Establishing of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada Voted

Gheorghe Anghel – Basilica News Agency  – July 2016

The 80^th Congress of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas voted the elevation of the Eparchy to the rank of Metropolitanate and establishment of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada. The Congress was held from 30 June – 2 July, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Saturday, 2 July 2016, the delegates to the 80^th Congress of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas met at the Romanian Orthodox Church of the “Resurrection of the Lord” in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada – Alexandru Popovici from the Romanian Orthodox Eparchy in the Americas informs.

The Congress working sessions were chaired by His Eminence Nicolae, Archbishop to the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas. The meeting began with a lecture delivered by Rev. Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos, professor at the Theological Faculty of the Greek Metropolitanate of Toronto, entitled Losing the youth: shepherding the lost sheep. Then, two sessions were held when the delegates discussed on the Statute of organisation of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitanate of the Americas.

During a special session, the delegates of the parishes of Canada voted for the establishing of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada and approved the Statute for its organisation, as well as the proposal to the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church of the candidate serving the new Diocese as Bishop. Rev. Fr. David Smith has also delivered, for the ROYA (Romanian Orthodox Youth in America) members as well as for the delegates from the United States, a lecture entitled “Help! I am bored in the Church”.

During the second session of the day the financial reports of the Archdiocese were presented, and then the budget for 2016-2017 was approved. Afterwards, Rev. Fr. Vasile Mureşan delivered the report of the Department for Publications, and His Eminence Nicolae presented three books recently published or to be published within the Department for Publications.

The Congress agenda continued with the presentation of the reports of the activity of the archpriests and with the reports of the deaneries’ assemblies. Rev. Fr. Olimpiu Mărginean presented the report regarding the situation of the parishes of the Archdiocese and then Mrs Ileana Dascălu presented the report of activity of the AROLA (Romanian Orthodox Association of the Ladies in America), as well as the membership of the new leadership of the association. Then, Ana Radu, president of ROYA (Romanian Orthodox Youth Association), presented the association’s report, as well as the membership of its new leadership. Another important moment of the day was the presentation by the Nomination Commission of the proposals of members for the Eparchial Council and of the Eparchial Consistory of the Archdiocese, as well as their unanimous approval by vote, by the Congress delegates – Alexandru Popovici underlined.

In the end, Rev. Fr. Daniel Ene, Eparchial Secretary, read the official letters to be addressed to the local and state authorities. The delegates approved their content and then His Eminence Nicolae thanked all the delegates for their presence, as well as the community of the church of the Resurrection of the Lord for hosting, and declared the conclusion of the Congress session. Then, His Grace Ioan Casian de Vicina celebrated the Great Vesper service, with His Eminence Nicolae and the Congress delegates attending.

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