This year, the date had special significance, as it was also the occasion of the blessing of the cemetery’s chapel, after completion of a renovation project for which planning started five years ago. The chapel, built around the turn of the 20th century, has been used by the local church for funeral celebrations throughout its history, and its crypt is the final resting place of seventy sisters of Our Lady of Sion.
The Sisters of Notre Dame de Sion first arrived in Iași from Istanbul in 1866. Over the years, sisters from Romania and other countries dedicated themselves to the country, serving the people through teaching, social work, catechesis and spiritual accompaniment.
When the Communist regime was established in 1948, the sisters could no longer be visibly present, not only in Iasi, but throughout the country. Most of them scattered to different parts of Romania, living their consecrated life in hiding, and resting in cemeteries where they lived. The sisters were finally allowed to live their faith openly in 1990, after the fall of the Iron Curtain.
Time and humidity left their mark on the chapel and the crypt in Iași, and renovation was urgently needed. Several parties came together to repair extensive structural damage resulting from decades of wind, rain and cold. Some paintings have been restored, and some new ones have been added.
The blessing ceremony began in front of the chapel and was presided by the local bishop, the Most Rev. Iosif Păuleț. Sr. Iuliana NDS was among those who addressed the gathering. She began by noting the relevance today of Jesus’ words to Martha at the death of her brother Lazarus: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live; and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn 11:25-27).
The celebration was also attended by Bishop Emeritus Petru Gherghel, the parish priest of the Iași Cathedral, and Prof. Daniel Iacobuț, supervisor of the restoration work, as well as priests from the city’s parishes, seminarians, NDS sisters and sisters from other religious congregations.
“It was a joyful celebration,” remarked Sr Ania, NDS. “We thank God for so many generations of sisters who have preceded us in our family of Our Lady of Sion.”
“We offer special gratitude to the sisters who have worked for the coming of the Kingdom of God, the kingdom of peace, justice and love,” added Sr Maricica. “May they rest in peace!”
