The Myrrhbearing Women Sunday was a very important moment in the life of the Romanian Orthodox Christians from Nord America. His Eminence Nicolae was enthroned as the first Metropolitan of the newly establish Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas. The event followed the Divine Liturgy and took place on April 30th at Sts. Constantine and Helen Metropolitan Cathedral of Chicago.
The Divine Liturgy was served by His Eminence Metropolitan Nifon of Targoviste and Patriarchal Exarch along with His Eminence Metropolitan Iosif, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian and other six hierarchs from other Orthodox Churches from Chicago land area ad not only: His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas from the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit, His Grace Bishop Longin from the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of New Gracanica and Midwest, His Eminence Archbishop Peter of ROCOR Diocese of Midwest, His Grace Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos from the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago and His Grace Bishop Anthony of Toledo from the Antiochian Archdiocese. His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago was also in attendance. Besides of the hierarchs, priests and parish delegates from the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of the United States participated together with many Romanian Orthodox faithful from Chicago land area.
After Divine Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan Nifon read the Tomos of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church proclaiming the establishment of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas and the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada. After the Tomos, was read the Patriarchal Grammata proclaiming the elevation to the Metropolitan of His Eminence Nicolae. According with the Orthodox Church tradition presentation of the Symbols of a Metropolitan followed: Mantia, Pectoral Cross, Engolpion, Kamilavka and Archpastoral Staff. V. Rev. Fr. Vicar Nicholas Apostola addressed a word on behalf of the clergy and laity of the Archdiocese. His Eminence Nicolae talked about the history and development of the Romanian Orthodox community in Nord America, as well as the mission of the new Metropolia.
The celebration events from Chicago continued the following days when the delegation of the Romanian Orthodox Church lead by His Eminence Metropolitan Nifon had several meetings with state and Orthodox Church officials from Chicago land area.
Thus, on Monday, May 1st the delegation was officially received by the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, Ms. Evelyn Pacino Sanguinetti. Both His Eminence Nicolae and His Eminence Nifon made a presentation of the Romanian Orthodox community from Nord America in general and from Chicago land area in particular. It was made an introduction of the history of the Romanian migration on American soil and the establishment of the first Romanian Orthodox churches here. The meeting gave the opportunity to introduce the state officials to the newly established Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas. With sadness was also underlined the division within the Romanian Orthodox community from Nord America. There is much confidence and that the new Metropolia will open the road to the unity for all Romanian Orthodox Christians for North America.
Ms. Evelyn Sanguinetti showed a great interest and was very happy to learn about the Romanian community and assured everyone in attendance that the state of Illinois will do everything possible in order to help a better administration of the new Metropolia. The meeting concluded with the invitation addressed by His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae to the state officials to participate into the anniversary of 125 years of Orthodox Christian mission in Chicago land area that will be hosted in Chicago on September 30th, 2017.
After the first meeting, the delegation of the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate participated at a reception offered by the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago to honor their visit. The luncheon was hosted by His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos and His Grace Vicar Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos. His Eminence Metropolitan Nifon used the opportunity to express the joy of serving together at the enthronement event and that of the brotherly communion with all the Orthodox Christians from Chicago.
The next day, Tuesday, May 2nd, the delegation was led by His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae in a pilgrimage to the Orthodox monasteries and other Orthodox churches from surroundings. First stop was at the Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, not too far from the Romanian Metropolia Center. The group was welcomed by the clergy of the Cathedral together with teachers and students of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Academy. The church and the school facilities were visited.
The pilgrimage continued with the St. John Chrysostom Greek Orthodox monastery visit in Pleasant Praire, WI. Here the abbess showed the distinguished guests the chapel and the monastery church introducing them to the history and the spiritual life of the place. The monastery was established by Elder Efrem from St. Anthony’s monastery of Arizona.
Next stop was the Serbian Monastery of New Gracanica of Third Lake, IL. The monastery is also the center for the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Midwest. His Grace Bishop Longin welcomed with great love the group and offered them a tour of the church, Diocesan center and over 100 acres property.
The last place visited on Tuesday was the Russian Orthodox Cathedral which is also the center for the Midwest Diocese of ROCOR. His Eminence Nifon and His Eminence Nicolae were welcomed by His Eminence Archbishop Peter who presented a brief history of the Russian Orthodoxy on North American soil.
The third and last day of the pilgrimage included a visit to the University of Chicago Divinity School where the well-known Romanian historian Prof. Mircea Eliade taught in the mid 1980’s. The auditorium where Prof. Mircea Eliade gave lectures was visited as well. From the University of Chicago the delegation moved towards Oak Woods cemetery where Prof. Mircea Eliade and his wife, Ms. Christinel Eliade are buried. His Eminence Nifon together with His Eminence Nicolae and the other members of the group said a prayer for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Mircea and Christinel.
At the end of almost a week spend in Chicago, His Eminence Metropolitan Nifon together with the other members of the delegation expressed much appreciations for the well organized event that took place here. They also gave thanks for the warm welcome offered by the Romanian Orthodox community of Chicago on the occasion of the enthronement of his Eminence Nicolae as the first Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of North America.
