AS PART OF OUR SERIES ON “SACRED TIME,” WE DISCUSS THE MYSTERIES OF THE CHURCH, THE SACRAMENTS, THAT WE ALL EXPERIENCED DURING OUR LIFETIME, WITH FATHER OVIDIU MARGINEAN (FATHER OVI), RECTOR OF ST. GEORGE CATHEDRAL AND CHANCELLOR OF THE DIOCESE.

Interview by Jack Figel

Where are you from and how did you become a priest?

Well, I am originally from Romania and was born in the city of Cluj-Napoca. My parents both worked and so my grandmother first introduced me to the Church and church life when I was a small boy. We prayed together; we went together to church. I think she was the inspiration for who I am today as a priest.

We moved to a different neighborhood and I learned to be a cantor at St. Demetrius Orthodox Church when I was about 11 years old. I started singing together with the cantor and I joined the choir as well. I knew even then that I wanted to become a priest.

The path toward priesthood started around 1991 right after Communism fell. The Greek Catholic Church announced that they were going to accept candidates for the seminary. I met a wonderful man at the seminary, Father Nicolae, who helped me discern more and more about my life as a future priest, but also an understanding of the Greek Catholic Church. After seminary, I needed further studies before I could become a priest. So, I went to England and Belgium with the help of the Xaverian Brothers. Bishop Florentin Crihalmeanu, of blessed memory, was another person that helped me in my priestly discernment and spiritual formation.

For a few years, I worked as a paralegal and then moved to Boston. I was introduced to Bishop John Michael by Father Michael Moisin and started to work for the diocese in 2005. The bishop first ordained me a deacon and then, in 2006, a priest.

 

What are the seven mysteries, or sacraments, of the Church?

First, of course, is Baptism, Chrismation (confirmation), and Eucharist. These are known as the sacraments of initiation and are usually bestowed on infants at one time. Then as an adult, we have Confession, Anointing of the sick, matrimony, and Holy Orders. Four of these are received just once and change your life forever. In a liturgical way, they make an impression on you that will remain for the rest of your life — Baptism, confirmation, matrimony and Holy Orders. The others are repeated in several ways with different circumstances. They are the ones that will always be aiding us on our spiritual journey.

 

Could you please discuss each in a little more detail?

Baptism. For initiation into the Church, a person, especially a child, needs to have a sponsor who speaks for them. The sponsors are called godfather and godmother, who accept what the person needs to do. There is a very strong bond with the godfather and godmother to continue that relationship as the child grows in a spiritual way and throughout the life of the child. In its entirety, Baptism in the Byzantine Rite is an immersion in water. This implies that we die with Christ in order to be renewed again with Christ. Original sin is eliminated, particularly because it was impregnated in our so called spiritual DNA. Baptism gives a chance for the person to be able to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Chrismation. As a child grows in their faith, they need to be strong against sin and attacks of the devil. In the world today, children are vulnerable both physically and spiritually. Chrismation is the grace of God that strengthens the child against these attacks. The Holy Spirit, Who is invoked during Chrismation, is the one that supports the child during this particular time for fights against the devil.

Communion. This represents, as we all know, the spiritual food that we need to have. At Baptism and Chrismation, holy Communion is also given to a child, as a spiritual meal that signifies the beginning of their life in the Church. From now on, the child will receive Communion every time they are brought to the Divine Liturgy up until the age of seven years. Then, a child makes a solemn Confession and from that point will receive Communion as an adult in the formula as an adult. Up until then, the priest says, “Taste and see how good the Lord is.” With the understanding of good and evil, and by going to Confession as an adult, they receive Christ in a different way. Then the priest says, “the servant of God (Name) receives the body and blood of our Lord God and savior, Jesus Christ.”

Confession. This mystery is repeated as often as it is needed. Actually, this is our conversation with God. Tell your sins to one another to be able to reconnect not only with Him, but to reconnect with one another. We must be able to ask for reconciliation. In our life, it is important to be able to see deep within ourselves and figure out how to heal from the inside. That is how I see penance, the sacrament, and it is very important to be done at least once a year at Easter. This represents our way to reconcile not only with God, but with each other as well.

Anointing. The Anointing of the sick is meant as a strengthening of our soul and body, not as a last rite that is given as we are about to die. It is actually strengthening the soul of the person to receive God’s will, whatever that may be. This sacrament is meant for those who are still able to communicate with God, are still able to understand what God’s grace is about. They are still able to see that God is at work in them. The Anointing of the sick gives the ability to keep fighting the good fight, the means to not give up, and the grace to continue to be steadfast in everything that they do, no matter what the outcome is. The outcome is really in God’s control, not in ours.

Marriage. This is one of the sacraments that causes a big change in our life. St. Paul wrote about the importance of not being alone but being married. He highlights the importance of having a relationship in a context which God has blessed. Marriage is recognized by the fact that it gives the ability for the person to change. Their lifestyle is no longer what they think individually of themselves and for themselves, but they are given the ability to think together, to make decisions together. This creates a significant change of habit from what was in the past. It offers the opportunity for the person to take on the responsibility of living in a relationship at a different level. And what is that level? The level is inviting God into our lives into their lives.

Holy Orders. This is the ordination of clergy to serve the Church at many levels — reader, subdeacon, deacon, priest, and even bishop — for those who are willing to take on this particular cross as a way of life. Jesus asked his disciples, are you willing to drink from my cup? This is the response when we receive Holy Orders. In other words, you are willing to give your life. You are willing to do whatever is necessary to sacrifice yourself for God.

 

Have you ever baptized or chrismated an adult rather than an infant?

Yes, I have. At St. George Cathedral, I have had the opportunity to baptize four adults.

 

What was that like and what kind of preparation did you go through with them?

Well, the preparation is the process of explaining the sacraments that they are about to receive, in this case talking about Baptism, Chrismation and Eucharist, and how they work. Emerging from the water is going to change the person’s life. We discuss original sin, what is eliminated by Baptism. Baptism first eliminates original sin and then all the sins committed up until that particular moment. So that is the first step. You cannot have Confession of an adult without Baptism. I also prepare them in all the other sacraments. I explain how important it is to be able to recognize Anointing of the sick and holy Communion from that point on. Communion represents the food that God gives us. We are supposed to receive it by being pure in our hearts. So, if we have sinned, we go back to Confession, so we can come and receive the eucharist again with a pure heart.

 

Could you reflect a little bit about your most memorable experience of those sacraments that stuck in your mind, in your own personal life?

There were three memorable sacraments for me.

One was Confession with my spiritual father, Father Nicolae. I went to him for about two years prior to him passing away. The guidance I received was transformative! It stuck with me and reinforced my conviction that I have taken the right step in becoming a Greek Catholic priest. He helped me discern, and guided me through the steps towards priesthood, and towards a deeper relationship with God. My relationship grew through Confession as well as spiritual direction with him.

The second was my Marriage to Gabi, which was very memorable for me. You know, we were married in the church that is now the cathedral. I am married to the person that I consider my best friend, and she has always been there for me. We would frequently enjoy a meal, and I would call her to tell her my stories. I was able to marry the person that was my confidant.

The third one was when I became a priest. I truly believe God called me for this, and even though I wandered as a prodigal son for a few years, God embraced me when I decided to come back to the Church. Bishop John Michael gave me the opportunity to come home as a priest. This is where I belong as a priest. I saw myself on this path since I was a child, so that is when I recognized that God has called me for something.

 

Do you have any thoughts about how we can encourage our faithful to more fully utilize the sacraments of Eucharist, reconciliation, and Anointing?

This is a good question. The answer is to train ourselves and recognize that we need God in our life. When we feel good and are doing great, we tend to forget about God. When we are good and everything is going well, we tend to forget. Then when we are not so good, we blame God. We ask Him why? Why did you do this to me? Please help me, give me strength! Unfortunately, we come to recognize our need for God in our weakness rather than in our strength. My advice is to utilize these sacraments more through our entire life. No matter what the situation, whenever you get the chance, bring God into your life. Ask for strength; ask for support; ask for protection. All these things will teach us how to be able to recognize that we need these sacraments, especially Confession and Communion on a regular basis, to strengthen us in both good times and bad, all through our life.