The Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe (MOREOM) celebrated its 75th anniversary during the patronal feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael Cathedral in Paris.
The festivities kicked off last Thursday with a pilgrimage to the Paris cathedral, where the relic of Saint Nicholas from “St. George-New” Church in Bucharest was brought.
The cathedral’s patronal feast took place on Friday, followed by the Eparchial Assembly of the Archdiocese of Western Europe.
Saturday was dedicated to MOREOM’s anniversary, commemorating the establishment of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Western Europe by Metropolitan Visarion Puiu in September 1949.
On Saturday morning, all seven hierarchs within the metropolis participated in the Divine Liturgy and blessed the chapel’s new iconography, which is dedicated to the Holy Brâncoveanu Martyrs and Saint John Maximovitch.
Two conferences were held in the afternoon to honor the occasion. Historian Adrian Nicolae Petcu presented the history of the archdiocese under Metropolitan Visarion Puiu’s leadership, accompanied by an exhibition of documents and images from that era.
Fr. Dr. Florin Țuscanu reflected on the final year of Metropolitan Visarion Puiu’s life, marking 60 years since his passing and burial. He also introduced the book “The Correspondence of Metropolitan Visarion Puiu with Don Giovanni Calabria,” published by Lexon Prim, Chișinău, in 2020.
The evening concluded with a concert featuring the cathedral’s Junior Choir and Archangels Choir, as well as performances by artists Maria Coman, Valentina Dascălu, and Ionel Streba.
About MOREOM
The Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe, under the leadership of His Eminence Metropolitan Iosif, offers spiritual guidance to Romanian Orthodox believers in various countries across Europe.
Previous hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Western Europe, later known as MOREOM, include:
- Metropolitan Visarion Puiu (1945–1964, founder of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Western Europe, which became an Archdiocese in 1974)
- Archbishop Teofil Ionescu (1964–1975)
- Bishop Lucian of Făgărăș (1975–1980 as locum tenens)
- Archbishop Adrian Hrițcu (1980–1992)
- Metropolitan Serafim Joantă of Germany, Central, and Northern Europe (1992–1998)
Photo: Diocese of Italy
Source: basilica.ro