Wednesday, 27 February 2002 - St. Raphael of Brooklyn’s Feast
Day
Archbishop
Nathaniel ordains 3 Theologians to the Holy Order of Sub-Deaconate
Matins
At 9 am,
three young candidates to be ordained as "sub-deacons" for the Holy
Trinity Parish, celebrated the service of the Matins, while Father Danut
Palanceanu from Las Vegas Nevada, officiated the Proscomidia.
Vesting - At 9:45 am His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel
is welcomed at the entrance of the church by ten members of the clergy with the
Holy Cross and the Holy Gospel, and in the name of the community, Mr.
Constantin Jercan (Council President) welcomed His Eminence with the
traditional bread and salt wishing him "welcome" at the Holy Trinity,
on behalf of the faithful of the Holy Trinity Church.
The Hierarchical Liturgy
Ordination
to the Holy Order of sub-deaconate
At 10:00 am, at the beginning of the Divine
Liturgy, Archbishop Nathaniel ordained 3 theologians as sub-deacons: Petru Gabriel Vamvulescu, Irinel Dumitrascu, and Iosif
Razvan Bena, thus raising the Clergy Council to 13 Clergymen, assisting His Eminence
Archbishop Nathaniel at the Hierarchical Liturgy.
The three sub-deacons
during the Hierarchical Liturgy. From Left to right: Razvan
Bena, Petru Gabriel Vamvulescu (middle) and Irinel Dumitrascu.
The Hierarchical Liturgy was Pontificated by
His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel, assisted by His clergy: V.R. Frs. Constantin
Tofan, Department of Missions, Constantin Alecse, dean, Pacific Coast Deanery,
Rector of the Holy Trinity, LA California, Cătălin Mitescu, St. Anne,
Pomona, CA, Cornel Avramescu, St. Mary’s, Anaheim, CA, Dănuţ
Pălănceanu, St. Mary’s, Las Vegas, Nevada, Florin Mihalache, Holy
Archangels, Sacramento, CA, Ioan Cătana, Three Hierarchs, Seattle, WA,
Virgil Anton, assistant, Holy Trinity, LA, CA, deacons Vasile Simonca &
William John Clark, Holy Trinity, LA, CA, sub-deacons Petru Gabriel Vamvulescu,
Ioan-Irinel Dumitrascu & Iosif-Răzvan Bena.
Although there was a Feastday, celebrated on a week-day
Feast, the Church was packed with the faithful. The Romanian Sermon of the day
was delivered by Rev. Fr. Danut Palanceanu, with the theme „preparing ourselves
to meet the Creator”. The Enghish Sermon was delivered by Fr. Deacon William
John Clark, who spoke about the Life and Pastorship of St. Raphael of Brooklyn.
At the end of the Service, Fr. Cornel Avramescu, from
Anaheim, delivered a „meditation”, followed by a few announcements made by the
parish priest, V. Rev. Fr. Constantin Alecse, who welcomed everyone, noticing
also the presence of the three nuns (Mother Victoria, abbess, and sisters Elayne
and Suzan), from the OCA’s
Monastery „ Santa Barbara”, from Santa Barbara, California.
The Service was concluded with an inspirational Homily,
offered by the Archpastor His Eminence Nathaniel, who also explained not only
the importance of His Visit throughout the Deanery’s parishes and missions, but
also the great segnificance of accepting the three (3) sub-deacons, who were
ordained today, in the Lord’s Vineyard.
Pictured above
(from left to right, as one looks at the picture): Fr. Cornel
Avramescu, sub-deacon Petru Gabriel Vamvulescu in the back, in purple
vestments, Fr. Constantin Alecse, deacon William John Clark, His Eminence
Archbishop Nathaniel (with the Cross in his right hand, and the staff in the
left hand), sub-deacon Irinel Dumitrascu (in the back), Fr. Danut Palanceanu
(in the back in red vestments), Fr. Constantin Tofan, sub-deacon Razvan Bena
(in the back), Fr. Catalin Mitescu (vested with the Epitrakil only), Fr. Virgil
Anton (in the back) and Fr. Florin Mihalache. Missing from the picture: Fr.
Ioan Catana, and deacon Vasile Simonca.
Clergy and group’s pictures were then taken with
Archbishop Nathaniel, followed by a brotherly meal, offered by the Ladies Aid,
in honor of His Eminence’s visit in our parish. The Dinner was offered by Mrs. Maria Pincu in memory of her
husband, Traian Pincu, pillors of this parish.
(Report by Fr. Virgil Anton, associate
pastor)