| On
Friday,
July
2,
clergy,
delegates
and
faithful
from
across
the
United
States
and
Canada
arrived
at
Vatra
Romānească
for
the
annual
Episcopate
Congress.
This
year's
congress
was
hosted
by
faithful
from
The
Holy
Nativity
of
the
Lord
Parish
in
Chicago,
Illinois.
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| His
Eminence,
Archbishop
NATHANIEL
leads
the
Invocation
of
the
Holy
Spirit
at
the
opening
session
of
the
Congress. |
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| Numerous
young
people
also
came
to
the
Vatra
to
meet
old
friends
and
make
new
ones. |
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| The
American
Romanian
Orthodox
Youth
recently
had
several
banners
made
for
display
at
the
Vatra
promoting
the
Vatra
Camps
which
have
been
in
continuous
existence
for
over
50
years. |
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| His
Grace,
Bishop
IRINEU,
assisted
by
several
priests,
celebrated
the
Memorial
Service
(Parastas)
for
the
deceased
hierarchs,
clergy
and
faithful
of
the
Episcopate. |
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| "Among
the
saints,
O
Christ,
rest
the
souls
of
your
servants." |
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| His
Eminence,
Archbishop
NATHANIEL
looks
on
as
Hierodeacon
Sebastian
(Dumitraşcu)
intones
the
Litany. |
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| Rev
Fr
Remus
Grama
blessed
graves
in
the
old
section
of
the
Saint
Mary
Cemetery,
including
the
monument
erected
in
memory
of
His
Grace,
Bishop
POLICARP
(Moruşca). |
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| Kitchen
workers
taking
a
short
break
to
pose
for
a
photo. |
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| Clergy
had
the
opportunity
to
relax
and
socialize
between
sessions. |
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| The
national
auxiliaries
of
ARFORA
(ladies)
and
AROY
(youth)
had
information
display
booths
set-up
on
Friday
and
Saturday
for
attendees
to
become
better
acquainted
with
the
work
of
the
organizations. |
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| Women
from
the
host
committee
relax
after
cooking
the
first
of
several
meals
over
the
weekend. |
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| On
Friday
evening,
His
Eminence,
Archbishop
NATHANIEL
officiated
at
the
re-dedication
of
the
ARFORA
House
in
celebration
of
its
50th
Anniversary. |
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| Several
current
and
past
members
of
the
ARFORA
Board
were
in
attendance. |
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| Rev
Dn
Clayton
Ungrin
intones
the
Litany. |
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| His
Eminence
emerges
from
the
front
door
of
the
ARFORA
House
after
blessing
it
inside
with
Holy
Water. |
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| The
hierarchs
pose
for
a
photo
with
the
ARFORA
members
present
for
the
service. |
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| Following
the
service,
attendees
had
a
chance
to
relax
for
the
evening,
allowing
them
time
to
mingle
and
even
do
some
shopping
at
the
Solia
Bookstore. |
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