Antelope, California, October 8, 2025
Photo: basilica.ro
The Church of the Resurrection in Sacramento was consecrated on Sunday by His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas, fulfilling a long-held dream for the Romanian community in the region.
The rite began on Saturday evening when, following Vespers, Met. Nicolae placed the holy relics of the Holy Martyrs Epictetus and Astion on the holy diskos, reports the Basilica News Agency.
On Sunday, the hierarch celebrated the consecration service together with a host of priests and deacons, followed by the Divine Liturgy, with liturgical responses sung by the St. Innocent of Probota chanting group from Suceava County, Romania.
At the conclusion of the Liturgy, the Metropolitan spoke to the faithful about the profound significance of the consecration service, which should serve as an encouragement for all those present toward the sanctification and renewal of their personal lives.
“This is a great and important day for your parish. What you’ve labored to build and prepare has today received the blessing of Christ. The fruit of your hands, this church, is offered to Christ. Christ comes to the church at every Divine Liturgy and gives Himself to you, if you desire to receive Him in your bodies and souls,” Met. Nicolae said.
His Eminence presented the church with an icon of the Resurrection of the Lord as testimony to this particularly important day. He also awarded the parish priest . Teodor Alin Gîrlonța the Order of Sts. Constantine and Helen the Equal-to-the-Apostles for his abundant missionary and pastoral activity.
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The establishment of the parish of the Resurrection in Sacramento has a history spanning more than 20 years. In 2002, the Rosca family and other young immigrant families in the area desired their own place of worship.
Initially, the community was spiritually guided by Archimandrite Vichentie (Punguța), then by Fr. Gheorghe Naghi. Since 2005, the faithful have been under the pastoral care of Fr. Teodor Alin Gîrlonța, formerly of St. Nicholas Church in the Archdiocese of Alba Iulia in Romania.
Through the initiative and effort of the Rosca family, land was initially purchased in South Sacramento, where a building was constructed for services and used until 2009. Because the property didn’t meet legal construction requirements, the parish assembly decided to sell it, pay off debts, and continue services in a Greek Catholic church in Sacramento.
However, the 2008 financial crisis, which severely impacted the real estate market, created an opportunity to acquire the current property.
The first Divine Liturgy in the new building was celebrated on December 16, 2018.
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