On August 24-26, 2023, the Annunciation Cathedral in Olmsted Falls, OH hosted the Clergy Conference of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas. It was attended by the two hierarchs, His Eminence Nicolae, Archbishop of the United States of America and Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of the Americas, His Grace Ioan Casian, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada, as well as other hieromonks, priests and deacons from the Metropolia. The clergy conference was appreciated by the participants as the first face-to-face meeting of all the Metropolia's clergy since the period of restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Clergy Conference of the Metropolia began on Thursday, August 24th, 2023, in the evening with the celebration of the Akathist of the Annunciation. On the morning of August 25th, 2023 (Friday), the Akathist of Our Lord Jesus Christ was celebrated. At the opening of the conference, His Eminence Archbishop and Metropolitan Nicolae gave a meditation entitled "The Priest - Servant of Reconciliation". Then, His Grace Ioan Casian, the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada, presented the meditation, "The role of psalmody and church singing in the life of the Church - Some Reflections from St. Paul the Apostle and St. Basil the Great".
In addition, Professor Dr. Mircea Gelu Buta from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, gave a lecture on Christian Confession in the Care of the Elderly via the online platform Zoom. It was appreciated by those present and was followed by a series of questions on the topic. Afterwards, the clergy present there withdrew in groups to discuss the theme presented under the guidance of facilitators.
Furthermore, after lunch, Prof. Dr. Anne Iltis, from St. Vladimir's Theological Orthodox Seminary in New York, gave a lecture in English via the familiar online platform called Zoom that was entitled: Living and Dying in a Post-Christian Pluralistic World. Secular challenges that the world poses to prevent us from preparing for a Christian death. This talk was also received with great interest by those in attendance, and it was followed by a series of useful questions for the pastoral-missionary work of the ministers at the Holy Altars. At the same time, the discussions in the groups of priests continued, and then their secretaries presented to the plenary the conclusions of the discussions and analyses of the four groups of priests present at the Clergy Conference.
In the afternoon, Fr. Protosynghellos Dr. Maxim Morariu of the Episcopal Cathedral "Sf. George and St. Epictetus and Astion" in Saint-Hubbert QC, gave a conference entitled Pastoral Care of the Elderly from the Chair of Confessionalso on the online platform of Zoom. This was followed by questions from those in attendance. Friday ended with the celebration of the Akathist of Saints Adrian and Natalia.
On Saturday, August 26th, 2023, His Eminence Archbishop and Metropolitan Nicolae, together with His Grace Ioan Casian, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada and all the priests and deacons of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas, celebrated the Holy and Divine Liturgy. At the end of the Liturgy, a Panihida was celebrated for the priests who have departed to the Lord and who have carried out a rich and fruitful pastoral-missionary activity on the North American continent.
Saturday's meeting began with the intervention of Fr. Daniel Ene on pastoral work in Latin America and two personal testimonies of Fr. Antonio Garcia from Caracas, Venezuela and Fr. Esteban Dias from Barranquilla, Colombia. Also presented for the first time was the web page of the Metropolia in Spanish www.iglesiaortodoxarumana.org which contains information of the parishes of our Metropolia in Latin America.
The last lecture of the clergy conference was presented by Fr. Iulian Aniței from the Mission of the Protection of the Mother of God in Houston, TX. It was titled Death with Dignity in the Context of Post-Christian Culture versus the Good, Christian End, and was followed by a series of questions on the theme presented.
Finally, at the end of the 2023 Clergy Conference of the Metropolia, at the proposal of His Eminence Archbishop and Metropolitan Nicolae, it was decided that clergy conferences will be held annually. In 2024, the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada will host the Conference. Also, Pr. Ion Gherman, former pastor of Annunciation Cathedral in Olmsted Falls, OH, presented His Eminence Archbishop and Metropolitan Nicolae, on behalf of His Eminence Timotei Seviciu, Archbishop of Arad, with the eparchial award of the Cross and Engolpion "St. Hierarch Sava Brancovici." Special thanks were then expressed to the Annunciation Cathedral in Olmsted Falls, OH, which hosted the 2023 Clergy Conference of the Metropolia with great love and warmth.
Fr. Nicolae Codrea
