View source for Moncton NB Saint Varlaam of Moldavia Romanian Orthodox Church 2012


[[File:SaintVarlaamORthodoxChurchMonctonNB 1.png]]

'''Moncton, New Brunswick : Saint Varlaam of Moldavia Romanian Orthodox Church, 2012'''


Varlaam may be spelt Barlaam.


==Prehistory==

During the early years of the 21st century, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanians Romanians] were beginning to arrive and settle in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Brunswick New Brunswick], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada].  Several attempts were made to provide for them spiritually, but it was not until 2012 that the number of Romanians had increased enough that a lasting provision could be envisaged.  Of course, not all Romanians had settled in the same places in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Brunswick New Brunswick], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada Canada].

==Legal incorporation, 2012==

On 26 August, 2012, a group of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Romania Romanian Orthodox Christians] at [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/moncton Moncton], New Brunswick, organised the [https://roea.orthodoxws.com/parishes?type=details&id=117 Saint Varlaam Romanian Orthodox Church] in an official manner.  The registered name was : “New Brunswick [https://doxologia-ro.translate.goog/viata-sfantului-ierarh-varlaam-mitropolitul-moldovei?_x_tr_sl=ro&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp St Varlaam] Romanian Orthodox Church”.   On the basis of this organisation, a dialogue was begun with the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Romanian_Orthodox_Episcopate_of_America_(OCA) Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America] (ROEA) about the possibility of providing a priest for this germinal community.  

With this incorporation, the Romanian Orthodox parish of Saint Varlaam became the second Orthodox Christian community to be established in New Brunswick.  The first community was the [https://orthodox-world.org/en/i/10925/canada/new-brunswick/st.-john/church/saint-nicholas-orthodox-church Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_John,_New_Brunswick Saint John] (1952). 

In early 2014, [https://ca.linkedin.com/in/cezar-pelin-ba890746 Priest Cezar Pelin] (PhD) of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ia%C8%99i Iași], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldavia Moldavia], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania Romania], expressed his willingness and his availability to care for this mission.  He was ready to do so under the blessing of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Nathaniel_(Popp) Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp)] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Romanian_Orthodox_Episcopate_of_America_(OCA) Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America] ([https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America]).  

Therefore, following the appropriate correspondence, on 27 May, 2014, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Nathaniel_(Popp) Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp)] of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America] (OCA) began the necessary correspondence with [https://ro-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/Teofan_Savu?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp Metropolitan Teofan (Savu)] of [https://ro-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/Mitropolia_Moldovei_%C8%99i_Bucovinei?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp Iași, Moldavia and Bucovina] ; and, with [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Daniel_(Ciobotea) Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea)] of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Romania Romania] in order to effect the canonical transfer.  By 12 August, 2014, Priest Cezar Pelin was able to submit his petition to be accepted into the ranks of the clergy of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Romanian_Orthodox_Episcopate_of_America_(OCA) Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America] (ROEA), and into [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America].     

'''Assignment of the first priest, 2014'''

At the meeting of the Eparchial Council of the ROEA on 5 September, 2014, [https://www.saintvarlaam.ca/en/parish-priest/ Priest Cezar Pelin] was accepted into the clergy of the [https://roea.org/deaneries Eastern Deanery] of the [https://roea.org/romanianorthodoxvicariateofcanada Vicariate of Canada] of the ROEA.  He was assigned to the Province of New Brunswick, and to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moncton City of Moncton].  It was agreed also that the future Mission be dedicated to “[https://doxologia-ro.translate.goog/viata-sfantului-ierarh-varlaam-mitropolitul-moldovei?_x_tr_sl=ro&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp Holy Hierarch Varlaam, Metropolitan of Moldavia]”.  

On 22 September, 2014, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Romanian_Orthodox_Episcopate_of_America_(OCA) Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America] addressed a “Letter of Invitation” to the believers of New Brunswick to an informal meeting for the establishment of the Romanian Orthodox Mission in this province. 

On 11 October, 2014, this assembly of believers of New Brunswick took place.  It was convened after the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Anglican_Church_(Moncton) Saint George’s Anglican Church in Moncton], and it was chaired by [https://roea.orthodoxws.com/listing Father Ionel Cudriţescu], Dean of the [https://roea.orthodoxws.com/deaneries2 Eastern Deanery].  Also, the Episcopate Vicar, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andrei_(Hoarste) Father Dan Hoarste], participated on behalf of the ROEA.  In all, 43 believers attended this meeting.  A provisional parish council was elected in order to continue the administrative actions until the arrival of the parish priest.

==Registration as a Crown charity, 2014==

On 27 October 2014, the mission was registered with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Revenue_Agency Canada Revenue Agency] as a non-profit organisation.

On 2 May, 2015, during a meeting of the Eparchial Council of the ROEA, the Mission “Holy Hierarch Varlaam” was accepted under the jurisdiction of ROEA. 

On 20 July, 2015, Priest Cezar Pelin registered his file and petition to obtain [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_residency_in_Canada Permanent Resident status] in Canada.  

In early December, 2016, Permanent Residence status was granted to Father Cezar Pelin and his family.  During the time between the submission and its acceptance, with the blessing of Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp), several Divine Liturgies were served in the cities of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moncton Moncton], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredericton Fredericton], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George,_New_Brunswick Saint George], through the activities of the Canadian Vicar, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andrei_(Hoarste)  Priest Dan Hoarste] and [https://www.roea.org/clergy Priest Cosmin Vinţ] (Priest of the Parish “[https://roea.org/parishes?type=details&id=45 Acoperământul Maicii Domnului”] (Protection of the Mother of God) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Qu%27Appelle Fort Qu’Appelle], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan]), and [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Regina_SK_Saint_Nicholas_Romanian_Orthodox_Church_1901 Saint Nicholas], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regina,_Saskatchewan Regina], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan]. 

==First priest, 2016==

On 20 December, 2016, [https://www.roea.org/clergy Priest Cezar Pelin] and his family (his wife Preoteasa Gabriela, and 3 children), arrived in New Brunswick, and since then they have resided in Moncton.

On 25 December, 2016, the first [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] was served, upon the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nativity Feast of the Nativity of Christ].  

After that, Father Cezar Pelin served the Divine Liturgy every Sunday in one or another of the main cities of the province : Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint George. It is important to understand that the Divine Liturgies served were addressed not only to the Romanian Orthodox believers, but also to all the Orthodox believers.  The liturgical languages used have been [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_language Romanian] and English equally. 

==Name change of the parish, 2017==

On 2 September, 2017, the registered name of the parish was changed to “Saint Varlaam Orthodox Church”.

==First Temple, 2020==

On Saturday, 25 July, 2020, the parishioners of Saint Varlaam Orthodox Church submitted an offer to purchase what seemed to be a suitable house of prayer at 28, River Glade Road, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Glade,_New_Brunswick River Glade], New Brunswick.  This property (a former [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptists_in_Canada Baptist church]) is near the city of Moncton.  

The offer was accepted.  

Immediately afterwards, on a daily basis, parishioners gathered to renovate and to prepare the structure for Orthodox Christian worship.  As was reported, “Yesterday we have worked with love and vigour in our Church.  We removed the carpets from the two levels.  We started reconditioning the benches and levelling the floor of the altar area”.  Work continued, and the help of all was solicited in order to make this offering to the Lord.  

'''First blessing of the building, and first services therein, 2020'''

On 6 August, 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_water#Eastern_Christians Service of the Lesser Blessing of Water], followed by the preliminary blessing of the new building, and then by the Service of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Akathist Akathist] of Holy Hierarch Varlaam were served in this new location.

On 9 August, 2020, the Divine Liturgy was offered for the first time in the new Parish Temple of Saint Varlaam.  
Following this, Father Cezar Pelin addressed the parishioners in encouragement :   
  Thanking God for all the achievements so far, we have a sacred duty to build the 
  mysterious Church within us and among ourselves, as well as to take care of and 
  beautify the place of worship that He has brought in our way.  Let us grow our spiritual life 
  by active participation in the Holy Liturgy, by bringing our children and youth to the Church, 
  teaching them the principles of our faith – love and forgiveness.
  May the Good Lord bless our Province and our Community so that we 
  live in peace, joy, and harmony, and deliver us from the evil one.


[[File:FirstDivineLIturgy2020 2.png]]  '''First Divine Liturgy, 2020'''


[[File:ParishPicnic 2.png]]  '''Parish picnic'''


'''First major test : a robbery, 2020'''

On Friday, 11 December, 2020, [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/romanian-orthodox-church-chalice-tabernacle-stolen-1.5847004 the first major test occurred in the nascent parish : a theft].  During the evening, someone broke into the Temple and made off with the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chalice Chalice] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chalice Discos], the Artophorion ([https://orthodoxwiki.org/Tabernacle Tabernacle]) containing the [ https://orthodoxwiki.org/Eucharist Holy Gifts], some candles, wine, and cash.  There was, mercifully, no major damage.

Immediately, Father Cezar led the parishioners in a service of intercession in order to help everyone pray for those who had perpetrated this theft, and to begin to forgive.  With the help of the Lord, the parishioners were able to serve the Feast of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nativity Nativity of Christ] with Father Cezar.  


[[File:Parishioners2020 2.png]]  '''Parishioners in the Temple'''


[[File:MonctonMemorialKoliva 2.png]]  '''Memorial koliva'''


[[File:MonctonTempleBeforeIconostas,2020_2.png]]  '''First Nativity, 2020 (Temple before the iconostas)'''


[[File:SaintVarlaamMonctonIconostas 1.png]]  '''Temple with the iconostas'''

==Sanctification, 2023==

On Saturday, 10 June, 2023, at 9:00 a.m., [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Nathaniel_(Popp) Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp)] and [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andrei_(Hoarste) Bishop Andrei (Hoarste)] presided over the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Consecration_of_a_church sanctification] of the new Temple at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Glade,_New_Brunswick River Glade], New Brunswick, and at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy which followed immediately. 

On Sunday, 11 June, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., the bishops presided at the first Sunday Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the newly sanctified Temple of Saint Varlaam.  


[[File:SanctificationProgramme 1.png]]  '''Sanctification programme'''


[[File:AfterSanctificationMoncton2023 1.png]]  

'''Bishop Andrei ; Archbishop Nathaniel ; Priest Cezar Pelin, and parishioners'''

'''First Pastor, Priest Cezar Pelin (PhD.)'''

On 23 September, 1976, in 1976, in the town of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A2rlad Barlad], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaslui_County Vaslui County], Cezar Pelin was born to Cezar and Genovia Pelin.  Between 1991-1995, he attended the [https://www.liceuleminescubarlad.ro/ “Mihai Eminescu” Theoretical High School in Barlad], Mathematical-Physics section. 

Between 1997 and 1999, Cezar attended the School of Church Singers in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hu%C8%99i Huși], where he completed 2 years of study (II and III) in one calendar year. 

In 2000, he met and then married Miss Gabriela Teletin.  They received from the Lord 3 children : Teodora, Sofia, and Cezara.  

On 5 January, 2008, Cezar Pelin was ordained to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Holy Diaconate] by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Daniel_(Ciobotea)  Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea)] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Romania Romanian Orthodox Church].  Then, on 4 July, 2011, Deacon Cezar Pelin was ordained to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Holy Priesthood] by [https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teofan_Savu  Metropolitan Teofan (Savu)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldavia Moldavia] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukovina Bucovina].  

Over the years, he gained a wealth of experience in the field of administration, academia, media, as well as in the development and implementation of projects with European funding.  

After a period of about 10 years of priestly experience, in the winter of 2016, he and his family settled in Moncton, New Brunswick.  There, with the blessing of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Nathaniel_(Popp) Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp)], he was assigned to serve the Romanians in the Canadian [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/maritime-provinces Maritime Provinces].  Since Father Cezar previously served in Romania in a Temple in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ia%C8%99i Iași] (built by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miron_Barnovschi-Movil%C4%83 Holy Martyr Miron Barnovschi] and sanctified by [https://doxologia-ro.translate.goog/viata-sfantului-ierarh-varlaam-mitropolitul-moldovei?_x_tr_sl=ro&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp Metropolitan Varlaam]), by the care of God, the Church of the Romanians in the Province of New Brunswick will be protected by the same Metropolitan Varlaam, a promoter of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_language Romanian language], and a worthy defender of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Faith].


[[File:PriestCezarPelin 2.png]]  '''Priest Cezar Pelin'''

==Particular parish information==

This parish is part of the [https://www.oca.org/parishes/deanery/OCA-RO-CED Canada East Deanery] of the [https://roea.org/romanianorthodoxvicariateofcanada Canadian Vicariate] of the [https://www.oca.org/dioceses/romanian-episcopate Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America].

This parish follows the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar]. 

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of [https://doxologia-ro.translate.goog/viata-sfantului-ierarh-varlaam-mitropolitul-moldovei?_x_tr_sl=ro&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp Saint Varlaam, Metropolitan of Iaşi and Moldavia], 30 August.

In 2023, the pastor of the parish is [https://www.saintvarlaam.ca/en/parish-priest/ Priest Cezar Pelin].  


Address : 

[https://www.saintvarlaam.ca/en/ Saint Varlaam Orthodox Church]

28, River Glade Road 

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Glade,_New_Brunswick River Glade], New Brunswick 

E4Z 3J5

Web-site : [https://www.saintvarlaam.ca in Romanian] ; [https://www.saintvarlaam.ca/en/home-en/ in English] 

[https://www.facebook.com/people/Saint-Varlaam-Orthodox-Church/100064573066930/ Facebook]  

Office Telephone : 506-878-1317


Mailing address :

Saint Varlaam Orthodox Church

c/o 601, Yale Avenue

Riverview, New Brunswick 

E1B 2C1


Directions : 

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moncton Moncton], New Brunswick, is situated along the north bank of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petitcodiac_River Petitcodiac River] in southeastern New Brunswick.   

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverview,_New_Brunswick Riverview] is situated across from Moncton, on the south bank of the Petitcodiac River.  

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Glade,_New_Brunswick River Glade] is situated about 30 km south-west of Moncton.  



By car :

Moncton is bisected by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Brunswick_Route_2 Highway #2], a portion of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Canada_Highway Trans-Canada Highway].  

From central Moncton, drive westwards on [https://downtownmoncton.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/DMCI-map-v6-HR.pdf Main Street] towards [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Church+St,+Moncton,+NB/@46.0946763,-64.7805596,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x4ca0b9305d5eea0d:0xabbf3de6c2ef5c7d!8m2!3d46.0946763!4d-64.7805596!16s%2Fg%2F1tgxhnkm?entry=ttu Church Street].  At the round-about, take the second exit ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Brunswick_Route_106 Highway #106]), towards Salisbury (drive past [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salisbury,_New_Brunswick Salisbury]).  After 27.9 km, turn right onto [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/new-brunswick/salisbury-parish/e4z/28-river-glade-rd-45.98807,-65.12259 River Glade Road].  The Temple is on the left.  


By railway : 

There is [https://www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/stations/atlantic-canada/Moncton VIARail] service to Moncton. 

By bus :

There is [https://maritimebus.com/en/plan-your-trip/planning-schedules inter-city bus] service in the Maritime Provinces : [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Brunswick New Brunswick], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Edward_Island Prince Edward Island].  


[https://www.saintvarlaam.ca/en/parish-priest/ Priest Cezar Pelin]

Telephone : (506) 878-1317

E-mail : caesarpelin@gmail.com 

Skype : cezar_pelin

==References==

[https://www.saintvarlaam.ca/en/home-en/ Original article]  


'''Additional information :'''

[https://roea.org/parishes?type=details&id=76 Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America (ROEA) parish listing] 

[https://www.roea.org/parishes Romanian Episcopate of America parish directory]    

[https://www.roea.org/ Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America web-site]   

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Romanian_Orthodox_Episcopate_of_America_(OCA) Orthodoxwiki article about the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America]  

[https://www.oca.org/dioceses/romanian-episcopate Orthodox Church in America (OCA) listing of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America]  

[https://roea.org/romanianorthodoxvicariateofcanada Romanian Orthodox Vicariate of Canada] 

[https://www.oca.org/parishes/deanery/OCA-RO-CED OCA listing of the Romanian Orthodox East Deanery of Canada] 

[https://www.oca.org/ Orthodox Church in America (OCA) web-site]   

[https://www.oca.org/parishes/oca-ro-mncsvm Orthodox Church in America parish listing] 

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America] 

[https://doxologia-ro.translate.goog/viata-sfantului-ierarh-varlaam-mitropolitul-moldovei?_x_tr_sl=ro&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp Doxologia.ro article about the life of Saint Hierarch Varlaam, Metropolitan of Moldavia]    

[https://www.saintvarlaam.ca/en/sfantul-varlaam-2/ About Saint Varlaam, Metropolitan of Moldavia] 

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varlaam_Mo%C8%9Boc Wikipedia article about Saint Varlaam (Moţoc)]  

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Daniel_(Ciobotea)  Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea)]     

[https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teofan_Savu Metropolitan Teofan (Savu)]    

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miron_Barnovschi-Movil%C4%83 Holy Martyr Miron Barnovschi]       

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Tikhon_(Mollard) Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Nathaniel_(Popp) Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp)]  

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andrei_(Hoarste) Bishop Andrei (Hoarste)]  

[https://www.saintvarlaam.ca/en/parish-priest/ Biography of Priest Cezar Pelin] 

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_diaspora Romanian diaspora]    

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/romanians Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Romanian Canadians]    

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverview,_New_Brunswick Wikipedia article about Riverview, New Brunswick] 

[https://embassies.info/ConsulateofRomaniainMonctonNewBrunswick Romanian Consulate at Dieppe, New Brunswick] 

[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/romanian-orthodox-church-chalice-tabernacle-stolen-1.5847004 CBC article about the 2020 break-and-enter theft] (20 December, 2020) 





 
[[Category:Parish Communities]]  [[Category: New Brunswick]] [[Category:ROEA]]  [[Category:ROEAVC]]  [[Category:OCA]]