9 July/Iulie  Wednesday/Miercuri –

10:00AM – Sf. Liturghie Arhierească/Hierarchical Divine Liturgy

presiding

His Grace Bishop IOAN CASIAN

cu participarea  tinerilor de la tabăra de vară a Episcopiei noastre  “Sf. Teodora de la Sihla”

with participation of Diocese youth from Summer Camp “St. Teodora of Sihla”

Mono: Împreună ridicăm mănăstirea de suflet în Canada: Binefăcător pentru ipoteca Mănăstirii/ Together we are building God’s Holy Dwelling Monastery: Benefactor for the Monasterys’ mortgage

Programul Liturgic / Liturgical schedule

Aprindeți o lumânare / Light a candle

Pomelnic / Prayer request

—

Mănăstirea Ortodoxă Înălțarea Sfintei Cruci și Sf. Efrem cel Nou

The Orthodox Monastery Exaltation of the Holy Cross and St. Ephraim the New

 

 

308328 Hockley Rd.,

Mono, Ontario L9W 6N4

Cell: 226.200.1074

Office: 519.942.3489

E.  holycrossorthodoxmonastery@gmail.com

W: www.monasterymono.org

Join our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/OrthodoxMonasteryMono/

Episcopia Ortodoxă Româna a Canadei / The Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada    

The Orthodox Monastery “Holy Cross” is under the spiritual and ecclesiastical authority (omofor) of His Grace, Bishop Ioan Casian, of The Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada.

Mitropolia Ortodoxă Română a celor două Americi / The Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas

Spiritual pilgrimage and blessing

to Elevation of the Holy Cross and St. Ephrem the New the Monastery

in Mono, Canada

On Saturday, May 10, 2025, by the grace and help of God, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and St. Ephrem the New Monastery in Mono, Canada, put on festive attire, occasioned by a particularly significant event for the spiritual life of Romanian believers in Canada and abroad.

In an atmosphere of chosen spiritual joy in the new summer altar, built in June 2023 and completed in April 2025, the Matins service was celebrated, followed by the Holy and Divine Liturgy. This was officiated by Fr. Petre Busuioc, administrative vicar of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada, surrounded by a group of priests and deacons, for the spiritual strengthening and comfort of all those present.

With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian, in the canopy of the Joy of Saints, the holy relics of some great saints of Orthodoxy were brought for veneration: St. Nektarios of Aegina, St.Ephrem the New, St. Cosmas and Damian. This blessing was received with great joy and faith by the pilgrims who came from various corners of Canada – Toronto, London, Kingston, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Quebec City, Montreal – but also from abroad.

The liturgical responses were offered by the protopsalt Andrei-Cătălin Ghebaru, member of the Byzantine group “Thronos” of the Patriarchal Cathedral of Bucharest, together with Mrs. Mădălina Enache, from the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint-Hubert.

At the end of the Holy Liturgy, Fr. Petre Busuioc read the spiritual message transmitted by His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian on the occasion of the feast:

“The Feast of St. Ephrem is for all of us an opportunity to remember the power of faith, the strength with which the saints faced trials and their boundless love for God and their neighbor. The life of St. Ephrem, marked by courage, devotion and unwavering faith, illuminates our path and urges us to follow his example of holiness. The miracles performed through his intercession are testimonies of the living presence of God in our midst and strengthen our hope in his unceasing help.

Monastic life is a ceaseless spiritual struggle, a total dedication to the service of God and an uninterrupted prayer for the entire world. On this special day, we wish to share our encouragement and blessing with you for the sacrifice and the struggles you make being with our monastery, for the love and humility with which you dedicate yourself to the Lord. May St. Ephrem the New be your tireless protector, inspire you and strengthen you in every step you take in your personal life.”

Fr. Petre Busuioc continued by thanking all the clergy and faithful for their participation and for the common prayer and urged that this monastery become a place of spiritual rest for all those who desire strengthening in faith and communion with God.

Mr. Alin-Gabriel Constantin, Consul of Romania in Canada, was also present at this special event, thus marking the importance of the connection between the Romanian community in the diaspora and Romanian spiritual and cultural values.

The event ended in an atmosphere of brotherly communion, through an agape prepared with love and care by the faithful close to the monastery, under the careful guidance of Hegumen Polycarp.

Glory to God for everything! May such moments bring everyone light in the soul, strengthening in faith and the desire to always live in the presence and love of Christ.

*****

Pelerinaj de suflet și binecuvântare

la Mănăstirea Înălțarea Sfintei Cruci și Sf. Efrem cel Nou din Mono, Canada

Sâmbătă, 10 mai 2025, cu harul și ajutorul lui Dumnezeu, Mănăstirea Înălțarea Sfintei Cruci și Sfântul Efrem cel Nou din Mono, Canada, a îmbrăcat veșmânt de sărbătoare, prilejuit de un eveniment deosebit de însemnat pentru viața duhovnicească a credincioșilor români din Canada și de peste hotare.

Într-o atmosferă de aleasă bucurie duhovnicească în noul altar de vară, construit în iunie 2023 și finalizat în aprilie 2025, a fost săvârșită slujba Utreniei, urmată de Sfânta și Dumnezeiasca Liturghie. Aceasta a fost oficiată de către Părintele Petre Busuioc, vicar administrativ al Episcopiei Ortodoxe Române a Canadei, înconjurat de un sobor de preoți și diaconi, spre întărirea și mângâierea duhovnicească a tuturor celor prezenți.

Cu binecuvântarea Preasfințitului Părinte Ioan Casian, în baldachinul mănăstirii Bucuria Sfinților, au fost aduse spre închinare părticele din sfintele moaște ale unor mari sfinți ai Ortodoxiei: Sf. Nectarie din Eghina, Sf. M. Mc. Efrem cel Nou, Sf. Doctori fără de arginți Cosma și Damian. Această binecuvântare a fost primită cu multă bucurie și credință de către pelerinii veniți din diverse colțuri ale Canadei – Toronto, London, Kingston, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Quebec City, Montreal – dar și din afara granițelor ei.

Răspunsurile liturgice au fost oferite de protopsaltul Andrei-Cătălin Ghebaru, membru al grupului bizantin „Thronos” al Catedralei Patriarhale din București, alături de doamna Mădălina Enache, de la Catedrala Episcopală din Saint-Hubert.

La finalul Sfintei Liturghii, Părintele Petre Busuioc a dat citire cuvântului de binecuvântare și învățătură transmis de Preasfințitul Părinte Ioan Casian cu ocazia sărbătorii:

„Sărbătoarea Sf. Efrem este pentru noi toți un prilej de a ne aduce aminte de puterea credinței, de tăria cu care sfinții au înfruntat încercările și de dragostea lor nețărmurită față de Dumnezeu și de aproapele. Viața Sf. Efrem, marcată de curaj, devotament și o credință nestrămutată, ne luminează calea și ne îndeamnă să urmăm exemplul său de sfințenie. Minunile săvârșite prin mijlocirea sa sunt mărturii ale prezenței vii a lui Dumnezeu în mijlocul nostru și ne întăresc nădejdea în ajutorul Său neîncetat.

Viața monahală este o neîncetată luptă duhovnicească, o dăruire totală slujirii lui Dumnezeu și o rugăciune neîntreruptă pentru întreaga lume. În această zi specială, dorim să vă facem parte de încurajarea și binecuvântarea noastră pentru jertfa și nevoințele pe care le faceți fiind alături de mănăstirea noastră, pentru dragostea și smerenia cu care vă dedicați Domnului. Fie ca Sf. Efrem cel Nou să vă fie ocrotitor neobosit, să vă inspire și să vă întărească în fiecare pas pe care îl faceți în viața personală.”

În continuare Părintele Petre Busuioc a mulțumit tuturor clericilor și credincioșilor pentru participare și pentru rugăciunea comună și a îndemnat ca această mănăstire să devină un loc de popas sufletesc pentru toți cei care doresc întărire în credință și comuniune cu Dumnezeu.

La acest eveniment deosebit a fost prezent și domnul Alin-Gabriel Constantin, Consul al României în Canada, marcând astfel importanța legăturii dintre comunitatea românească din diaspora și valorile spirituale și culturale românești.

Evenimentul s-a încheiat într-o atmosferă de comuniune frățească, printr-o agapă pregătită cu dragoste și grijă de către apropiații sfintei mănăstiri, sub atenta îndrumare a Părintelui Egumen Policarp.

Slavă lui Dumnezeu pentru toate! Fie ca astfel de momente să aducă tuturor lumină în suflet, întărire în credință și dorința de a trăi mereu în prezența și iubirea lui Hristos.

egP.

******

Pèlerinage spirituel et bénédiction

au monastère de l’Élévation de la Sainte-Croix et de Saint-Éphrem le Nouveau

de Mono, Canada

Le samedi 10 mai 2025, avec la grâce et l’aide de Dieu, le Monastère de l’Élévation de la Sainte-Croix et de Saint-Éphrem le Nouveau à Mono, Canada, a revêtu ses habits de fête, à l’occasion d’un événement particulièrement significatif pour la vie spirituelle des croyants roumains au Canada et à l’étranger.

Dans une atmosphère de joie spirituelle, dans le nouvel autel d’été, construit en juin 2023 et achevé en avril 2025, les Matines ont été célébré, suivi de la Sainte et Divine Liturgie. Les offices religieux ont été présidé par le Père Petre Busuioc, vicaire administratif du Diocèse Orthodoxe Roumain du Canada, entouré d’un groupe des prêtres et de diacres, pour le renforcement spirituel et le réconfort de tous ceux qui entaient présents.

Avec la bénédiction de Sa Grace Mgr Ioan Casian, dans le baldaquin la Joie des saints, des saintes reliques de certains grands saints de l’Orthodoxie ont été apportées pour la veneration : St. Nectaire d’Égine, St. Éphrem le Nouveau, Sts. Côme et Damien. Cette bénédiction a été accueillie avec beaucoup de joie et de foi par des pèlerins venus de divers coins du Canada – Toronto, Londres, Kingston, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Québec, Montréal – mais aussi d’au-delà de ses frontières.

Les réponses liturgiques ont été offertes par le protopsalte Andrei-Cătălin Ghebaru, membre du groupe byzantin « Thronos » de la Cathédrale Patriarcale de Bucarest, avec Mme Mădălina Enache, de la Cathédrale épiscopale de Saint-Hubert.

À la fin de la Sainte Liturgie, le Père Petre Busuioc a lu le message transmis par Sa Grace Mgr Ioan Casian à l’occasion de la célébration :

« La fête de St. Éphrem est pour nous tous l’occasion de nous souvenir de la puissance de la foi, de la force avec laquelle les saints ont affronté les épreuves et de leur amour infini pour Dieu et leur prochain. La vie de St. Éphrem, marquée par le courage, la dévotion et une foi inébranlable, illumine notre chemin et nous pousse à suivre son exemple de sainteté. Les miracles accomplis par son intercession témoignent de la présence vivante de Dieu parmi nous et renforcent notre espérance en son aide indéfectible.

La vie monastique est une lutte spirituelle incessante, un dévouement total au service de Dieu et une prière ininterrompue pour le monde entier. En ce jour spécial, nous voulons partager avec vous nos encouragements et nos bénédictions pour le sacrifice et les luttes que vous faites aux côtés de notre monastère, pour l’amour et l’humilité avec lesquels vous vous consacrez au Seigneur. Que St. Éphrem le Nouveau soit votre protecteur infatigable, vous inspire et vous fortifie à chaque pas que vous faites dans votre vie personnelle. »

Le Père Petre Busuioc a continué en remerciant tout le clergé et les croyants pour leur participation et pour la prière commune et a exhorté à ce que ce monastère devienne un lieu de repos spirituel pour tous ceux qui désirent se renforcer dans la foi et la communion avec Dieu.

M. Alin-Gabriel Constantin, consul de Roumanie au Canada, était également présent à cet événement spécial, soulignant ainsi l’importance du lien entre la communauté roumaine de la diaspora et les valeurs spirituelles et culturelles roumaines.

L’événement s’est terminé dans une atmosphère de communion fraternelle, à travers une agape préparée avec amour et soin par les proches du saint monastère, sous la conduite attentive de l’higoumène Polycarpe.

Gloire à Dieu pour tout ! Que de tels moments apportent à chacun la lumière dans son âme, renforçant sa foi et le désir de toujours vivre dans la présence et l’amour du Christ.

INVITAȚIE/INVITATION

HRAM CEL MIC – SF. EFREM CEL NOU

ANNUAL SPRING PILGRIMAGE DAY –  ST. EPHRAIM THE NEW

Sâmbătă/Saturday

10 MAY 2025

8:00AM   – Utrenie/Matins

9:30AM – Sf. Liturghie / Divine Liturgy

în prezența Moaștelor Sf. Efrem cel Nou, Sf. Nectarie & Sf. Cosma & Damian

in the presence of the Relics of St. Ephrem the New, St. Nektarios & St. Cosmas & Damian the wonderworking

11:30AM   – Agapă/ Fellowship lunch

Sf. Efrem, Sf. Nectarie & Sf. Cosma și Damian rugați-vă pentru noi!

St. Ephraim, St. Nektarios & St. Cosmas & Damian, pray for us!

Wishing you all a spiritually uplifting remainder of Great Lent and a Blessed Pascha,

Vă doresc un post încontinuare binecuvântat și înălțător spre întâmpinarea Praznicul Învierii Domnului,

Egumen Policarp

Împreună ridicăm mănăstirea de suflet în Canada spre Slava lui Dumnezeu și mântuirea sufletelor noastre. Together we are building God’s Holy Dwelling and your/our monastery here in Canada for the Glory of God and salvation of our souls.

Programul Liturgic / Liturgical schedule

Aprindeți o lumânare / Light a candle

Pomelnic / Prayer request

Donations Altar de Vară/Pavilion

SPONSOR pentru HRAM 2025:

Interac e-Transfer: holycrossorthodoxmonastery@gmail.com

Question: Monastery Password: Mono2024

Vă mulțumim! Thank you!

—

Mănăstirea Ortodoxă Înălțarea Sfintei Cruci și Sf. Efrem cel Nou

The Orthodox Monastery Exaltation of the Holy Cross and St. Ephraim the New

308328 Hockley Rd.,

Mono, Ontario L9W 6N4

Cell/text: 226.200.1074

Office: 519.942.3489

E.  holycrossorthodoxmonastery@gmail.com

W: www.monasterymono.org

1 MAY 2025

9:00pm Night Vigil/Priveghere

ST. HERODION OF LAINICI, ST. CLEOPA AND PAISIE OF SIHASTRIA

SF. IRODION DE LA LAINICI, SF. CUV. CLEOPA  ȘI PAISIE  DE LA SIHASTRIA

protector of our summer Holy Altar/ocrotitorii altarului de vară

9 PM  –  NIGHT VIGIL/PRIVEGHERE/

12AM –   MIDNIGHT DIVINE LITURGHY/DUMNEZEIASCA LITURGHIE la mezul nopții

ANNIVERSARY DAYS OF THE ROMANIAN ORTHODOX DIOCESE OF CANADA – [ MAY 2-4, 2025 ]

ZILELE ANIVERSARE ALE EPISCOPIEI ORTODOXE ROMÂNE A CANADEI – [ 2-4 MAI 2025 ]

2000 boul. Marie, Saint-Hubert (QC) J4T 2B1

Hristos a înviat! Christ is risen! Christ est ressuscité!

Preacuvioși și Preacucernici Părinți,

Preacuvioase Maici,

Iubiți credincioși și credincioase, 

Cu bucurie, vă adresăm invitația de a participa în număr cât mai mare, la un moment de aleasă însemnătate pentru viața Eparhiei noastre – Zilele aniversare ale Episcopiei Ortodoxe Române a Canadei (2017-2025) în perioada 2 – 4 mai 2025.

Prin acest eveniment, dorim să marcăm momentul înființării Episcopiei Ortodoxe Române a Canadei, ca expresie a unei prezențe statornice și mereu înnoite a Ortodoxiei românești pe pământ canadian.

Anul 2025 are o însemnătate deosebită pentru Biserica Ortodoxă Română și pentru întreaga Ortodoxie. Se împlinesc:

• 100 de ani de la ridicarea Bisericii noastre la rangul de Patriarhie;
• 140 de ani de la recunoașterea autocefaliei;
• 1700 de ani de la primul Sinod Ecumenic de la Niceea (325);
• și este, totodată, anul omagial dedicat părinților mărturisitori din închisorile comuniste din secolul al XX-lea.

Dorim ca aceste momente de referință să fie comemorate în mod cu totul special și în cadrul Episcopiei Ortodoxe Române a Canadei, prin manifestări duhovnicești, culturale și liturgice, menite să evidențieze continuitatea și mărturisirea credinței ortodoxe în diaspora.

Vă doresc o perioadă pascală plină de lumină și cu folos duhovnicesc!

Întru Domnul Iisus Hristos,

† Ioan Casian 

Episcopul Ortodox Român al Canadei 

Saint-Hubert, 24 aprilie 2025

______________________________________

PROGRAM:

Vineri 2 mai* 

6:00 pm / Vecernie cu Litie

Sâmbătă 3 mai*

7:30 am / Utrenie

9:00 am / Sfânta Liturghie și TeDeum

11:30 am – 5:00 pm / Simpozion teologic

6:00 pm / Concert

Duminică 4 mai*

8:30 am / Utrenie

10:00 am / Sfânta Liturghie

1:00 pm / agapă aniversară (program artistic)**

____________

Adrese: 

* Catedrala Sf. M. Mc. Gheorghe și Sf. Epictet și Astion din Saint-Hubert / 2000 boul. Marie, Saint-Hubert (QC) J4T 2B1

**Arena Cynthia Coull / 195 rue Empire, Greenfield Park (QC) J4V 1T9

https://www.episcopia.ca/index.php/ro/2147-zilele-aniversare-ale-episcopiei-ortodoxe-romane-a-canadei-2-4-mai-2025

28 April –  10:00AM Sf. Liturghie cu parastase/Divine Liturgy with memorial serice (Ro/Eng)

Paştile blajinilor luni 28 aprilie 2025

28 April –  10:00AM Sf. Liturghie cu parastase/Divine Liturgy with memorial serice (Ro/Eng)

PASTORAL LETTER

AT THE FEAST OF THE LORD’S RESURRECTION, 2025

† IOAN CASIAN

By the mercy of God

Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada,

to our Beloved Clergy and Orthodox Christians,

peace and joy from Christ, the Risen Lord,

and from us, hierarchical blessing!

                                                                                                                          “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

(John 1, 5)

Most Reverend Fathers,

Beloved brothers and sisters,

Christ is risen!

At the beginning of the Easter vigil, we hear the call: “Come receive the light!”[1] three times. This is the invitation addressed by the Church’s clergy to the faithful, who await to light their candles from the unique torch of light that is Christ. Thus, in the middle of the night, a sea of light gradually spreads among those gathered at the Church to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord.

This call is accompanied by the singing of the troparion: “Your resurrection, O Christ Savior, is praised by the angels in heaven, and us, on earth, make us worthy with pure hearts to glorify You.”[2] From these liturgical texts, we understand that the Church, following the tradition inspired by both the Old and New Testaments, shows us that the angels in heaven represent our model of worshipers of God. They continually bring glory and praise to God, and we are called to follow their example in the same way on earth.

Thus, the central joy of the Easter night is the resurrection of Christ, the shout of joy of His victory over death. It is the proclamation of the victory of light over darkness, of purity and grace over passions and wickedness.

The event celebrated encompasses the mystery hidden since eternity and unknown to angels, revealed first through the incarnation of Christ. The Christ risen from the dead is the cornerstone and pillar of light[3] that illuminates the ages and generations, until the end of time. His resurrection permeates all creation and our lives, opening our minds to the perspective of redemption, renewal, and salvation.

Through the call “Come receive the light!”, we are invited to approach the true Light, Who is Christ the Lord, thereby following the heavenly model of angels. This means to fulfill the work entrusted by God, igniting not only the physical, material, outward light but also the inner light of our hearts, thoughts, and souls, in order to become the light of truth in the world. The light we are called to ignite is the light of the resurrection of Christ.

The community, strengthened by this call, continues by singing a few verses that clarify the miracle in which we participate: “Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him flee from before Him!”[4] On the night of Easter, we live the event of the resurrection of Christ. The power of His Resurrection scatters the darkness of sin and death: “As the smoke is dispersed, so let them be dispersed; as wax melts before the fire, so let the sinners perish at the presence of God but let the righteous be glad!”[5]

The power of Christ’s resurrection acts against sin and those who commit it. It is not against God’s good creation and those who follow Him, but against those who hate Him and do what is unworthy. The hymn continues: “This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!”[6] The mystery of Christ’s resurrection happened two thousand years ago, once and for all. And this blessed night has become the day that opened in the Church and through the Church the series of blessed nights experienced from then until today, in every Easter celebration. It is the experience of a continuous presence of the resurrection of Christ in our lives and in the lives of all generations, until the end of ages.

How do we experience the mystery of the Easter night in the Church?

Every Sunday, we experience the communion with Christ and His resurrection in the present time of our lives. Each Sunday is a day of Easter. In the Matins service, we read the Gospels of the Lord Christ’s resurrection. The Sunday service is the time when, along with the disciples and the myrrh-bearing women, we find that the tomb is empty and that Christ has risen, as the angels testify.

This realization of the absence of Christ’s material body from the tomb becomes the foundation and beginning of the understanding that Christ has truly risen. During the Matins, the community sings Evlogitaria.[7] Participation in this event opens the possibility of entering the mystery of mysteries – the eternal Kingdom – lived anticipatorily but truly in the Divine Liturgy. This makes us be in perfect communion with God, through His grace, through the partaking of His Body and Blood, which brings us healing, strength, salvation, and eternal life.

The resurrection of Christ, celebrated on Easter night, represents the mystery of the light that is offered to us for renewal, transfiguration, and eternal life. Christ is the One who has illuminated, transfigured, and renewed our human nature. And Sunday is the endless day that carries us toward Kingdom of God.

How does the light of Christ become our light?

St. Simeon the New Theologian, a great mystic and seer of divine light, tells us in his hymns: “Being the hidden Sun to all mortal nature, / arise in Your own; You are seen by them / and in You arise those who were previously darkened, the squanderers, sinners, tax collectors. / For, having repented, they become the children of Your divine light (John 12:36). / Light generates light, / thus they are also light, / children of God, as it is written (John 1:12), gods by grace.”[8]

Christ as God remains a mystery. He shines in an invisible way according to His divine nature, unreachable by human nature, being the luminous abyss of divine darkness, the source and providence of all. Out of love for our humanity, He reveals Himself in each of us who receives Him, to help us grow in Him as a fruitful branch bearing good fruit. It is a reciprocal movement between God and man. Although unseen and incomprehensible, God emerges in each of us, and man grows in God.

St. Simeon the New Theologian emphasizes that this growth has a necessary condition – repentance. Through repentance, we gain access to God’s grace. If we do good works that spring from faith and participate in the uncreated energies of God, His light becomes our light. Thus, we become light ourselves.

What stops man from growing and becoming son of God?

St. Augustine says that “foolish hearts cannot receive this light because they are burdened by sins they cannot see.”[9] He draws our attention to the fact that, because of sins, we might not see the light and believe it does not exist. This blindness, however, is a result of the presence of sin that darkens man’s sight and life.

To become aware of this light, man needs to be cleansed from sin. Sin darkens the vision and makes the eye sightless. The light, which is the foundation of all, cannot be absent because without God, who is light, everything disappears. The existence and presence of God do not vanish, but sin prevents man from seeing it. Repentance, through humility and cleansing from sins, liberates our vision and helps us perceive the presence of God.

God’s presence as light remains an ontological permanence. The blindness of sin, like that of Adam and Eve in paradise, causes man to lose the knowledge and awareness of the divine presence. Sin brings suffering, restlessness, and fear. But St. Isaac the Syrian reminds us not to lose hope: “Let us not be disturbed when we are submerged in darkness (…). For this darkness is brought about by God’s care for reasons known only to Him.”[10] It is essential to understand that even in the most difficult moments, God is present and accompanies us in our trials. This is the attitude that Christ had in His trials – remaining steadfast in the dark moments of His human life. The same unwavering testimony of faith is asked of us as well.

The call from the Easter night – “Come receive the light!” – and the hymn “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and granting life to those in the tombs!” reminds us that all of man’s hope is in the light of Christ’s resurrection.

St. Gregory Nazianzen says: “The light shines in the darkness in this life and in the human body, and is driven away by darkness but is not overcome by it.”[11] Sin seems to darken the light, but it will not succeed in conquering it. By drawing near to God and to the light of His grace, we become light ourselves – burning torches amid the darkness of sin and evil in the world.

In what way does the resurrection of Christ change our lives?

The resurrection of Christ has a profound impact on our earthly lives. St. Priest and Confessor Dumitru Stăniloae states that the resurrection of Christ “opens a content of existence from another plane, with the greatest efficiency over history. … Christ rose because He overcame through His life the weaknesses of human nature with its effects … to open access to a mode of existence surpassing a simple immanent repetition that leads nowhere, that does not lift it from the dominion of death.”[12]

The Lord’s resurrection is not merely a personal event; it fundamentally changes the course of human life and the universe. This event comes with a fundamental novelty – a life that can be deified. The humanity of Christ, through the Church, becomes our humanity. Through His resurrection, our humanity is liberated from the cycle of death and regains the perspective of eternal life.

The risen body of Christ is not only an external proof of God’s work but a source of divine life, power, and purity, maintaining us in our spiritual growth. Through Him, we are given the life-giving power and the transfiguring light of divine grace.

For the St. Dumitru Stăniloae, the human person is “a spreader of light and a seeker and receiver of light. It spreads light and aspires to ever more light. The light received consciously from other persons and things is consciously spread to other persons.”[13]

The call to take light expresses the deep identity of man, who, being created in the image of God, is thirsty for divine light. The more light we receive, the more we are called to share with others.

How does this light manifest in the human person and in the concrete actions of life?

The answer to this question comes from St. Dumitru Stăniloae: “He (the human person – n.t.) manifests communicativeness of light through word, through deed, through smile, through face, even through presence; and seeks light, especially through the hearing of ears and through the vision and reflection of the eyes. The meanings in the eyes make the whole face speak. The whole man is revealed as a dialogical and reflexive existence for this purpose. Both these properties show him to be light and an endless mystery.”[14]

Human beings have within them this dialogical and mysterious dimension that makes them similar to God. Man translates into his personal and communal life the dialogical intra-trinitarian dimension. Man is the image of God who moves toward likeness to Him. This dimension manifests itself in daily life through word and deed, through the virtues embodied in personal life and expressed in social relationships and daily concrete actions. In this way, the life of man becomes a reflection of the divine way of being, of God’s goodness.

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,

We find ourselves in the Commemorative Year of the Centenary of the Romanian Patriarchate and in the Commemorative Year of the Orthodox Romanian spiritual fathers and martyrs of the 20th century. We celebrate the recognition of the Romanian Orthodox Church as a Patriarchate, a journey marked by the generosity and sacrifices of our bishops, priests, monks, nuns, princes, and faithful.

The proclamation of the sixteen new spiritual fathers and confessors of faith from the 20th century reaffirms God’s presence in every generation, even in times of persecution. They were torches in the darkness of those times, offering hope and faith to future generations. They stood as pillars giving light, like the Lord Christ, amid the darkness of our times.

Let us pray to Good Lord to grant us strength and growth in faith, for their prayers.

In these days of Resurrection, let us draw near to Christ, partaking of His gift, rejoicing in the life and salvation He brought in the Church. May the joy of Christ’s resurrection transfigure the life of each one of us.

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.” (Philemon 1, 25)

CHRIST IS RISEN!

Yours, with all good will and praying to Christ the Lord,

the Risen One from the dead,                                                             

† IOAN CASIAN

 Saint-Hubert / Montreal 2025

___________________________

[1] Resurrection Service. EIBMO, Bucharest 2010

[2] ibidem

[3] Exodus 14, 18-20

[4] Resurrection Service

[5] ibidem

[6] ibidem

[7] hymn chanted on Sundays, commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus

[8] Hymn 8 (Z. 4) in Rev. Prof. Dr. Dumitru Stăniloae. Studies in Orthodox Dogmatic Theology. Ed. Mitropoliei Olteniai, Craiova 1991, p 352-353

[9] Tractates on the Gospel of John 1.19 in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (New Testament IVa. John 1-10). Ed. InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois, USA 2006, p. 26 (col. 1)

[10] Ascetical Homily 48 in Ancient Commentary … p. 26 (col. 2)

[11] On the Holy Lights, Oration 39.2 in Ancient Commentary … p. 27 (col. 1)

[12] Rev. Prof. Dumitru Stăniloae. Orthodox Dogmatic Theology (vol. 2/ III). EIBMBOR, Bucharest 2003, p. 170-171

[13] Dumitru Stăniloae. Jesus Christ – the light of the world and the deifier of man (Complete Works 6). Basilica Publishing House, Bucharest 2014, p. 167

[14] Ibidem p. 168