Saturday, 11 June 1016, the Eparchial Assembly of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Northern Europe was held at the Eparchial Centre of Stockholm. Romanian Orthodox priests from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark attended the event, accompanied by the lay representatives of the parochial communities – the Press Office of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Northern Europe informs.
To begin with the working session, His Grace Macarie, Romanian Orthodox of Northern Europe celebrated the Divine Liturgy and Te Deum, and then debated the pastoral activity unfolded in all the departments of the eparchy in 2015.
His Grace Macarie reminded the target of all pastoral activities, namely living through deeds, day by day, the Eucharistic unity by all the members of the Church, clergy and lay too, so that “that all of them may be one” (John 17:21).
In a world affected by much turmoil and often attracted by styles of life inconsistent with those of faith, this target can be reached only if the shepherd dedicates himself to his flock through the joy to serve one’s neighbour and suffering together with Christ’s younger brothers (Matthew 25:40) – the local hierarch underlined.
Given the characteristic needs of the Romanians and of the local members of the parishes of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Northern Europe, His Grace Macarie showed that the most fruitful mission is that of the direct involvement in the spiritual and material aid granted to the helpless ones, because the people need a vivid Church present in their sufferance.
Thus, His Brace Macarie said, although the means of the Diocese of Northern Europe are rather precarious, one succeeded, with God’s help, to help the victims of the fire from Collective club, of Bucharest, one of the young people having been hospitalised in Bergen, Norway.
The solidarity of the local hierarch, of the Romanian priests and faithful of Norway for sustaining the families affected by the separation from their children by the system of child’s protection of this Northern country was also evoked. Common sufferance with them, pastoral visits, intercession with the state authorities and prayers for the families affected are only a few aspects of the Scandinavian pastoral mission for those in distress.
It was also mentioned, in this context, that the Holy Synod declared the year 2015 “Solemn year of the mission of the parish and monastery today” and “Commemorative Year of Saint John Chrysostom and of the great shepherds of souls”, as awareness of the fact that the Church is built and lived in the parish, as well as in the Christian communities.
Some of the events of great spiritual joy remembered were the consecrations celebrated by His Grace Bishop Macarie at the Romanian Orthodox church of “Saints Martyrs and Confessors of Nasaud” of Solvesborg (Sweden) on 12 September 2015 and at the altar of the Monastery of “Saints Pious Macarie the Roman and Ioan Iacob from Neamt”, of Ikast (Denmark), on 23 October 2015, attended by lots of Romanians settled in the Northern space.
The social projects initiated the previous years by the Romanian parishes of Northern Europe were also continued:
– “Drop of sacrifice which redeems the ocean of indifference”, project which organised fund raisings, collection of medicine and products for aiding the poor families of Romania;
– “A parochial family for everybody”, activity which engages the parish faithful to help a series of orphan children from Romania;
– “Agape of the Brother” – Sunday activity unfolded in the church after the Divine Liturgy designed to collect the aliments necessary for the social canteens;
– “In peace to go” – mission urging the faithful to visit the sick and lonely, bringing them the peace, joy and light they have just received at the Divine Liturgy.
The cultural department mentioned among its initiatives the organisation of the icons exhibition at Bergen University Museum, Norway, helped by the National Museum of Alba Iulia and by the Archdiocese of Alba Iulia, in November last year. Besides the “Candela Nordului” magazine of the diocese, Felicitas publishing house has also published some other books and theological materials.
After inquiring about the perspectives and needs of the people, the Eparchial Assembly decided to organise greater missionary involvement of the young people while trying to provide them with a concrete frame for common growth and confession in Christ, as a moral duty to our Church, through the preservation and affirmation of our Romanian Orthodox faith and identity.
