Archbishop Ioan of Covasna and Harghita receives Romanian Army's Badge of Honour

Defence Minister Mircea Dusa on Sunday at Toplita, Harghita County, awarded the Badge of Honour of the Romanian Army, the highest such award, to Christian Orthodox Archbishop Ioan Selejan of Covasna and Harghita.

The event, which marked the 20th anniversary of the Christian Orthodox Archbishopric of Covasna and Harghita and the anointment of Archbishop Ioan, was held at the end of a church service that celebrated the day of St. Elijah, the saint patron of the homonymous monastery of Toplita founded by Romania's first Patriarch Miron Cristea.
The badge is said to be awarded 'as a token of gratitude and esteem for a rich missionary life and the promotion of the Romanian Army's standing.'

Minister Dusa told the nearly 1,500 attending church goers that in the 20 years as head of the Christian Orthodox Bishopric of Covasna and Harghita Bishop Ioan has had all the churches in the two counties rebuilt while getting involved in the social and cultural life n being a force of balance in the area.

'For 20 years, Bishop Ioan has had al the Christian Orthodox churches in the two counties rebuilt, and even if the Orthodox believers are fewer now, there is a priest that tells them about Romanianism and Christian Orthodoxy. For 20 years, he has been a force for balance in the area, a man that got involved in the social and cultural life of the two counties, who have fought for the Christian Orthodox Church, for the Romanians in the two counties, so that Romanian Orthodoxy, culture and traditions may be capitalised on in the two counties like nowhere else. He has got involved in the social life of very many people in distress, took children under his care and helped them with an easier life, while guiding young people to school and...