On Wednesday, His Grace Ioan Casian officiated a Night Vigil at the Romanian Orthodox Diocesan Cathedral in Saint-Hubert, Québec, in honour of Holy Hierarch Gregory, Metropolitan of Wallachia.
The Romanian bishop was joined in the religious service by Protosyncellus Maxim Morariu, Ecclesiarch of the Cathedral, and by Fathers Traian Petre and Daniel Ungureanu. The liturgical responses were given by Deacon Valentin Boțu, Nun Anne and young people from the Romanian community.
Romanian faithful from Montreal and the surrounding area participated.
The service began at 8:00 p.m. with Vespers and Litia, followed by Matins and the Divine Liturgy. The participants were able to honour a fragment of the relics of the holy hierarch received by Romanian Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada from Patriarch Daniel of Romania.
“We thank the His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel for the blessing he offered us by donating parts from the Holy Relics of the great Hierarch Gregory. I urge you to read his life, to see how love for the neighbor and for the country and humility intertwine in an impeccable manner, and not to avoid him in your the prayers”, the Bishop of Canada emphasized in his homily.
The Romanian Orthodox Diocesan Cathedral of Saint-Hubert, Québec, is protected by Sts. George and Sts. Epictetus and Astion, old saints from Romanian lands.
Photo credit: Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada (archive)