The Consecration of the Church

By the will of the Father, with the help of the Son, and through the cooperation of the Holy Spirit, this Romanian Orthodox Church, dedicated to Saint Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist and Saint Christina the Great Martyr, was sanctified in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, on September 21, the year of salvation 2019.

The parish of Saint Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist was established in 1981, with the blessing of His Eminence Victorin, Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Missionary Archdiocese in America and Canada, following the initiative of a group of Romanians from Ottawa and Gatineau, led by the Panciuk family. The first Holy Liturgy was celebrated by Archimandrite Mitrofor Vasile Vasilache on December 25, 1982.

After Christmas 1982, the Holy Liturgy continued to be served in various rented locations. For most of the time (1991 - 2018), it was served in the cathedral "The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary" located at 289 Spencer Street, Ottawa. With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Nicolae, Metropolitan of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of the Two Americas, since October 2005, the parish of St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist has been served by Father Iconom Stavrofor Grigorie Țăpuc, who was appointed parish priest in June 2006.

In 2010, the vice-president of the Parish Council, Mr. Ion Rusu, identified the property located at 19 Cordova Street, Ottawa, which was purchased for $400,000 CAD in April of the same year. On the occasion of the Feast of the Resurrection of the Lord on May 12, 2015, we received as a gift from Mount Athos the relics of Saint Christina the Great Martyr. This prompted us to request the blessing from His Eminence Archbishop Nicolae for Saint Christina the Great Martyr to be the second patron saint of the Church.

From 2010 until May 26, 2016, through the efforts of Mr. Iosif Viorel Onuț, assisted by members of the Parish Council and other members of the parish of St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist, approvals were obtained to start the construction of the church. The works began with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Nicolae, through sustained prayer, effort, and love of the founders, donors, and benefactors faithful from the capital region of Canada, from Romania, and North America. In 2017, substantial financial aid was received from the Romanian State Secretariat for Religious Affairs, with the efforts of Mr. Victor Opaschi, confirmed by the Romanian Ambassador to Canada, Maria Ligor, and through the intervention of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

The foundation stone was sanctified on June 7, 2015, by His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada, surrounded by a group of priests and believers. On this blessed occasion, the following inscription was placed at the laying of the foundation stone:

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, the foundation of this church dedicated to Saint Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist and Saint Christina the Great Martyr was laid in Ottawa today, June 7, 2015, by His Grace Ioan Casian of Vicina, Auxiliary Bishop, under the archpastorship of His Eminence Archbishop Nicolae of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of the Two Americas, the parish priest being the Reverend Father Grigorie Țăpuc."

Construction began on May 26, 2016, and was completed on May 10, 2018.

The new church opened its doors with the Vespers service on May 12, 2018, and the first Holy Liturgy was celebrated on May 13, 2018, by His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada.

In July 2019, the church was equipped with an iconostasis and pews carved from dry oak wood, a work carried out by Mr. Ciprian Stoica's company from the city of Bacău, Bacău County, Romania. The iconostasis of the church was painted by the painter Liviu Răsteanu from Piatra-Neamț.

In the construction of this church, the parish priest Grigorie Țăpuc was assisted by parish members and the members of the parish councils and committees from 2005 to 2019.

We thank for the sacrifice, with time and without time, the current councilors: Iosif Viorel Onuț - president of the Parish Council, Emanuil Huluță, Doina Popescu, Sanda Mirela Chirilă, Ion Musteață, Alin Cimpoeru, Anatolie Pătrașcu and former councilors: Gheorghe Adamache, Bogdan Nicolae Atanasiu, Georgeta Marinescu, Maria Anca Grigoriu, Ion Rusu, Șerban Popescu, Gabriel Vasilescu, Dumitru Smaranda, Cătălin Chirilov, Ion Rugină, Constantin Jitaru and others. Among all those who contributed to the realization of this place of prayer, a special place is held by the families Iosif Viorel and Lenuța Onuț and Emanuil and Camelia Huluță.

We show special gratitude to all the faithful brothers, whom we have not mentioned here, but who have greatly helped our church and have accumulated treasure in the eternal Kingdom.

The consecration service was officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Nicolae, Metropolitan of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of the Two Americas, and His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada, surrounded by a group of priests and believers from Ottawa, Montréal, Toronto, Edmonton, and the surrounding areas.

Remember, O Lord, in the Book of Life, all the founders, donors, laborers, and worshipers of this Holy Church!