With the blessing of HE Metropolitan Nicolae, the Metropolitan stage of the Religion Olympiad (13th edition) took place on Sunday, April 30, 2023 in three metropolitan centers and two special centers of the Archdiocese of the United States of America. A total of 45 students (31 from group B and 14 from group C) participated. The tests were based on the Sunday School curriculum for the 2022-2023 year.
Thanks must be addressed to V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Ene and Prof. Stelian Adrian Ghinea who graded the exams, as well as to all the teachers involved in this edition, both from the parishes and from the metropolitan centers. A thought of consideration is also due to the parishes that hosted this edition of the Religion Olympiad with much joy and love.
We have the special privilege of congratulating the participating students for their results:
Eastern USA
GROUP B
1st Place THEODORA CLEMPUS (St. Mary Church, Dacula GA)
2nd Place MACRINA GRIGORAS (St. Nicholas Church, Woodside NY)
DIMITRIE MILEA (Life Giving Fountain Church, Long Valley NJ)
3rd Place ISABELLA PACURAR (St. Callinicus of Cernica Church, Fredericksburg VA)
NEKTARIOS SATNOIANU (St. Callinicus of Cernica Church, Fredericksburg VA)
ANA DARIE (Holy Trinity Church, Philadelphia PA)
4th Place NICHOLAS TREPCA (St. Nicholas Church, Woodside NY)
5th Place STEPHAN PACURAR (St. Callinicus of Cernica Church, Fredericksburg VA)
6th Place ANTONIE BUJOREANU (St. Nicholas Church, Woodside NY)
7th Place ROXANA DONI (Life Giving Fountain Church, Long Valley NJ)
8th Place MARIA GRIGORAS (St. Nicholas Church, Woodside NY)
9th Place GRIGORIE MILEA (Life Giving Fountain Church, Long Valley NJ)
10th Place ANTONIE MILEA (Life Giving Fountain Church, Long Valley NJ)
GROUP C
1st Place JAMES DASCALU (St. Nicholas Church, Woodside NY)
CONSTANTIN GRIGORAS (St. Nicholas Church, Woodside NY)
2nd Place DANIEL CLEMPUS (St. Mary Church, Dacula GA)
3rd Place IOAN DARIE (Holy Trinity Church, Philadelphia PA)
4th Place AUGUSTIN GRIGORAS (St. Nicholas Church, Woodside NY)
5th Place LISA DASCALU (St. Nicholas Church, Woodside NY)
6th Place JUSTINIAN GRIGORAS (St. Nicholas Church, Woodside NY)
Central USA
GRUPA B
1st Place MARIA SCHIOP (Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral, Chicago IL)
ARSENIE NEAGA (Buna Vestire Cathedral, Olmsted Falls OH)
2nd Place SOFIA CIUPE (Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral, Chicago IL)
3rd Place JULIA BADEA (Holy Trinity Church, Troy MI)
4th Place SERAFIMA SIRCA (Buna Vestire Cathedral, Olmsted Falls OH)
DIANA VARZARU (Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral, Chicago IL)
5th Place ALEXIA VASILESCU (Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral, Chicago IL)
6th Place ECATERINA SIRCA (Buna Vestire Cathedral, Olmsted Falls OH)
7th Place IUSTIN FARAGAU (Protection of the Mother of God Monastery, Allegan MI)
8th Place EMMA NEAGOVICI (Buna Vestire Cathedral, Olmsted Falls OH)
ADRIANA SIRBU (Holy Trinity Church, Troy MI)
9th Place SILVIA BIEA (Holy Trinity Church, Troy MI)
CORINA MICU (Holy Trinity Church, Troy MI)
GROUP C
1st Place NICOLE GHERLE (Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral, Chicago IL)
2nd Place MAYA CIURCEL (Buna Vestire Cathedral, Olmsted Falls OH)
3rd Place SOPHIA GHEORGHE (Protection of the Mother of God Monastery, Allegan MI)
4th Place MARIA BALAN (Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral, Chicago IL)
5th Place ADISON DEEMER (Buna Vestire Cathedral, Olmsted Falls OH)
6th Place NICHOLAS OBREJA (Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral, Chicago IL)
7th Place CLAUDIU GHISE (Buna Vestire Cathedral, Olmsted Falls OH)
Western USA
GROUP B
1st Place BRIANNA NEGREA (Holy Resurrection Church, Sacramento CA)
ISABELA PLOSCARIU (Elevation of the Holy Cross Church, Upland CA)
2nd Place MARIA DESPOIU (Elevation of the Holy Cross Church, Upland CA)
3rd Place GABRIEL ZMEU (Holy Resurrection Church, Sacramento CA)
4th Place CAMELIA ZMEU (Holy Resurrection Church, Sacramento CA)
REFLECTIONS FROM ORGANIZERS
On the 3rd Sunday after Holy Pascha, the Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women, the faithful of the Elevation of the Holy Cross Church in Upland, CA, parents with children, youth and elderly, met with joy and love our Savior and these Christian mothers. Starting from Matins until the end of the Divine Liturgy, an increasing number of believers gathered in the church and participated in the service. This Sunday also coincided with the Metropolitan stage of the Religion Olympiad, an educational event of our Metropolia. The two students who represented us at this competition, aged 11 and 12, respectively, participated in the Divine Liturgy where they partook of the Body and Blood of the Savior, after which, together with their teacher, they went to the classroom. At 12:00 they started the exam and, under the guidance and careful supervision of the teacher, they gave the best of their knowledge. We hope for the best possible result and for the enlightening of these children’s minds for a better performance next year.
(Fr. Deacon Valentin Despoiu @ Elevation of the Holy Cross Church, Upland CA)
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At Buna Vestire Cathedral in Olmsted Falls, OH, the Metropolitan stage of the Religion Olympiad began on Saturday with Vespers and Litya, followed by dinner. After dinner, the participants were to have a bonfire, roast some marshmallows, make s’mores and reminisce with one another and with fellow “Summer Campers.” However, due to the “on-and-off” rainy weather, they found another way to enjoy their time together: some stayed indoors to socialize and some played a game of soccer in the parking lot. Parishioners and visiting guests enjoyed a relaxed and pleasant evening as well, getting to know each another by sharing similar interests and personal stories on our faith.
Students were pleasantly touched by receiving a gift bag with a few treats and a tapestry bookmark of the Mother of God, welcoming them to Buna Vestire Cathedral.
Sunday began with the Divine Liturgy, followed by the exam. Students and teachers were given instructions and had the opportunity to ask questions on the rules before entering their designated classrooms. Students were encouraged to, “Do your BEST and CHRIST will take care of the rest!” In addition, Father Petru caught-up with the students before entering their classrooms to bless and give them a few words of encouragement as well.
Students seemed relieved and relaxed upon exiting their classroom. When asked, “How did you do?” the common response was, “It went well. I feel good.” They were given a hug for a job well done and asked to join their parents until everyone completed their exam. After lunch, we took another group picture and continued to visit with one another outdoors.
Before our visiting guests departed, they were given sandwiches for the ride home, some were gifted a potted plant and many of them commented that they not only felt “Welcomed” to our church, but they walked away feeling “Loved” and wish to return to our church again. This is the LOVE of CHRIST at work. Glory be to God for bringing all of us together!
May our loving and merciful Lord bless everyone a hundredfold for sacrificing their personal time, hard work and efforts – parishioners and visiting guests.
(Maria Lovejoy @ Buna Vestire Cathedral, Olmsted Falls, OH)
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Education Commission
