AIOPA - Meeting with the Hierarchs of ROEA/OCA

On May 3, Fr. George Acsente, Florian Ion and Liviu Sofian representing Sts Constantine and Helen Romanian Orthodox Church in the AIOPA team met over Zoom with their Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America Hierarchs, His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel and His Grace Bishop Andrei. Also, in attendance was David Oancea, ROEA Chancellor and OCL Executive Director.

It was a very good 60 min dialog centered on the Church Unity. The first 30 min were dedicated to informing the Hierarchs, using materials shared in our May 2 AIOPA meeting, about the structure, process and progress made by the AIOPA team. The last 30 min were dedicated to open conversations.

Here are few recommendations coming from His Eminence and His Grace:

• Send all the notes from the AIOPA meetings as well as from the AOCB meetings to all of the respective Hierarchs as a means to keep them informed about our work. AoB only meets once a year and they would like to receive monthly updates.

• Keep our brothers and sisters in the Russian and Serbian churches informed about our work by sending them the meeting notes.

• Invite the Hierarchs to join one of our AIOPA meetings to get a direct feel about our work, as well as to offer support.

• Find about other local clergy associations (e.g., Cleveland, Detroit, Dallas) and reach out to them to share the AIOPA work.

• Remember that the work we are doing should be seen by the larger public in Atlanta, do not limit the activities just to ourselves.

• Invite clergy next year to celebrate the 30 years anniversary of Sts Constantine and Helen Romanian Orthodox Church.

In the end, the three representatives received the Hierarchs’ blessings as well as their support and encouragement for the AIOPA work towards the benefit of the Church Unity.