By the grace of God and with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop and Metropolitan Nicolae, accompanied by the Eparchial Council of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas, on August 3rd, 2023, Father Esteban Díaz and his parish in the city of Barranquilla, Atlántico Department of Colombia, were canonically received, with the assistance of Father Daniel Ene, Dean of New York, New England and the Eastern United States, and Secretary of the Metropolia, who has carried out important missionaries, including catechetical and pastoral work in Latin American countries. The new parish is currently under the patronage of St. John the Valah, who is celebrated on the twelfth of May.
In addition, the central aim of this new mission is to become a spiritual and pastoral support for the Romanian Orthodox faithful, who are established in Colombia, and also for the faithful who wish to come closer to it, together with those who wish to know the Orthodox faith.
In this context, on the ninth of September, Father Esteban Díaz was presented at the Romanian Embassy in Colombia, in the capital Bogotá. This event coincided with recognition from the Romanian Orthodox Church for Her Excellency Ambassador Claudia Tusa, for her commendable efforts in the service of the Romanian people and her support towards the missionary work of the Church. On this same day, Divine Liturgy took place in the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Mother of God, under the presidency of His Eminence Timotei de Assos, Auxiliary Bishop for Colombia and Venezuela of the Holy Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Colombia, who accompanied Fr. Dean Daniel Ene in the liturgical service.
At the aftermath of the Divine Liturgy, Ambassador Claudia Tusa was honored a beautiful icon of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with the Holy Apostles by the Metropolia of the Americas. His Eminence Timothy also had presented a plaque in recognition of her contribution to the promotion of the Orthodox Church in Colombia.
On Sunday, September the tenth, the official handing over of the new Antimension and the Holy Myrrh to the new parish of St. John the Evangelist in Barranquilla took place. To make this a memorable day, for the first time, Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Romanian language, with the service being officiated by Father Dean Daniel Ene, and along with the new parish priest of the church, Father Esteban Díaz. Rafael Padilla from Cartagena, of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Colombia, also served. This beautiful ceremony also sung by Cantor Claudiu from Holy Trinity Parish, the parish of Dean Daniel Ene, where songs in the Romanian language were heard for the first time there, to the delight and amazement of all present. On this historic day, the Ambassador of Romania to Colombia, Her Excellency Mrs. Claudia Tusa was with us, coming all the way from the capital for this event. We also had the pleasure and honor of having in our presence the Honorary Consul of Romania in Barranquilla, Mr. Joseph Dacarett.
It is worth noting that before the Divine Liturgy, two baptisms took place, of the doctor Jesús Alberto Pérez and of the French citizen Aloys Noel, who, after a catechumenate process, embraced the Orthodox faith and were spiritually born by Ambassador Claudia Tusa.
Furthermore, at the end of the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Daniel gave thanks to all those present and shared with the faithful his impressions of the pastoral activity of the parish now under the protection of the Romanian Patriarchate. Then, Father Esteban Díaz and Presbytera Sofia Rondón were recognized for their hard work and dedication in organizing and strengthening the Orthodox faithful of Barranquilla. Mr. Edwin Armenta had also been recognized for his contribution to the creation and design of the new website for Latin America. The link to the website is https://iglesiaortodoxarumana.org/.
Finally, the event concluded with a meeting in the chapel, where the General Assembly for the election of the new Parish Council, which will initiate the establishment and constitution of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Colombia, was held before the federal authorities. Then the election of the first president of the Orthodox Ladies Association followed. The day concluded with a dinner at the Beirut restaurant, which belongs to a family of parishioners.
The new Council, which started work immediately, was set up as follows:
President: Fr. Esteban Díaz
Vice-President: Wilman Pérez
Secretary: Edwin Armenta
Cashier: Virgil Faur
Member 1: Juan David Puerta
Member 2: Jhon Jairo Jiménez
President of the Ladies Association: Laure de Cure.
May the Lord, through the prayers of His Mother and St. John the Valah, receive and bless the new organizational work, under the guidance of the Metropolia of the Americas, and may the Lord also allow it to be the beginning of a collaboration that will be reflected in a spiritual benefit for all the faithful, including the opening of new missions, so that in all things we may glorify our Great, One and Triune God, to Whom be glory and honor forever and ever. Amen.
Priest Esteban Diaz
Barranquilla, Colombia
