His Grace Varlaam of Ploiești, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch, met Wednesday, March 8, 2016, a group of 11 American Orthodox students, led by Rev. Fr. Robert Miclean, rector of the Holy Archangels Church in Maryland, USA, who came to Valea Plopului town (Valley of the Poplar), Prahova County, for volunteering. The young students are members of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) and are currently undertaking a seven-day pilgrimage to the monasteries and churches in Bucharest and its surrounding areas.
His Grace Bishop Varlaam conveyed the blessing of His Beatitude PatriarchDaniel, and addressed the American students referring to the cultural and social activities carried out by the Romanian Orthodox Church. He also spoke about the Orthodox Diaspora, and the difficult period that the Romanian Orthodox Church had passed through during communism. Nevertheless, he noted the importance of the Feast of the 40 Holy Martyrs of Sebaste.
Finally, His Grace offered everyone the English translation of the guidebook of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, and the booklet of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel “Travelling with God – the meaning and the usefulness of pilgrimage”, published by the Basilica Publishing House of the Romanian Patriarchate.
“We came to Valea Plopului in order to learn how to better serve Christ and help, according to our possibilities, those in need, and especially the children who are here. This is a new experience for these young people. Through our Association, OCF, we go on different trips, but Romania is a unique place for our Orthodox students”, Rev. Fr. Robert Miclean has declared.
The young OCF members have been volunteering for the benefit of the children cared for at the Valea Plopului Center of the Pro Vita Association for the born and unborn. The host of the American volunteers was Rev. Fr. Nicolae Tănase, parish priest in Valea Plopului.
