Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas concelebrated with Bishop Justin of Maramureș at the Romanian Cathedral of Sts Constantine and Helen in Chicago on May 21, 2022.
The Consul General of Romania in Chicago – Illinois, Trifan Florea Tiberiu, attended the Divine Liturgy.
Bishop Justin offered his reflections on the Gospel passage on the dialogue between the Samaritan woman and the Saviour Jesus Christ, “who goes above human customs and traditions, showing us that God’s love is without distinction for every person, all humans, and all peoples.”
The Bishop of Maramureș and Satmar explained, “the Saviour contradicts outdated and unjust human conceptions by overcoming these barriers.”
“In the conversation with the Samaritan woman, the Saviour reveals to her the secret of the living water. The dialogue is memorable, very long but deep and spiritual; Christ shows us here the connection that will be made between His Resurrection and the Light that He brought to the world through the Holy Gospel, the Ascension into Heaven, and the Descent of the Holy Spirit,” His Grace noted.
“The Saviour Jesus Christ found the necessary pedagogical means, going beyond the hypocritical attitudes of the Pharisees and scribes, over the mentalities of that time, radically changing the trajectory of the Samaritan woman’s life, who would become a myrrh-bearer and confessor,” he added.
Metropolitan Nicolae thanked Bishop Justin for visiting the Romanian communities in the Metropolis of the Americas, offering him a set of engolpia. Metropolitan Nicolae bestowed the American Metropolitan Cross to the members of the Maramureș Diocese delegation.
“You brought a lot of joy in the souls of the faithful, and we were happy to have a beautiful celebration, full of our Romanian spirit,” the Romanian Metropolitan said.
As a token of appreciation, the Bishop of Maramureș and Sătmar presented Metropolitan Nicolae with the “Maramureș Voivodal Cross”.
The Divine Liturgy was followed by an artistic performance by students and teachers of the Sunday school at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Chicago.
Source: basilica.ro
