Glory be to God! Today was amazing, we had no plans.
Even in the morning, a van came to pick us up but of course that wasn't the right van. And once we were all situated and on the way to church in the adjoining village, we saw Father Tenasi coming in a van to pick us up, obviously leaving church to make sure that we got there.
We thought we were going to Divine Liturgy and were told that we would leave before the Eucharist. But we got there and some of our group was volunteered to chant in English and turns out it was Pre-Sanctified Liturgy and we stayed the whole service. There were not as many people today, but I was shocked by the piety of the lady next to me. She must have been at least 85-90 and kneeled for most of the service. I was having a hard time kneeling and could barley focus but she was kneeling and chanting and completely present.
At the same time the iconography was being finished in the church and it was amazing to watch the iconographers at work during the service, because truly they were still participating as they chanted while working. We made comments later during our debrief that it was amazing to see the iconographers at work and then see a church at the monastery completely covered with icons; no wall space.
It was funny also that during church a little bell would keep dinging, like the ones at a front desk of a hotel. We were so confused until Father Robert came out and told us that we needed to kneel or prostrate when the bell rang... Another funny thing was when the Romanian chanter would read the pre-verses to the Old Testament readings and say in his Romanian accent, "we will now be reading from the book of Proverbs."
After church, we were walking into the smaller narthex area where "coffee hour (a feast)" was taking place and on the way one of the priest came next to me and gave me a huge hug and said "I love you," which I responded with "I love you too Father" and he said "No, I love you even more" and it was so amazing because you could feel the love he has for all of us although we do not speak the same language.
In the coffee hour, there was a full out meal with real plates and silverware - no waste minus the small plastic cups for drinks. We definitely had a Romanian cultural experience, being offered the cherry whiskey that the iconongrapher did not hide well according to the chanter, homemade red wine, and so much food and dessert. Between bites, we would break out in Romanian Orthodox folk songs or chants and in between Kerri was taking a picture of the Romanian beer which made Father Tenasi just give three of the girls an entire unopened bottle to bring home.
During Coffee hour, Christiana and I began speaking to a man we had seen in church the day before. His name is Sotirios and we found out that he is half Greek and half Romania. We was telling us that his Yiayia was from Keflalonia and his parents as well as his work as an engineer and his cousin in Florida. He said that his cousin was actually in Romania right now he had not reached out to him yet, but he was sure that he would just find him, no stress at all. We asked him about an old picture hanging from the window of a destroyed church, that we thought was maybe the church we were in. He didn't know the answer and he excused himself. We thought he was leaving, but he went and asked a priest to give us an accurate answer. After we talked some more, he left but soon came back to tell us something about his Yiayia or something, and asked for our names. When I told him mine he was so happy at how Greek it was and kissed my hand and embraced me.
The iconographer was also super friendly and shared his wifi with me in order to find him on Facebook and show us his daughter and such, as well as his wood carvings which were incredible!
We left church and had no idea where we were going. In the car Mirian our driver was looking at Father while speaking with him, while there's a bus coming towards us and a dog crossing the street. Lord have mercy :)
Life here is so exciting - Father made a good point that life in the U.S is super programmed, we all stick to a schedule where our minute to minute is planned out, which leaves little room for Faith in God because we barley have "time" to take to reflect.
We drove to Chinetu Sentra a House for High School Girls which houses max 20 girls and acts as a home for girls from the Pro Vita Orphanage to live closer to the High school. It was a beautiful facility and I was really touched by what Melania, the director there, said - "we want this to be a home, not an institution."
We drove again to see the other houses and facilities of Pro Vita. According to people in the car, Father Tenasi was driving while texting, with both hands barley on wheel. God truly works through this man. He was constantly sought after on the phone and hearing the work he has done and then seeing it, is truly awe-inspiring. At one point Father Tenasi went rogue with the second van; nothing is planned here. It's awesome.
We stopped by the gypsy district, where Pro Vita through Father Tenasi's vision, is building a house for gypsy families that is clean and provides food and clothes. He told us that the gypsies have been Romaniancized, but keep to themselves and have created a sub-culture with their own language and schools, where according to Father they do not learn the right things. Also, there is a stigma around them because they still steal and are dirty, and give off this negative appearance. Father made a point that on both sides no one is doing enough. The Romanians see them as dirty because of their actions, but both sides need to work on healing the rift together. Father Tenasi hopes to fix this problem in 200 years, but he made a point that it needs to start now. They are also building a chapel at the back end of the new house.
Father Tenasi also shared how they have centers in different cities that help women in abusive relationships and crises presgancies, to build a life and get on their feet with their children, and then they can decide to go back or not. No one is turned away ever. That village also has no church, so behind the center we saw where they feed people, and they are God willing building a church there in the open field. Father Tenasi is amazing!!! Glory be to God for his strength!
Funny occurrence. We randomly pull over while we're driving somewhere (we weren't sure where -we just trust in God) and there's a young couple on the side street about to kiss and we almost hit them so we start joking that there wasn't room for the Holy Spirit, therefore we had to interrupt.
On our way, we stopped by another Pro Vita house ministry where women who are more so on their feet work and sew to make a living. Everything was so, so beautiful!!
Then we came to Crasna Monastery -
There was a gold icon star 1865 from Vienna
St Christopher - there was an icon of a young man with the head of a donkey. Apparently, one of the stories is that St. Christopher was so beautiful that he was pursued by many and he asked God to take away his beauty as to not make anyone fall into sin. What a difference from the emphasis we place on our beauty today!
Clouds pass - there were huge dark clouds above us but the sun was beginning to peak out and the monk told us that just as the rainy clouds will pass away, all the struggles and difficulties will also pass. The sun will always come out again...
Chandelier - respects the grace of God
Lunch - ouzo and wine - this is not America
Blessing in the smaller church of Romanian saints. All kneeled in front of Father Vasili and he blessed us with his ephitrohelion, we were packed close together and he did the sign of the cross over all our heads. Literally 8-10 minute blessing in rapid Romanian and then we were blessed with Holy Oil for the second time today.
Wow talking with the monks was so great. I asked what their name was but I guess I pronounced it wrong and they brought the English speaking monk to make a joke about it to us. The joke of cunta qiuoma which means what's your name but instead they took it as who are you and we laughed a lot about it, after Larry and I were mortified.
- Talking to three monks for a while about the monastery how there was one monk left during communism - asking how old they are.
-Faith in Christ humility patience - joking around - talking about St. Spyridon - monks are so cool
Told us we have to come back and stay longer - asking how much plane tickets were
The road is made this way to increase everyone's Faith - Fr. Robert
Hospitality - even though it's Lent you're still our honored guest
- we even went back to the girl home near the High School for a second dinner. We were stuffed.
This is awesome, I love this country.
- If you have a mixed marriage you're sending missed signals and you're not showing the Truth - you're not living Orthodoxy
- What's the use without Christ
Blown away by Melanie and her husband Mixai and their story of meeting and getting involved in ministry, especially their Christ centered work for Pro Vita.
Glory to God for all things!
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