On the occasion of the celebration of the patronal feast of the parish, the faithful of the Orthodox Mission “Saint Callinicus of Cernica” in Fredericksburg, Virginia, had the joy of having in their midst His Eminence Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Americas, Nicolae. The pastoral visit of the hierarch began on Friday afternoon, April 8, with the meeting of the members of the Parish Council, offering spiritual and administrative advice meant to strengthen a Mission. He then concelebrated the Matins of the Akathist of the Annunciation with Priests Ionel Satnoianu and John Katsoulis. In attendance were faithful from both the Romanian Mission and the Nativity of the Theotokos Greek Church, which is hosting St. Callinicus of Cernica Mission. On the second day, His Eminence Nicolae officiated the Divine Liturgy with a group of clergy: the parish priest Ionel Satnoianu and the guest priests David Subu, Cosmin Antonescu and Nicholas Pappas. The answers were given by the Reader Ionut Lupu-Pitulice, Theologian Adrian Beldie-Ulmer and Mirela Catuneanu together with a group of children from the parish.
In his sermon, HE Metropolitan Nicolae spoke about the life of Saint Callinicus of Cernica and about his spiritual heritage. St. Callinicus is a descendant of the saints who promoted and passed on the tradition of the hesychasm in the territory of present-day Romania. This year, 2022, was declared by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church as The Year of Prayer in the Life of the Church and of the Christian and The Solemn Year of the Hesychast Saints Simeon the New Theologian, Gregory Palamas and Paisius Velichkovsky. On this occasion, we are invited to learn more about prayer and hesychasm and to deepen our personal prayer life.
After the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, everybody was invited in the hall for a delicious lenten agape meal which was prepared with much love by the ladies of the parish. We give glory to God for two days full of spiritual joy and we thank our Archpastor for being together with us and blessing us!
Rev. Fr. Ionel Satnoianu
