| On
July
1-3,
2005,
clergy
and
faithful
from
across
the
diocese
traveled
to
Vatra
Romānească
in
Grass
Lake,
Michigan,
for
the
Annual
Episcopate
Congress.
Each
morning
began
with
the
celebration
of
the
Divine
Liturgy
in
the
downstairs
chapel.
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| His
Eminence,
Archbishop
NATHANIEL
during
the
Invocation
of
the
Holy
Spirit
at
the
beginning
of
the
Congress
meetings. |
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| Partial
view
of
the
clergy
and
delegates
in
attendance
for
the
Congress.
There
were
over
140
registered
clergy
and
delegates
in
attendance. |
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| His
Grace,
Bishop
IRINEU
addresses
the
delegation
on
his
activities
and
impressions. |
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| The
national
auxiliaries
of
the
diocese
set-up
informational
displays
under
the
trees
for
the
clergy
and
delegates
to
visit
and
become
more
familiar
with
their
activities. |
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| Throughout
the
weekend,
the
ladies
of
The
Presentation
of
Our
Lord
Parish
in
Fairlawn/Akron,
Ohio,
hosted
the
ARFORA
Coffee
Shop,
providing
coffee
and
baked
goods
to
those
in
attendance. |
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| Friends
from
Vancouver,
Calgary,
San
Jose,
and
Lennard
(Manitoba)
pause
for
a
photo. |
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Members
of
the
host
committee
from
Saint
John
the
Baptist
Church
in
Kitchener,
Ontario,
reviewing
their
plans.
(Pictured
on
the
right
is
John
Filip,
general
chairman
of
the
host
parish
committee.) |
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| A
delicious
menu
was
served
for
lunch
and
supper
each
day
in
the
Pavilion
Hall. |
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| Members
of
the
newly-forming
AROY
Chapter
from
Kitchener
replenishing
the
water
pitchers
on
the
delegate
tables
in
the
meeting. |
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| National
AROY
President
Dan
Hoarşte
addresses
the
delegation
on
the
Religious,
Philanthropic
and
Social
activities
of
the
American
Romanian
Orthodox
Youth. |
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| Also
available
during
the
weekend
was
the
Solia
Bookstore,
a
very
helpful
source
for
a
large
variety
of
books
in
the
English
&
Romanian
languages
and
other
items. |
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Archdeacon
David
Oancea,
Secretary
of
the
Department
of
Publications,
assists
interested
individuals. |
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| Many
children
also
enjoy
the
spacious
grounds
for
fun
and
leisure. |
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| Clergy,
delegates
and
guests
congregating
between
sessions. |
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| Saturday
afternoon,
a
Memorial
Service
(Parastas)
was
served
by
the
Deans
of
the
Episcopate
in
memory
of
deceased
hierarchs,
clergy,
monastics,
and
faithful. |
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Among
those
remembered
were
those
buried
in
the
Saint
Mary
Cemetery
at
Vatra
Romānească
-
including
His
Eminence,
Archbishop
VALERIAN,
and
pioneers
of
the
Romanian
Orthodox
Church
in
America
such
as
Rev
Frs
Moise
Balea
and
Ioan
Trutza. |
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| His
Eminence,
Archbishop
NATHANIEL
prepares
to
bless
the
food
at
lunchtime
Saturday. |
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| The
hard-working
cooks
pause
for
a
photo
amid
serving
the
hundreds
in
attendance. |
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| ...and
more
members
of
the
host
committee
working
hard. |
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| George
Cantor,
delegate
from
Cleveland,
Ohio,
with
professional
experience
in
land
management,
assists
His
Eminence
in
explaining
the
proposed
land
purchase
adjacent
to
Vatra
Romānească. |
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| Representing
His
Eminence,
Metropolitan
VLADIMIR
of
Moldova
was
Mitred
Protopresbyter
Ioan
Vulpe,
along
with
a
small
delegation
of
clergy
and
laity. |
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| On
the
way
to
Great
Vespers
Saturday
evening. |
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| A
woman
prays
before
an
icon
in
the
"Pioneers"
Chapel.
The
icon
is
one
of
several
given
to
the
Episcopate
by
Mother
Alexandra
(Princess
Ileana
of
Romania)
which
were
part
of
the
collection
of
the
Royal
Family
of
Romania. |
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Rev
Dn
Sabin
Pop
of
Saint
George
Cathedral
in
Southfield/Detroit,
Michigan,
intones
the
Litany
as
His
Eminence,
Archbishop
NATHANIEL
looks
on
form
the
throne. |
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That
evening,
many
people
came
from
the
Detroit
area
to
attend
the
supper
and
cultural
program. |
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| His
Grace,
Bishop
IRINEU
joins
the
Banatul
Folklore
Ensemble
of
Kitchener,
Ontario,
for
a
photo
with
their
priest,
Rev
Fr
Dumitru
Ichim
PhD. |
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| The
Banatul
dance
group
performed
several
sets
of
dances.
They
are
know
not
only
in
Canada
and
the
United
States,
but
are
also
regularly
invited
to
perform
at
festivals
in
Romania
and
Serbia. |
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| Friends
enjoying
the
evening. |
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| Sunday
Morning,
the
Hierarchal
Divine
Liturgy
was
celebrated
in
the
upstairs
church
of
The
Nativity
of
the
Ever
Virgin
Mary
Hierarchal
Chapel. |
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The
Synaxis
Men's
Choir,
under
the
direction
of
John
E
Lazar,
lead
the
responses.
(Part
of
the
choir
is
shown
here.) |
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| His
Eminence,
Archbishop
NATHANIEL
gives
the
final
blessing
at
the
dismissal. |
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| His
Eminence
invited
V
Rev
Archimandrite
Roman
(Braga)
of
The
Dormition
of
the
Mother
of
God
Monastery
in
Rives
Junction,
Michigan,
to
preach. |
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Also
invited
by
His
Eminence
to
preach
was
Rev
Fr
Gheorghe
Calciu-Dumitreasa
of
Holy
Cross
Parish
in
Alexandria,
Virginia. |
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His
Eminence,
Archbishop
NATHANIEL
offering
a
few
words
as
His
Grace,
Bishop
IRINEU
looks
on. |
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Following
the
conclusion
of
the
Divine
Liturgy,
the
hundreds
in
attendance
proceeded
to
the
Pavilion
Hall
for
the
closing
Banquet. |
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After
the
Banquet,
friends
spent
spent
final
moments
together
and
wished
one
another
safe
travels
home,
eager
to
meet
again. |
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