“Dear Father Ioan,

Your Eminences,

Your Graces,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, as we commemorate the Dedication of the Church of Saint George in Lod and the return of his relics, and as we are gathered here in formal recognition of your appointment as the Representative of the Patriarch of Romania in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, these words of the Psalmist come to mind:

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.

(144 [145]: 21)

On this happy day of celebration, we remember that the Holy and Great Martyr, Saint George, is a saint not just for us in the Holy Land. He is a saint who is venerated by the entire oikoumene.

The whole world knows him, even those who do not profess the Christian faith. Saint George reminds us, as we read in the Letter to the Hebrews, that we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (Heb. 12:1). And he was both a great martyr, but also an evangelist. As the hymnographer sings:

As the husbandry tilled by Christ, as one valiant in martyrdom, let us sing the praises of wise and noble George, the fearless preacher of truth, the ever-verdant branch that blossoms with the fruit  of the Vine of eternal life.

(Troparion from Matins of the Feast)

Just as Saint George was united to the Vine of eternal life, our unity of faith depends on our being united to our Lord Jesus Christ, the true Vine

As Saint Cyril of Jerusalem reminds us, we must know then that being united with him by faith, and giving effect to the manner of our union in mere barren confessions of faith, and not clenching the bond of our union by the good works that proceed from love, we will be branches indeed, but still dead and without fruit. For faith without works is dead (Commentary on John 12:2).

So today the great Martyr has brought us together to share the Cup of Mystical Blessing in this Divine Liturgy, and so he demonstrates the unity that exists between the sister Church of Romania and the Church of Jerusalem.

We wish to congratulate you, dear Father Ioan, as you assume this important responsibility on behalf of the Patriarchate of Romania, and we assure you of our prayers and support as you carry out your official duties. May the historic and spiritual bonds that unite the Church of Romania to the Church of Jerusalem be a sign of the unity of the Orthodox Church that is a beacon of hope for the world.

So we raise our glasses first in a toast to our brother, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel…

And we also raise our glasses in a toast to you, dear Father Ioan…

Chronia polla”