Today, 17 May 2015, the prize award festivity of the winners of the Olympic religion contest, Bucharest phase, and of Ilfov county, county phase, was held at the Metropolitan Cathedral of “Saint Spiridon” the New of Bucharest. The best three projects of the national Contest of mini-projects with missionary-philanthropic character entitled “Hands stretched out to accomplish the commandments of God” were also awarded prizes.
Almost 350 students of Bucharest city and Ilfov county came to the Metropolitan Cathedral of “Saint Spiridon” – the New of Bucharest to be awarded the prizes on behalf of the representatives of the Department for Education and youth activity of the Archdiocese of Bucharest for the special results got at the Religion Olympic contest – “Lumina” newspaper informs. After the Olympic students from Prahova county were awarded prizes at the seats of the county deaneries, it was the turn of those of Bucharest and of Ilfov county to receive prizes consisting of diplomas, Bibles and church books.
The gifts were presented before His Grace Timotei Prahoveanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest celebrated the Divine Liturgy.
After getting their prizes, the students attended the Divine Liturgy. To end with the celebration, the hierarch announced the best three projects entitled “Hands stretched out to accomplish the commandments of God” of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, as well as the names of those who would go to the next phase.
Thus, the three winning projects are: “We and you for those in need” unfolded by the parish of “Saint George” – Grivita, deanery district 1 Bucharest – coordinator: Rev Lica Lepadatu; “Open hearts save dreams” unfolded in the parish of “Saint Nicolae Ghica” – university chapel, deanery of district 3 Bucharest – coordinator: prof Irina Isar; and project “One for another in Christ” of the parish of Tesila I, deanery of Campina – coordinator: Rev Razvan Topala.
The parish of “Saint George” – Grivita will represent the Archdiocese of Bucharest at the national phase.
His Grace Timotei congratulated all the young people present, both the winners of the Religion Olympic contest and those involved in the parish projects, and especially those involved in the three projects, and urged them to keep the flame of faith burning in their hearts.
“Today we thank them all as well as the teachers who guided them, their parents who always taught them at home the way of faith and who revealed them, together with their grand-parents, the mysteries of prayer. While awarding them these symbolic prizes that His Beatitude and the Educational Department of the Archdiocese of Bucharest award them, we pray God to keep on giving them the same endeavour, wisdom and pure hearts to understand this good and useful teaching and to be useful to their parents, country, and especially their Church, who has great expectations from them”, His Grace Timotei said.
Then, rev counsellor David Pestroiu, coordinator of the Department for education and youth activity of the Archdiocese of Bucharest explained that 271 students from Bucharest city and 75 from Ilfov County were awarded prizes. He also explained the criteria for estimating the participants in the contest of mini-projects entitled “Hands stretched out to accomplish the commandments of God”, and read the winning projects. Rev Gheorghe Dogaru, rev inspector for religion discipline at the School Inspectorate of Bucharest attended the event unfolded yesterday at “Saint Spiridon” – the New Cathedral of Bucharest.
