Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas sent a message of condolences on Thursday after Wednesday’s shooting attack at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. One of the victims is a Romanian-born math teacher and member of the Romanian Orthodox Parish in Dacula, Georgia.
“It was with great sadness that we learned about the attack at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, which left several people dead and injured, including Romanian Mathematics teacher Cristina Irimie,” His Eminence Nicolae transmitted.
“Together with the priests and the faithful of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of the Americas, we express our compassion for all the victims and their families and assure them that we pray for the repose of the souls of those who have passed to the Lord in this tragic way, for comfort to their families and the recovery of the wounded.”
“We especially lift our prayers for the soul of the reposed servant of God Cristina! We express our condolences to the family and her entire community at St. Mary’s Romanian Orthodox Church in Dacula, Georgia. We ask the Lord to shower His mercy and bring comfort to all!” concluded Metropolitan Nicolae of the two Americas.
One of the victims was Romanian
Father Nicolae Clempuș, the parish priest of the Romanian Orthodox Community in Dacula, Georgia, told The Atlanta Journal–Constitution that Cristina Irimie, a teacher who emigrated from Romania to the US before 2000, was among the people who helped him settle in when he started his mission in Dacula.
He described her as someone “you know you can count on”. She was a traditional dance instructor and had the gift of working with children, added Father Nicolae Clempuș.
The Apalachee High School in Winder is near Atlanta, Georgia. Two teachers and two 14-year-old students lost their lives in the attack, which is part of a string of similar tragic events in American schools recently.
Source: Basilica.ro Photo credit: Arhiva Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu
