The big day
We told you about many of our activities at this time of year. We were glad to discover St. Nicholas as a quick helper and protector of our school, we enjoyed the guests, we enjoyed the children, but we have not yet shared with you our experiences from the big day of the inauguration of the school.
On December 3, 2023, the dream called St. Nicholas Romanian School – Glasgow came true. The day began with the Bishops’ Divine Liturgy celebrated by His Eminence Joseph, Metropolitan of Western and Southern Europe. With us were Mrs. Ioana Rădulescu, Acting German Consul General of Romania in Edinburgh, Consul Aurelia Titirez, Head of Belfast Consular Office, Mrs. Maria Marcas, Honorary Consulate of Romania in Aberdeen, Father Nicolae Tanase- Pro Vita Valea Plopului Social Center, servants’ parents from Scotland, grandparents, parents, children, guests from Braila from “Fanus Neagu” School Braila accompanied by Prof. Gabriela Ion.
After the Divine Liturgy, the long-awaited moment of the children’s celebration arrived, organized on the occasion of Romania’s National Day. This celebration was attended by both the children of the Romanian School “St. Nicholas” in Glasgow and students from the Secondary School “Fănuș Neagu” in Brăila, coordinated by prof. Daniela Elena Ciupala and Gabriela Ion, all dressed in folk costumes and T-shirts with the school’s logo.
All the guests present admired the sweet Romanian language in which our children recited and sang their longing for their native lands, grandparents and everything that Romania means. A special moment was the presentation of the model made with much love by the students from Braila, through which it was highlighted that, no matter how far we are from each other, no matter how great the physical distances between our schools, we are all Romanians, and we will always be close to each other with heart and thought. The celebration ended with the “Hora Unirii” in which we all got caught up and through which we expressed our brotherhood and connection between us.
The official speeches that followed emphasized the importance of preserving our ancestral identity, language and traditions. Although they could not be present for objective reasons, the ambassadors from the Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, British Embassy Bucharest and UK in Moldova – British Embassy Chisinau sent us messages of congratulations and encouragement! We thank them this way too! The guests and priests present received a small gift from the children, and Prof. Gabriela Ion offered our school a wonderful icon dressed in the traditional Romanian towel with the patron saint of the school, St. Hierarch Nicholas.
All children present in the church received rich gifts from St. Nicholas through the Parish “Welcome to the Lord” – Glasgow, FloTek – Print & Signs, but also the school “Fănuș Neagu”. The events were publicized by TRINITAS TV, whom we thank for their receptivity and professionalism.
The surprises for children didn’t end at church! Alina Pascaru cakes made a cake in the shape of a school, which the children enjoyed with great pleasure. Also, Elena’s Art-Crafts offered all guests traditional handmade products.
We remind you that this project “Hi! Come and get to know Romania together!” was carried out with the support of the Department for Romanians Abroad and in collaboration with “Meeting of our Lord” Parish – Glasgow and “Fanus Neagu” School Braila and which had as finality the official inauguration of our school!
All these things would not have been possible, first of all, without the help of St. Nicholas who showed us his great love for children, without the contribution of the heartfelt team of volunteers of the Romanian School “St. Nicholas” in Glasgow, without the support of our sponsors, without Father Nicolae Tanase who was with us throughout this period and supported us and without the presence and involvement of our wonderful children!
To all of you, to those who have been with us
To all of you who have always helped us
To all of you, to those who have given us your time, your love, your trust
To all of you, to those who believed in us and in our dream of having a Romanian school
To all of you… Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️
