblation would be, Mrs. doxy. The occasion was a third
Evans broke the ground in the ARCHBISHOP IAKOVOS rence has taken its concerns to
ized Saints Constantin and Elena annual ecumenical "Meeting of
midst of much applause and in turn IN G R E E C E a large U.S. community, break-
Romanian Orthodox Congregation L o v e , " in which Greek Ortho-
each priest took a shovelful of ing the tradition of meeting in
of Edmonton and in 1 9 5 2 they ATHENS — Archbishop dox, Catholic, Protestant, Rus-
ground from the spot. The plain secluded Buck Hill Falls, Pen-
registered themselves under that Iakovos, Primate of the Greek sian Orthodox, Armenian, and
wooden cross was planted and the nsylvania.
name. The people met from time to Orthodox Archdiocese of Melkite Catholic leaders took
time and whenever a priest could be first Romanian Orthodox Church North and South America, RELIGIOUS ' V I T A L I T Y ' part.
had from Boian, Regina, or else- of Edmonton was started. arrived to the Athens airport IN H U N G A R Y REPORTED In singing the Nicene Creed,
where they held church services in Not too long after one could on January 31 and was greeted B U D A P E S T ( R N S ) — Con- the Catholic choir omitted the
the basements of the peoples hear the roar of the diesei ei«6uie by the Greek Church and gregational life in most parishes " F i l i o q u e clause," added to the
homes. from the bulldozer as it dug deeper government officials. of the Evangelical Lutheran statement of faith in 589 and
Since then the people wanted to and deeper into the ground so the According to the " O r t h o - Church in Hungary displays a never accepted by Eastern
pray in their own church and not in forms for the footings could be dox Observer", his visit was "vitality" lacking in the Orthodox Christians.
their basements. It was decided to laid. In May 1971 the parish prompted by three major con- Western countries, the head of
collect money and start building a celebrated its 23rd Anniversary and cerns: t o expand the Ionian the 430,000 member denomi-
church. They thought that if they we were honoured to have His Village, the summer camp nation said here. INTER-ORTHODOX
had a church it would be easier to Eminence The Metropolitan Nico- sponsored b y the Archdiocese,
Bishop Zoltan Kaldy made C O U N C I L IN H A M I L T O N
get a priest to serve them. Bingos lae of Transylvania, Romania, with to deal with various educa-
us. At this time the basement had tional problems, and t o try an the comment in a report to the H A M I L T O N , O N T . - An
were held and collections were
been almost finished and the improvement in the medical triennial National Synod of his "Eastern Orthodox Council of
made and finally in 1962 land was
sub-floor had been put on. The assistance f o r the 16,000 elder- Church. He said that 85 per Hamilton" was established here
bought for a church. At the last
most emotional day of the con- ly persons living in Greece on cent of the 13-year-olds to during the meeting held by the
moment it was decided that a hall
struction of all the five months was pensions or social security 14-year-olds receive confirma- Greek, Russian, Romanian,
be built instead of a church because
the day when the 9 foot steel cross, benefits f r o m America. tion instruction, that attend- Serbian and Ukrainian Ortho-
a hall could be rented and more
the replica of the one that stands ance at optional religious clas- dox priests on December 7,
money could be made.
ses is " g o o d " and that there is 1971.
BIBLE W O R K E X P A N D E D
a high rate o f voluntary giving.
wmfflKmmmmi IN Y U G O S L A V I A
Bishop Kaldy devoted most
The new Council aims to
promote the general welfare of
S O F I A ( R N S ) — N o t only of his report t o observations on Eastern Orthodoxy in Hamil-
in Bulgaria, where a new ecumenical relations between ton, to express Orthodox views
translation of the N e w Testa- Churches o f the East and West. on moral issues, to enlighten
ment and Psalms into Bulgarian other Christians about the
has been completed, but in Mother Church of all Christen-
Yugoslavia also the Bible w o r k CATHOLIC CHOIR
dom, and to support the
is expanding. DELETES 'FILIOQUE'
ministry in the industry of
T h e European Baptist Fed- ATHENS (RNS) - For Hamilton.
eration in Switzerland reported what participants believe to
that distribution of Bibles in mark the first time in nearly 10 Nevertheless, the meeting
Yugoslavia increased in 1971 centuries, a R o m a n Catholic did not make any attempt to
to 36,760 copies, as compared choir here sang the Nicene approach the intercommunion,
to 19,478 a year earlier. Creed without a phrase which issue which is to be decided
Bibles w e r e said t o be is o f f e n s i v e t o Eastern Ortho- only by bishops.
available in eight Yugoslav
state b o o k stores. Production
of Bibles in the country's
various languages was carried Prof. C. C. Giurescu
The new Romanian Orthodox Church in Edmonton out in Great Britain until 1971
In 1969 His Grace Bishop today atop the world famous
when it was transferred t o
Belgrade.
At Columbia University
Victorin sent Rev. Fr. Mircea Voronets of Romania, was placed Prof. Dr. Constantin statesman who died in 1940.
Panciuk to Edmonton in reply to on the top of the tower. The cross Giurescu of the University of The agreement establishing the
the parish request for a priest. had been blessed three weeks US C O N F E R E N C E F O R WCC Bucharest, a specialist in the medie- professorship was signed January
After eight monts of getting accus- before and was ready when the big T O BE H E L D I N T O L E D O val and early modern history of 12 by President William J. McGill
tomed to each other, the parish and of Columbia and Corneliu Bogdan,
red atlas crane was brought to lift it NEW YORK - Toledo, Southeastern Europe, delivered his
the parish priest in a Genera] Romanian Ambassador to the
the 20 odd feet to the top of the Ohio will be the site in April of first lecture as the Nicolae lorga United States.
Meeting of the members of 1970, roof of the tower. The tower was Visiting Professor of Romanian
officially voted to begin the ground the 1972 meeting o f the The inaugural lecture, "On Ro-
lifted on to the roof in two stages: United States Conference f o r Studies at Columbia University, manian-American Relations," was
for the new church. In February of
first, the eight feet in diameter the World Council of Churches. February 10, 1972. delivered in room 404 in Colum-
the same year a committee of five
eight sided body of the tower was The visiting professorship, en- bia's new School of International
was appointed to study and bring T h e Conference sessions and
lifted to the roof, set, and an- dowed by the University of Bucha- Affairs Building, West 118th Street
forth the best all-round plan for a related meetings f r o m A p r i l and Amsterdam Avenue, February
chored; the roof with the cross on 15-19 will bring together lead- rest and announced last June, is the
church. 10 at 7 P. M.
it was then lifted atop the body and ing churchmen and w o m e n first of its kind in Romanian
in the fall of 1970 A Special it was anchored into place. It was a involvement in American higher Dr. Giurescu, who arrived in
General Meeting was held and the f r o m overseas and the U.S., education. One Romanian scholar New York January 14 to assume his
great day for the Romanians of w h o will think together about post, will offer a lecture course and
proposal to buiid the church along in the various disciplines of the
Edmonton to see that the church vital w o r l d issues and the colloquium on "The History of
side the hall was accepted. At the social sciences will lecture at
had been covered. Christian approach to them. Columbia for one semester each Romania Within the Framework of
same meeting the parish gave the
After a very rainy summer the This is the third time in some year. The professorship is named Southeastern Europe" during the
Board of Executives with the
contractor presented us with the 23 years that the U.S. Confe- tor the Romanian historian and spring semester.
Building Committee the power to keys of the church. The contractor
do all that was necessary to build had finished his work, now the
and when the time came to start parishoners had to take up the
building there would be another
general meeting to finalize all that
had been done. An architect was
work and finish it. During spare
time men got together and painted
the whole outside sometimes having
MY VISIT TO ROMANIA
hired and ideas were given to him to stand only on 2 " x 6 " plank forty By D O R I S URSUL
to incorporate into the church. feet in the air. AU the 4000 sq. ft.
Mrs. George Ursul of Hamilton, Ontario visited Romania in October, 1971 f o r the first time since she
Many ideas were tossed about for of tile in the church and basement
was laid by voluntary help. At this left it as a young girl and travelled through the country with her son and daughter-in-law, who are
the style and type but finally it
boiled down to the Moldavian Style point the building was ready to be spending a six-month sabbatical leave learning Romanian and studying history, culture and religion of
of church that Stephan the Great qsed in its most unfinished state. the country.
made so famous, Voronets, Moldo- We celebrated our first Divine ( Continued from last issue )
vitsa, Sucevitsa, Putna, and many liturgy, with the blessing of His
Grace Bishop Victorin, on Novem- October 8. lasi. A lovely city that combines both old very beautiful and we saw His Beatitude's library with its
others. After many trips to the
ber 14, 1971. The solid oak pews and new buildings harmoniously. Its most outstanding hand carved bookcases and furniture, a conference room
architect and lengthy discussions as
were bought from Winnipeg and monument for me was the famous Church of the Three where the Holy Synod meets and a huge hall where all
how the church would be, final
assembled by some carpenters of Hierarchs which used to be considered a wonder of the the gifts Patriarch Justinian has received from heads of
plans were rolled off the press. The
the parish. The Bohemian Crystal world. The entire stone facade is sculpted with hundreds church and state of other countries are on display. Then
first look at what was to be a dream
Chandelier was bought in Edmon- of different patterns and designs and originally was are fantastic things, varied and unusual, from every part
come true was very emotional. We
ton and likewise hung by profes- covered with gold,leaf. The church used to glitter and of the world, and they show the great esteem he is held
were going to take a building with
sional and less professional men of could be seen from miles away until the dread Tartars in.
an architectural styling of over 500
years old and put it in one of the the parish. By the Feast of The came. They built a fire around the base of the building
October 11./ heard the most beautiful choir in my life
most modern cities of Canada. A Nativity the imperial red carpeting until the gold melted and dripped down to the ground. It
in the Church of St. Spyridon the New where I attended
Special General Meeting was held was laid. is still possible to see traces of a golden color. The
the Liturgy. (Sorry Mr. Barbut) The church, which has
and final plans were approved. interior was restored in 1900 and is very majestic.
two priests and two deacons, was overflowing with the
The church is 65 feet long by 36 October 9. The highway —E.20— from the north to congregation. It was built in the 19th century and
The date chosen for the blessing feet wide. It has a full basement the south is very good. Indeed, all of the roads we combines both Gothic and Byzantine styles.
of the land and the breaking of the and the seating capacity is for 120 traveled on were in good condition, well paved and
ground was set for March 14,1971. people in the church and 60 in the October 12. Today we visited a convent at Tsiganeshi,
skillfully engineered. Picturesque farms line the road and
The day was crisp and bright, the choir loft. It is 25 feet from the about 15 miles from Bucharest, where there are 143
one sees the gypsies traveling on it. They drive their carts
best type of day to start a new ground to the base of the roof and nuns. They have a lovely old church, a museum of icons
and park whenever they want at the side of the road,
work. is of an overall height of 65 feet and beautifully embroidered old vestments, and a lovely
their fires burning in the quiet darkness.
With the blessing of His Grace from ground to base of cross. row of new houses. / was very impressed with the
Bishop Victorin, a sobor of five Driving can be hazardous, though, as the roads are also beautiful weaving they do of vestment materials which
priests consisting of The Very Rev. used by farmers With horse drawn wagons carrying they produce in many colors and patterns. They also
mounds of golden corn, potatoes, cabbages, and hay—a have land to work and produce all their own food.
Fr. D. Diaconescu of Sts Peter and
lovely sight at harvest time. Herds of cattle also cross and
Paul Romanian Orthodox Church The church is ready for its last recross the road while flocks of geese and ducks that October 14. AhI Curtea De Argeshl / don't believe
of Kayville, Saskatchewan, The and most important work of all: its often stand in the middle in defiance of the driver are a that Manole built it. It is so beautiful, exquisite, like a
Very Rev. Archimandrite Peter consecration. The parish plans, with problem, if not a pleasant sight. jewel, its soft colored stone walls covered with fine,
Karras of St. George's Greek the help of God and His Grace delicate carving, that it seems as if it dropped from
Orthodox Church of Edmonton, Bishop Victorin, to have the con- October 10. Bucharest. The city is beautiful with its Heaven. It was built in 1517 by voevoda Neagoe Basarab
The Very Rev. Fr. J. Borcea, secration on May 21, 1972, the parks, man-made lakes and tree lined boulevards and we in defiance of the Turks who then collected tribute from
missionary with St. Barbara's Rus- patron saints of the parish and also visited many places of interest. Those which stand out the Romanians. Though they did not allow Christians to
sian Orthodox Cathedral of Edmon- the 24th Anniversary of the foun- most in my mind are the Village Museum, a collection of build churches higher than a Turk on horseback could
ton, and Rev. Fr. Mircea Panciuk of ding on the parish. We invite all peasant homes from all over the country brought see over, Basarab built Curtea de Argesh as an act of
Romanians and friends from Cana- together in a park. the Minovici House, in Romanian independence to show his faith and to serve as an
Sts Constantin and Elena Romanian
da and United States to come to style and overflowing with peasant handicrafts and the example for the Romanian people.
Orthodox Parish of Edmonton, George Enescu Museum, with momentoes of the great
Edmonton and partake in this great
blessed the land. Mrs. Una McLean composer's life. It was most moving/ October 16. Farewell to Romanial With great sadness
feast day of the blessing of the first
Evans represented His Worship newly built church under the that / could not stay longer / flew from Bucharest leaving
Mayor Dent of the City. The spiritual leadership of His Grace We were also fortunate enough to be given a tour of from its modern airport built a few years ago on the
services were truly ecumenical, for Bishop Victorin. the Patriarchate, an extremely impressive collection of occasion of President Nixon's visit to Romania. What an
they were sung in four languages. buildings which include the Cathedral, Residence and enjoyable holiday this has been. My wish would be to go
When it came time to plant the CORRESPONDENT Administration and Printing Offices. The Residence is again/
Pagina 2 C R E D I N Ţ A
Nord, Michael al Arhidiocezei Siriene din Toledo, Sfinţitului nostru Episcop Victorinj
24 Ianuarie la Hamilton