Metr. Sevastianos Strengthens Ties During Romania Visit

ARAD, ROMANIA — Metr. Sevastianos of Atlanta visited the Archdiocese of Arad on July 27 at the request of Abp. Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOARCH) and with the blessing of Patr. Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church, strengthening ties between the Romanian Orthodox Church and GOARCH.

Accompanied by Fr. John Bociu, Metr. Sevastianos was welcomed at the Archiepiscopal Cathedral of the Holy Trinity by Abp. Timothy of Arad. Joining the reception were Protosyncellus Dr. Iustin Popovici, diocesan vicar, Fr. Teodor Pavel, diocesan councilor, and Archdeacon Ștefan-Adelin Rusu. The visit highlighted the longstanding relationship between the two Orthodox jurisdictions and provided an opportunity for prayer and fellowship.

The delegation later traveled to the historic Hodoș-Bodrog Monastery, where Fr. Nicolae Tang, a lecturer at the Ilarion V. Felea Faculty of Orthodox Theology and a member of the monastery's brotherhood, guided the visitors through the monastery's rich spiritual and cultural heritage. The tour included the ancient church, its iconography, the summer chapel, the episcopal crypt, and the monastery museum, with special attention given to its collection of Slavonic and Middle Bulgarian manuscripts and other rare liturgical texts.

At the conclusion of the visit, Abp. Timothy presented Metr. Sevastianos with an icon of the newly canonized Holy Martyr Fr. Ilarion Felea, who is venerated as the patron of the Archdiocese of Arad and its theological schools, commemorating the occasion and the shared commitment to Orthodox faith and tradition.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Romania honored the martyrs of the communist prisons.